Enough to survive?
 

I've had a decent look through the forum but still none the wiser. Any honest help very much appreciated. My question...

Is a monthly salary of AED 22k enough to survive on for a family (one child of school age)? The salary does not include rent.

We're looking for a change of scene, and are not too bothered about putting money away. But could we make ends meet on this salary, assuming my wife doesn't work? We'd need a 2-bed apartment.

Thanks!

Re: Enough to survive?
 

please use the search facility, there is lots of information there re cost of living, house rental prices etc.
Unless you have your rent paid and school fees covered over and above that amount I would say no!

Re: Enough to survive?
 

If you can find a place costing less than AED 100K and don't have a shopoholic wife, then you can easily survive but don't expect to save very much.

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Survive or live??:D:D

Re: Enough to survive?
 

I know plenty of people earning much less than AED 22K who live quite nicely...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

It wont be easy finding a 2 Bedroom apartment for less than 100k.

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Thank you for your answers! I appreciate it's a matter of expectations and the lifestyle you're used to (so a hard question to answer).

Having done lots of searches on here and looked at estate agents online, I'm struggling to find anything for less than 100k. Is it still possible to find anything decent in this price category? We'll be moving from a mortgaged 3-bedroom house here in the UK, so not really prepared to live anywhere too small/grubby. Are we talking more like 120k/month (for 2-bed apartment)? Even at that price I've only seen small one-bed places online.

I'm getting the impression that a year or two ago this salary would have been fine, but with current rental prices, I'm getting cold feet. I'll also need to pay school fees (for one child), plus the usual living expenses. We're not expecting an extravagant lifestyle on this money, but wouldn't want to make the move if we're going to struggle to make ends meet. Any further opinions/advice much appreciated...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

if you're prepared to put up with the hassle and traffic, there are 2-bed apts on the Dubai-Sharjah highway just over the Sharjah border for 50-60k....

On that salary it's unlikely you'll be having champagne and lobster brunches at 5* hotels every Friday... but as you say it depends on expectations and lifestyle choices.

My package is in that ball-park and I manage to save a fair amount, but then I'm single so no shopping sprees or school fees :)

Re: Enough to survive?
 

where in Dubai will you be working? it makes a big difference on accomodation!

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Working in Garhoud, and not sure about the idea of a long commute - want to see something of my kids!

Re: Enough to survive?
 

with school fees and rent, realistically, i think you will be stretching it on that salary...

What about medical cover, flights home etc...??

MM, xx

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Thanks everyone for your replies. As expected, it's hard to get a definitive answer on this. Lionheart, you seem certain it's doable, others not so sure. At this stage, I'm just wondering if the salary will cover my basic day-to-day costs (rent x2 bedrooms, school fees x1, car x2, groceries, utilities, etc, plus a bare minimum for going out etc)? Medical already covered.

I'm finding it pretty hard to do accurate sums from out here in blighty. Clearly I'll be pushing it a little - considering I've got a family to support. But I'm sure there are plenty living happily in Dubai on less than that (and, of course, plenty earning much much more). Seems like newcomers bear the brunt of the soaring rents. Once you've found a place, does the rent stay stable for any length of time?

Any further opinions gratefully devoured!

Re: Enough to survive?
 

We live in Garhoud and pay AED75K for a 3-bed villa, but we were lucky. Many of the schools are located in Garhoud as well as the Irish Village. Its been said here and elsewhere that only 4.6% of the population earn more than AED20K per month so anyone saying you cannot live here on that is daft. It really depends on where you choose to eat and do your shopping. Places like Al Qusais and Rashidya are more reasonably priced without being unpleasant.

Re: Enough to survive?
 

I'm on a basic of less than that but am single so I don't spend so much on rent and no school fees.

It will be doable but you wont have a great lifestyle and certainly won't be saving much money!
rents on that side of the creek are cheaper but still expensive. You'll be able to get something for less than 100k in Al nada or Qusais but they are not the best of locations and you'll be sat in traffic a lot!

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Why not consider Mankhool/Burjuman area as well? You can get a 3 bed for 140-160 p.a.. Here's a rough budget, if you're not keen on saving...

13125 rent (150k p.a. for a 3 bed; includes the 5% municipality tax)
2500 car (e.g. Camry)
2500 groceries
2000 School (mid range in Garhoud)
750 W/E; Phone/internet for an apartment
1125 shopping/entertainment/saving. Eating out is cheap; there are 2 parks within a 10 minute drive; ........

I used to commute to Garhoud 2 years back - 15min drive to and fro; may be 30 min now - you travel in the opposite direction to the Sharjah traffic, so no problem:)

Will try and find out the rents in neighbouring buildings tomorrow to see if anything cheaper available....

Re: Enough to survive?
 

So do I!

There are hundreds of apartments to choose from and now it's betting to the stage that you can negotiate quite hard on the rents (especially in Jumeriah Beach Residence etc). Although, you will need any potential employer to pay school fees as they are expensive here and will zap a lot of your monthly income if you don't. Also if you can get a job where your rent is paid, that will be a huge bonus, however, not many companies now offer that allowance (maybe only a percentage, like we get). Also make sure you get good family medical insurance included in in your employment package.

We have a good life out here. I've didn't work until recently (I work part-time to fit in with my family and we've been here two and a half years). DH earns a decent salary, however, it's incredibly easy to fall into the debt trap here. As long as you live within your means and don't try to 'keep up with the Jones' (unless you have the cash to do so!! :)), you'll be fine.

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Mirdiff will be an ideal area for you to live. It's near Garhoud (that's where I work and most of my colleagues live in Mirdiff). One of them has just secured a 3 bed villa there for 80K per annum!! Although villas at these prices don't come along very often!! But I know a few people who pay between 120-130k pa for a decent villa there.

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Let me give you the lowdown on living in SHJ and commuting to Garhoud:
2-2.5 hours of commute everyday (about 1 hr each way)...One lucky day per week that you get to your destination within 30 minutes...
This is if you live in Nahda or AlKhan/Taawon areas that are close to Dubai...
Costwise:
You will live in a 2BR apartment - 5,500/month
Utility fees (phone/internet/SEWA/Evision) - 1,300/month
Groceries (Carrefour/Spinneys) for 3 pax - 1,500/month
2 cars - 3,500/month (bank installments)
2 cars petrol/maintenace/insurance,etc - 2,000/month
Schooling - 2,500/month (You're British,life is expensive...I pay 1,500/month for my cost centre)
Boozing (youre still English,the pub is your second home) - 1,000/month
Clothing (You're English,but you still wear clothes and look like a gentleman) - 1,000/month for the entire family
Dining out (Your wife will leave you if you don't) - 1,000/month
That's 19,300AED per month...
So unless I forgot something, you'll live a good life...(He already said he's not bothered to save...So he wants to live life to the full,ie the "Lebanese" way...)

Re: Enough to survive?
 

lol Conf, you're posts are actually informative these days- you feeling ok?!

Re: Enough to survive?
 

I don't know what came over me...Must be the new glue...I changed brands...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Thanks once again for the replies - very helpful indeed (just what I needed). I'm going to go away and do a bit more research, then no doubt I'll be back shortly with more questions.

Being able to live near where I'd be working (Garhoud/Mirdiff) is appealing. What are these places like to live in?

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Mirdif is up and coming.. rental prices are rising fast. Please remember that you have to pay a year upfront on the rent of a place here...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

In contrast to 4 cheques as is the norm in Sharjah...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

I will be your neighbour soon...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Sharjah bound?

Re: Enough to survive?
 

why not?

Re: Enough to survive?
 

I'm not saying anything...I'm moving to Abu Dhabi...The Federal Decree was passed five minutes ago...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

lucky I'm off back to the U.K then

Re: Enough to survive?
 

i had no idea you were also a Shj man conf...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

he's that creepy guy in your elevator last night...think about it

Re: Enough to survive?
 

talking complete crap to women in Boudoir every night? ;):rofl:

Re: Enough to survive?
 

but it's crap smelling of roses...you try and do that and hey presto...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

elephant dung? it's miracle stuff.

Re: Enough to survive?
 

yeah...so I was told

Re: Enough to survive?
 

will leave that to our Levantine friends! its part of their heritage!

Re: Enough to survive?
 

pratice makes perfect...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

I think you're a little bit light on the bills - 3 bed place plus TV (there is a kid) plus internet and phone (remember mobile costs too) would be closer to Dh1,250 I think.

You also have to remember all the 'fees' which will crop up all of the time. And Dh1,125 a month won't stretch very far.

I'd say unless you can share then it won't be much fun. You'll be broke the whole time. The people who all live on less than Dh10,000 all share - whole families in one room.

Re: Enough to survive?
 

thats where Ive been going wrong then!

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Aye...Why 3 bedroom?? Each person in a separate room??? Thought the bloke was married... How much is a 2 bedroom in BD these days???

Re: Enough to survive?
 

That's what IG suggested.

I think a 2 bed in BD is 110k plus