seochris

My husband has been offered a job at $160,000 US all in.

Is this a reasonable package, he is a management consultant.

Ethos83

Hi!

Help will be along shortly.

Millhouse

don't look at the cost, look at the value that is added.

Ethos83

How many kids?

A couple with no children = excellent package.

A couple with 1-2 toddlers not yet at school = good package.

A couple with 1-3 school age kids = mediocre but doable package with minimal savings opportunities.

seochris

Many thanks....its a couple with one kid at school and the other one at university in the UK.

Ethos83

Dubai is not cheap. But it does depend on your lifestyle.

Is the package inclusive of school fees? How old is the child? Will he join you in Dubai or go to boarding school in the UK?

The biggest expense besides school fees is housing. You can get a decent small villa in Mirdiff for around 70-80K AED for the year, or a three-bed villa in Arabian Ranches or the Springs for 100-130K. But you need to factor in utilities costs which are very high. Apartments are generally better value for the money and you can find large 3-bedroom + maid's apartments in the Marina or the Greens for between 85-120K (or more depending on the quality of luxury finishes). Apartment utilities will be much lower than in a villa.

Weekly expenses vary greatly but for a family of three in Dubai, dining at home most of the time with the once weekly trip to a restaurant and a once weekly takeaway, expect to spend around 1000-1500 a week on food. Throw in the expense of running two cars, petrol, cleaning, dry cleaning, daily pit stop at costa's or starbucks and the expenses really add up.

seochris

No boarding school...he wil join us in Dubai, and I know HE will want to join a golf club...so its not looking good!

So what would a decent all in salary be?

Millhouse

I'd say it's more than enough... but it does depend on your saving expectations especially compared what you might be getting in the UK

Ethos83

Your package is 587,200 AED/year which works out to 49,000 AED a month. People out here quote salaries by month and rent by the year.

Take that 587,200 figure and assume you are being moderately frugal(ish).

Rent: 130K/year for a three bedroom villa inclusive of utilities cost.

School fees: 70K a year for a better quality international school.

Average weekly expenses (food, part time cleaner, washer, petrol): 2K, or 104K for the year.

Now we're down to 304K.

Car payments: two mid-range 4x4s: 5K a month or 60K for the year.

Flights to the UK twice a year: 24K

Entertainment (drinks, occasional brunch, cinema): 10K for the year.

Now we're down to 210K

Factor in minimum 2K a month average for hidden expenses for a family of three: 24K a year.

Now we're down to 186K, which is 31,000 GBP. Out of this has to come university expenses for your other child, clothing, the odd luxury expense, family holidays, golf course fees and net savings.

However Millhouse has a very real point: what is the net overall savings you currently achieve? What kind of lifestyle do you currently have?

There's no point coming out here to have the same lifestyle and save less money. If you can have the same lifestyle and save more money, great! Or if you can save the same amount of money on a nicer lifestyle, fine! But if not one of the two scenarios there's no point in coming out to Dubai.

ctfc

Some questions:
What level?

What kind of firm (top tier/big 4/niche/local)?

To confirm, by "all-in" you mean that includes the housing allowance, school fees, car/phone allowances etc. ?

Millhouse

as much as possible. also factor in the lack of job security - especially in advisory services.

Millhouse

mirdif here we come.

weasel central

As long as the company expenses cover drinks and hookers, it is probably reasonable. other wise add another 20,000 dollars

seochris

Engineering in the O,G and Power

seochris

Yes, I dont think there is anything else on offer!