Cost of living in Qatar 2022

When it comes to Middle Eastern countries, Qatar is up there with the best of them. Along with all the fun things to do, this is also one of the safest and most tranquil countries in the world.

One of the most crucial things to think about before moving your entire life to Qatar is how much money you'll need once you get here. Rent, groceries, gas, electricity, and internet service are just few of the things that make up a person's monthly living costs. How much will your stay in Qatar cost?

According to the website Numbeo, the cost of living in Doha is almost 40% less than in New York City (without rent), which places it at number 228 on the Current Cost of Living Index by City in 2022 and number 17 in Asia with a 60.03 Cost of Living Index.

All stated prices are in Qatari Riyals and were verified by research on July 6, 2022.

Accommodation

Prices in Qatar in 2022

Some expats in Qatar are sponsored by corporations that also provide them with housing, while others receive an allowance from their employers. In the event that lodging is not arranged for you, you are free to choose any hotel in Qatar. You should plan for this as one of your largest costs.

House hunters in Qatar can choose from a wide variety of apartment buildings, villas, and serviced apartments. Studio apartments all the way up to three bedroom apartments, both furnished and unfurnished, are available for rent. Most villas have many bedrooms. The Pearl-Qatar, Msheireb Downtown Doha, Lusail City, etc. are all examples of relatively new and upscale residential communities in Qatar, and as a result, they command higher rents than older or more run-down neighborhoods elsewhere in the country.

It is possible to find affordable housing in the aforementioned places by conducting a search on Property Finder. A studio in Lusail City could be rented for QR 5,500, while a 3-bedroom apartment in The Pearl-Qatar could be rented for QR 24,200, both of which are unfurnished. In other parts of Doha, you can get decent housing at a lower cost. Property Finder shows that the monthly rent in Abu Hamour to Al Rayaan or Najma for an unfurnished studio apartment is QR 2,500, and for an unfurnished three-bedroom apartment is QR 7,000.

Utilities

Water & Power

The Qatar General Power and Water Corporation, or KAHRAMAA for short, is Qatar's sole provider of both electricity and water.

Electricity Tariff

(1 - 2000) 0.11

(2001 - 4000) 0.13

(4001 - 15000) 0.18

(15001 - 9999999999) 0.26

 

Water  Tariff

 (1 - 20)            5.5

 (21 - 250)         7

 (251 - 9999999999)    10

 

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Shafaf)

WOQOD is a major supplier of gas cylinders and household LPG to many different communities in Qatar. These cylinders are widely available, too, at any grocery or gas station.

For your convenience, WOQOD has listed the prices of their gas cylinders and various LPG accessories below:

Unit                                                                                                   Rates

12-kilogram Brand-New Cylinder SHAFAF                         QR 350

New Cylinder, Weight: 12 Kilograms (SHAFAF) (with GAS)       QR 365

SIX KILogram BRAND NEW CYLINDER SHAFAF         QR 275

SAFAF NEW CYLINDER (6 kilogram) (with GAS)     QR 283

Telecommunications (Internet & Mobile plans) (Internet & Mobile plans)

Ooredoo and Vodafone are the two most popular options for phone service in Qatar. Prepaid and postpaid service plans are offered by both service providers. They also offer Internet with a variety of added perks, such as telephone service.

Both Ooredoo and Vodafone provide unlimited data, domestic and international calling, and text messages with their postpaid plans. Here are Ooredoo's postpaid cellphone plan options:

Shahry 5G - Three Months for QR 94 Special (QR 130)

To get started with Qatarna 5G, you'll need to shell out QR 300 for three months (QR 420)

SIM card with 5G data service for just QR 77 for three months (QR 110)

Conversely, Vodafone provides four distinct mobile plans: two for the general public, and two for QNB cardholders and Senior Citizens/People with Disabilities. Here are Vodafone's public mobile plans:

Six months of unlimited 5G data for just QR 250. (QR 130)

Prices for U Plans begin at QR 105 per month for the first six months (QR 420)

If you're looking for residential internet service, Ooredoo's Ooredoo ONE Plan has packages that will cost you anywhere from QR 365 to QR 6,500 per year, with speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps. With speeds of up to 500 Mbps, Vodafone's GigaHome service costs between QR 450 and QR 750 per month. Additional charges for things like a router, set up, extra accessories, etc. may also apply.

Food

Plenty of stores stock both domestic and international fare, making shopping for groceries in Qatar a breeze. Even more surprisingly, some stores focus on serving customers of a certain nationality.

Locally sourced or "Made in Qatar" products can be found at lower prices than their imported counterparts in many grocery stores and other retail outlets across the country.

Prices may vary by brand and retailer, but here are some common grocery store items:

QR 4.5 QFM No.1 Patent Flour (1 kg)

Roughly 3.3 cents per kilogram for tomatoes

A kilogram of cucumber in Qatar can set you around QR 4.

Cost per kilogram of Pakistani potatoes, in QR

Bananas in the Philippines cost QR 5.50 per kilogram.

The American red apple, at QR 5.50/kg,

Sheri (a type of fish) in Qatar costs between QR 11 and QR 14 per kilogram.

The price of hamour (fish) in Qatar ranges from QR 25 to QR 33 per kilogram.

QR 14 Real Milk (2 litres)

Quick Refinancing of $5.75 Milk Bread QR (medium)

It costs 14.5 QR for a pound of basmati rice (Tilda 1 kg)

It costs as little as QR14.75 per fresh chicken (1 kg)

QPR 12.50 for Brazilian beef topside (300 grams)

HydroQuant (QR) Value of Water: 1.25 (1.5 litres)

IQR 5 Eggs (large 6 pcs)

QR 17.5 for sunflower oil (1.8 litres)

Dining

Qatar's abundance of international cuisine and dining options, both in the city's streets and shopping centers, make it a potential gastronomic paradise. You can choose from any level of dining establishment, from quick food to fine dining. Prices at these locations will vary, of course. Fast food establishments often charge around QR 13 for a meal, whereas upscale dining might cost around QR 95.

At a number of places, you can get a tasty meal for as little as QR 10. Doha's bustling streets are lined with restaurants, many of which are cafeterias you won't find in shopping centers.

Check out this for a more organized meal out in Doha: I was wondering if you liked to eat. Discover the best restaurant deals right here!

Transportation

Karwa cabs, Karwa buses, the Doha Metro, and the Lusail trams are just few of the public transportation choices available in Qatar. Your greatest bets for cost-effective public transportation are the bus and the subway. You can load money onto a transportation card that works for either service.

One ride on the Karwa Bus can cost anywhere from QR 2.50 (for shorter excursions) to QR 9 (for longer travels, including to Al Shamal and Abu Samra on the Saudi border). Subway fare structures are differentiated by fare card type. The prices for the Doha metro are as follows:

Not only may you use ride-hailing apps to find and hail cabs in Doha, but you can also use traditional taxis. You'll pay different amounts for taxi rides based on the type of cab you take and where you take it. The lowest fare offered by Karwa taxis is QAR 10, while services like Uber begin at only QAR 8.

Personal Transport

Getting a driver's license, buying or renting a car, and driving yourself about Qatar is another choice. Doha, Qatar is home to a number of excellent driving schools where you can get your driver's license. Full-length lessons at driving academies cost between QR 3,300 and QR 5,000. The costs of these institutions range widely and are subject to change.

Qataris pay QR 500 (valid for ten years) for a license, while non-Qataris pay QR 250 (valid for five years). Heavier vehicles pay QR 600 (valid for ten years) for a Qatari license, while non-Qataris pay QR 300 (valid for five years) (valid for five years for non-Qataris). The cost of vision and driving exams is extra.

Fuel Costs (As of July 2022)

The current price per liter of gasoline, diesel, and super gasoline in Qatar is QR 1.95, QR 2.10, and QR 2.05, respectively. The prices listed here are subject to change.

Healthcare

The public healthcare system in Qatar is fortunately accessible to all citizens and permanent residents at no cost or at a much reduced cost. The Health Centers of Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation accept the Hamad Health Card for payment of these services. The Hamad Health Card, required for access, can be obtained for QR 100 (about US $15).

You can get your medical needs met at one of many private hospitals. The cost of seeing a family doctor in a private clinic could be anything between QR 50 and QR 400. Also, having health insurance will allow you to pay less for necessary medical care. Health insurance is something that you should inquire about with your job, as they may provide it for you.

Education

Public Schools

You'll need to put money aside for your children's education if you bring them to Qatar, unless the government provides some sort of stipend or benefits to help with that. Costs could range from free to thousands of dollars each year, depending on the grade level and institution where your kids enroll. Additional costs may be incurred for things like applications, uniforms, books, and other ephemera.

Schools for students of various nationalities and international schools exist. There may be some pricing variation among these institutions, though.

In Qatar, the annual tuition ranges from QR 22,696 for Primary children to QR 80,465 for Secondary students, illustrating the high cost of attending an international school. Philippine schools, on the other hand, charge anything from QR 6,000 per year for elementary school pupils to QR 12,000 per year for high school seniors. Indian primary school (including kindergarten) tuition costs can be as low as QR 3,700 per year and as high as QR 13,000. secondary school tuition costs can be anywhere from QR 7,000 per year and up to QR 18,000.

Public Educational Institutions

Nine districts in Qatar's public school system are now open to international students, according to the country's liberal education policy. Only Qatari citizens, children of Qatari women, citizens of other GCC nations, children of non-Qataris employed by ministries, government organizations, and institutions, and children of non-Qataris employed by private charitable organizations are eligible for enrollment to public schools in Qatar.

Homeschooling is a viable educational option apart from public and commercial institutions. You can learn more by reading this: What you need to know about homeschooling in Qatar.

Income and Expenditure in 2022 Compared to 2021

The Qatari Cost of Living in 2022

From all indications, 2022 will be an expensive year to live in Qatar, with increases expected across the board but most pronounced in housing, tuition, and gas prices. Qatar has seen a large influx of migrants and visitors in preparation for the next FIFA World Cup. Because of this, competition has increased to get housing.

The launch of 5G has led to a modest rise in the cost of telecommunications during the past year. Prices for postpaid and internet service from some Qatari carriers have dropped by an average of 2% this year.

The cost of transportation, utilities, and healthcare in Qatar are all the same as they were last year.

It's true that living in Qatar will save you money compared to a number of Western countries, but how much you save will ultimately be determined by your personal preferences and habits. When calculating how much money you need to live each month, don't forget to factor in the money you spend on things like entertainment, shopping, presents, hobbies, and other extraneous activities.

Living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world has its advantages, including but not limited to: no income tax, a low crime rate, and excellent healthcare and educational opportunities, but it isn't one of the cheapest places to live.