I've recently arrived in Riyadh and I am looking for bachelor accommodation on a compound. Can anyone please give me recommendations, likely cost per month/annum and also the location?

Thanks,

Mick

Welcome - how much do you want to spend / what's the budget?

My budget is around 7-8000SAR/month

Ok, so the annual budget is around 84 - 96k. Kind of depends on what compound you want / how far away from your work you want to be?

Fal is cheap and you should get a decent sized on there, but it is probably dominated by the Lebanese. ( Exit 8 area ) . Would imagine you can get one for around 70k per year.

Ranco is nice, and you might be able to pick up a 1 bed at around 100k - slightly stretch to you budget. Its just off Khurais Rd, nice facilities, good mix of people.

Seder Compound is also good, good mix of folk, you can get a small studio for around 88k a year, or a more modern nicer 1 bed for around 100k which comes with a really nice outdoor area. East side of King Abdullah.

Ishbillia Village is nice, small, but probably only about 40% occupied, so it's very quiet. 1 bed is around 70k. Same area(ish) as Ishbillia Village.

Compounds generally have seen occupancy rates drop, as more and more families move out. However, Bachelor accommodation still remains popular, so availability may be an issue. Seder seems to be building more and more single / bachelor type units.

Good Luck.

Thanks for this, but just one other question if you don't mind. Do this units come furnished or unfurnished?

Most compounds will supply furnished - so they have the basic set of furniture and large appliances. Some will supply a tv, some won't. It's not a big issue really, there's always expats leaving so many goods can be picked up used for a good price / condition.

In nearly all cases, you will have to buy your own kitchen small appliances - kettle, toaster, microwave and all crockery/ cutlery and probably your own linen, so there will be an initial set up cost.

Once again, many thanks.

You're welcome, best of luck.

Hi Mick
Have you tried Bonita compound. Offers really nice accommodation plus lots of extras (TV, Internet)? Can get a 1-bed studio for about 90k (or maybe less) per year.
Good luck!

Not heard of that one. Will check it out thanks.

For what it's worth I'm in Ranco, there are a lot of Brits with a great atmosphere and social life. Near Khurais Rd. Not sure how much the 1bed units are but I think they are under SR100k.

Thanks Matt

RANCO 1-bed apartment is currently around 63,5k the regular bungalows start at around 100k (2bed bungalow). Great compound yet also certainly becoming less and less Western.

Thanks. What would you say the % is?

I live in ranco for a long time and don't get me wrong it's probably the best value for money option and people are really nice I guess. Probably still more than 50% are Western just recently I see more and more south Asian and Far Eastern people (that hold western nationality probably). Whenever the newsletter is in the mailbox they mention new residents. I have seen Greek, Turkish, South African as well. The amount of arabs like lebanese, Jordanians etc I can't really tell because they are totally not my crowd. That's a reason that for example FAL I wouldn't even wanna live there if provided for free.

A while ago there have been some British complaining about abayas at the pool and arabs inviting their extended family inside. Yet so far I feel the load of Arabs in the compound is still bearable yet shouldn't be more for sure. On weekends there is good social life for certain reasons ;-)