How Expensive Is Qatar To Live In?

How Expensive Is It to Live in Qatar?

Are you planning to take the plunge and move to Qatar? Perhaps you got a great job offer you simply cannot refuse. Or maybe you are just looking for a fresh start. Whatever your reason, Qatar could be your new home.

But before you pack up your things and go, you want to know what to expect. How expensive is it to live in Qatar? What is the cost of living in Qatar like, and how much will renting an apartment set you back each month?

You can find the answers to all these questions (and many more) in the article below. Qatar is certainly not the cheapest country in the world, but it definitely does not have to be unaffordable either. In the end, it all depends on the salary you earn and the type of life you wish to live.

For example, renting an apartment in the upscale The Pearl Qatar district will cost you a lot more than renting a more budget-friendly apartment in Al Mansoura. And if you have several children you can expect a large percentage of your income to go towards their education.

There are dozens of important factors like these, from the cost of groceries to the use of transportation, which you should take into consideration. This article covers all these aspects for you. In this extensive guide, you will find out exactly how expensive it is to live in Qatar.

But before you start reading, please bear in mind that by far the largest part of the population of Qatar (estimated over 90%) lives in the country’s capital, Doha. That is why most of the information in this article is based on the cost of living in Doha.

Cost of renting an apartment in Qatar

Let’s start with what will most likely be your largest expense when living in Qatar: Accommodation. Unless your company provides you with accommodation, which is certainly not unlikely if you are a relocating expat, you will need to find a place to live.

Qatar’s capital, Doha, has a total population of over one million. With a city that size, you can expect many different types of accommodation in many different price ranges. The cost of renting an apartment in Doha highly depends on both the size of the apartment and the area of the city you want to live in. You can find an apartment for as cheap as QAR 2,000/month, or as expensive as QAR 16,000/month. It all depends on what you want.

Therefore, the first step you need to take when looking for an apartment for rent in Doha is to pick the right district based on your specific needs, the location of your work, and your budget.

If you are looking for a luxurious, high-end apartment in one of the most popular districts of Qatar, then the Pearl Qatar, the West Bay, and Lusail will be your best options. However, these apartments do come with a price tag.

You can rent a 1-bedroom apartment for an average of QAR 7,000/month, depending on the size of the apartment and whether it is fully furnished, semi-furnished, or unfurnished. For a 3-bedroom apartment, you can easily expect to pay an average of QAR 11,000/month or higher. Of course, the better the location, the more expensive the apartment will be as well.

If you are on a tighter budget, or if you simply rather save a larger percentage of your income for other things, then you might want to consider looking at other areas in Qatar. Luckily, you can still live in Doha itself while spending a lot less on rent.

Examples of more budget-friendly areas to rent an apartment in Qatar are Al Sadd, Najama, Bin Mahmoud, Al Mansoura, and Old Airport. These areas are still great to live in, but renting an apartment will be more affordable.

The average price for a 1-bedroom apartment in these areas is around QAR 4,000/month. The rent price for a 3-bedroom apartment averages around QAR 7,000/month. In other words, you can rent a 3-bedroom apartment in one of these areas for the same price as a 1-bedroom apartment in the more upmarket districts of Doha.

Below is a list of the 10 top apartment rental locations in Doha, with starting prices, to help you with your apartment search:

• The Pearl Apartments (from QAR 6,000/month)
• West Bay Apartments (from QAR 6,500/month)
• Lusail Apartments (from QAR 3,800/month)
• Al Sadd Apartments (from QAR 4,500/month)
• Bin Mahmoud Apartments (from QAR 4,100/month)
• Musheireb Apartments (from QAR 3,900/month)
• Old Aiport Apartments (from QAR 3,500/month)
• Doha Jadeed Apartments (from QAR 3,750/month)
• Feerej Bin Omran Apartments (from QAR 4,500/month)
• Najma Apartments (from QAR 4,500/month)

Cost of renting a house in Qatar

If you have a large family, or if you are simply looking for a rental with a bit more space, then renting a villa in Doha might be the right option for you. Doha has a lot of different villa rental types, from homes in gated communities to shared villas, to standalone villas.

Just like with rented apartments, the best option for you depends on where you want to live and how much of your income you want to spend on housing.

There are a few districts in Doha that are particularly popular for renting a house. These areas include Al Waab, Al Gharrafa, Al Messila, Al Dafna, and Duhail. You can expect to pay about QAR 9,000/month for renting a villa in Doha. However, prices really vary based on the location, the villa type, and the size of the house.

Below is a list of great locations in Qatar to rent a villa, with starting prices, to help you with your house search:

• Al Waab Villas (from QAR 10,000/month)
• Al Gharrafa Villas (from QAR 8,000/month)
• Duhail Villas (from QAR 13,000/month)
• Al Aziziya Villas (from QAR 11,000/month)
• Umm Salal Mohammed Villas (from QAR 7,700/month)
• Al Kheesa Villas (from QAR 9,000/month)
• Ain Khalid Villas (from QAR 10,000/month)
• Al Hilal Villas (from QAR 9,000/month)

For an overview of different villas for rent in Qatar right now you can have a look at hapondo.

Renting affordable apartments and villas in Qatar

As you can see, the price of housing in Qatar can differ dramatically, depending on your criteria. If the options mentioned above still seem a bit on the pricey side for your budget, you might want to have a look at Ezdan Real Estate.

They offer great apartment rentals in Ezdan Oasis, which is located in Al Wakrah (20-mins Drive to Doha). You can rent a 2-bedroom furnished apartment for just QAR 4,000/month. If you want to rent a 1-bedroom furnished apartment in Ezdan Village 29 prices even start as low as QAR 1,950/month.

Cost of living in Qatar

Unless you live an exceptionally extravagant lifestyle, housing will be your largest expense. Now you have an idea of how much housing will cost you per month, it is time to look at the other expenses you can expect.

But how the cost of living in Qatar effectively plays out for you will depend on how you spend your money. Let’s have a look at some of the main areas of expenses for you to consider.

Transportation in Qatar

Transportation costs in Qatar are very reasonable compared to many other countries. Petrol price per litre, for example, averages around QAR 1.80. This will seem especially cheap if you are an expat moving from places like Europe or North America where petrol prices are much higher.

Public transport prices are also nothing out of the ordinary. You can either take the Doha Metro, the bus, or a taxi. A single ticket for the Doha Metro costs QAR 2, while a single bus ticket (short distance) starts at QAR 2.50.

You have a few different taxis in Doha for you to choose from. The government-owned Karwa taxis have a starting rate of QAR 10, which includes the first 5 kilometres. You can also choose to use Uber or Careem. For these taxi services prices start around QAR 8.00.

Dining out in Qatar

As with everything, prices will vary depending on the area and the restaurant itself. That said, dining out certainly doesn’t have to break the bank.

A ‘standard’ 3-course meal for 2 at a mid-range restaurant will cost you about QAR 300 on average. If you are looking for something cheaper you can find smaller, local restaurants (generally located more outside of the city centre) where you can have a meal for two for about QAR 20. Another affordable option is dinner at a fast-food chain, such as KFC, will cost you about QAR 24.

However, if you wish to celebrate a special occasion, there are hundreds of high-end and fine-dining restaurants for you to choose from as well. The price for a dinner at such an establishment can become very expensive, with a two-person meal easily costing you more than QAR 1,000.

Grocery prices and locations to shop for groceries

The price of groceries can get quite expensive in Qatar, especially if you want to buy the same brands you buy back home.

Many of the products found in grocery stores are imported, which means you sometimes pay a hefty price due to import taxes. Some products in particular, like alcohol, can be very expensive compared to other countries.

Here is a list of some standard supermarket items and how much you can expect to pay for them:

• Milk (1 liter) = QAR 7.03
• Rice (1 kilogram) = QAR 6.94
• Eggs (12-pack) = QAR 9.75
• Loaf of bread (500 grams) = QAR 5.04
• Apples (1 kilogram) = QAR 6.97
• Chicken fillets (1 kilogram) = QAR 30.95
• Water (1.5 liter bottle) = QAR 2.21
• Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) = QAR 34.74
• Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) = QAR 35.31

Source: Numbeo.

Furthermore, note that certain foreign grocery stores, such as Monoprix, Spinney’s, or Carrefour, tend to cater best to expats. They will sell many of the products you are used to buying at home, but due to import costs for a much higher price.

If you want to do your groceries on a budget, you are better of shopping at local supermarkets or cheaper chains. LuLu hypermarket is considered a popular and cheap alternative.

Utilities and internet

The cost for your utilities will depend on the size of your house. You can expect to pay around QAR 330/month based on an 85m² apartment. Bear in mind that prices strongly differ throughout the year, as you will pay a lot more during Summer to keep your air-conditioning going.

Internet will cost you about QAR 318/month on average.

Healthcare

Qatar has a state-run healthcare system called Hamad Medical Corporation, which offers publish health insurance for roughly QAR 200/year. Once insured, a doctor’s visit will cost around QAR 25.

However, public healthcare generally doesn’t meet the standards many expats are used to, so many instead decide to opt for private health insurance. Luckily, most employers provide private healthcare insurance for expats. If you are planning to accept a job in Qatar you should always try to make sure private healthcare insurance is included.

Conclusion: How expensive is it to live in Qatar?

The actual cost of living in Qatar highly depends on where you wish to spend your money.

For example, if you want to go out for dinner to a high-end restaurant in the city centre every week, be prepared to pay the price. Similarly, if you want to buy the same grocery items as you would back home, you should expect to pay hefty import tariffs. In the end, it all depends on how you want to live your life.

Unless your company offers you company housing, the cost of renting an apartment or villa in Doha will be your main expense. How much you pay each month depends on the area of the city you want to live in, and the size of your accommodation.

Are you looking to rent accommodation in Qatar? Have a look at hapondo to find your new home.