ogaya

I have been based in Oman for the past couple of years. I earn by UK standards a good salary 3700 OMR a month.

However I find that with a family of four with a maid it is impossible to save anything. Oman is very expensive.

The company I work for does not pay schooling/housing or even healthcare. Unfortuantely none of my western friends discuss what they are earning so I am not sure If i could expect better elswhere. What makes it worse is that no bonuses have been paid this year!

If you are in Oman or UAE could you share your experience (& salary if possible)

I am in the Construction Industry in a Senior Capacity.

Thanks for your feedback.

tayls123

well my boss is senior management, and im quite friendly with our accountant...i know he earns 8 grand a months (pounds) and his accomodation is paid for him both in Saudi and in Dubai where his wife and kids live...but he's top dog over here...there is nobody more senior than him at this company in Saudi so that might have a bearing on it. I on the other hand earn considerably less than that...and i find it super easy to save since there is zero expenditure here. healthcare, accomodation, food, phone bills...everything is paid for...and theres no distractions to waste your money on...most of the guys out here, if your looking to save, theres no better place to be. i've been touted for a move to Oman in the coming months for an upcoming project...whats it like there? expensive?

mentalist

Did you not read the original post? He says that Oman is very expensive.

tayls123

cheers for pointing that out eagle eyes ..i was wondering how expensive

Millhouse

You have a maid and are whining about not saving? I think the expression is called "cutting your cloth"

But in all seriousness, with 4 kids you will not save much on that salary. I would say you need almost double... Of course, what you need, and what you should be paid are often different things.

I'm not going to say what I earn, but I can tell you what I spend. I too have to pay for EVERYTHING, school fees, healthcare, flights, sex, maid (not related to previous item), housing, cars, even the blood tests and visas for my family. All in I spend around 35k AED month. I have one saucepan lid.

OleJanx

Oman is only expensive if you fritter your money away. If you are sensible ( rare, I know) then it is a great place to live and a reasonable place to save.

If you get onto the keeping up game, though, it's shit.

tayls123

not interested in keeping up...how much is basic things....beer, cigs, a weekly food shop etc. does it fall in line with the rest of the middle east or is it an overpriced sh*thole?

ogaya

Family of 4

Rent - 700 OMR Small Villa
Sedan Car - 17O rental
Supermarket - 600 a month
Bills - 200 a month
Maid - 120 month
School - 3000 a year++
Health - 1000 a year
All omani riyals

co durham boy

Personally for me Oman is the best place in the Gulf to live . Laid back , a nice city in Muscat and a different vibe about the place .

It's still expensive though .

co durham boy

The schooling is the killer for you and let's be honest get the wife to mop the floors and clean the crapper .

You'll save yourself a few bob

OriginalSunshine

change employer.

most folks with 15-20 yrs experience in construction get around 3000 OMR per month PLUS a rental allowance PLUS medical PLUS schooling. Some folks (those at the airport) get a 4wd thrown in as well.

sedan car at 170/month is expensive. you're better off getting a 2 yr loan and buying the damn thing outright at that charge. you can buy 5-6 yr old 4wd for around 5000 OMR.

you could save on the maid if your wife doesnt work. you could save on the villa by renting in less presitigous areas (eg Ghubra, Bousher). you could save on the shopping by buying in Carrefour or Lulu rather than Al Fair.

if you have to pay for schooling, and you;re going to BSM/ABA/TASIM that's pretty standard per child, if not on the cheap side.

of course... and as per course in the ME... all the above assumes that you have a "western" passport, and you're not living in Ruwi (you know what I mean) and sending your kids to MIS or ISO...

Tockalosh

I would expect to touch the sides for 30 OMR a night. Does that help ?

Oyibopeppeh

I hear it's all worn out PRC's that most of the oilfield trash have been through a dozen times each....and still they ask 100 a night

Tockalosh

God I hate Chinese take aways at the best of times but more so at 100 bucks a night. Better to get a bored European housewife and save a few bucks even if you have to put up with their stretch marks and whinging about their husbands

OleJanx

Hmm! The Fahud widows....