Bahtatboy

Then I hope to **** he's not looking at a communications role. Quite how "non-white/British" = non-westerners is beyond me.

DXBtoDOH

If you want to make a mountain out of a molehill then by all means go for it.

DXBtoDOH

Find an all-inclusive flatshare for 4k a month. Plenty exist. Some for even less.

Budget 1k a week for food and a few drinks and social events.

Total 8k a month.

Leaves him with 4k a month for savings and commission is all bonus.

Despite being on a much higher package than his offer I still only average around 1k a week for day to day living in Doha (including transportation) and I find it comfortable enough. Dubai was much the same.

Millhouse

I'm not sure that you're the bellwether for expenditure. And who wants to share a flat?

mission

DXB, with your frugal way of 'spending' you must have money coming out of your ears. You must surely have a fair wack stashed away.
The thought of accommodation sharing makes me cringe.....i can barely manage family and friends for a few days, let alone sharing long term with randoms

jdudley14

Bahtatboy, apologies. I was merely stating that the majority of the British population socialise with other, British/western community members while in the Middle East, much like other cultures the same. Kind of ironic you're posting that in a "British Expats" forum.

I was just stating that I would like to, if possible, socialise as best I can while outside of a working environment in which I'm the only Brit/Westerner there. Apologies if you took wrongly to that but take it as you will.

For all the other responses, thank you very much. It seems as though the cost of living out there is going to leave me relatively short on actual disposable income. I'm primarily trying to establish if it'll be worth me sacrificing the social life to get the extra money...basically a work life balance that doesn't leave me miserable. Because of course that would make moving rather senseless.

If I'm honest I'd rather not flatshare, but if that's going to be the difference between only being able to afford a coffee once a month and nothing else then beggars can't be Choosers.

I'm big into tennis, golf, football and fitness as well as windsurfing etc but looks as though memberships for these places may be out of reach for now.

I think as long as 12k is deemed enough to have a place to myself, live on healthy food and have the odd kick about and beer then I think that should be enough to get me started. And no, not an estate agent!

mission

i think you should be able to pick up a studio for around AED 60k p/a and hence not have to share

DXBtoDOH

If you want your own place you are going to be buggered.

Something in your budget is going to be a cheap studio far removed from the usual haunts of western expats. You do have a car, so the transportation is sorted out.

But a 50k studio requires: 5% deposit, 5% commission to the agent, the entire rent paid in 1-4 cheques for the year, furnishing, then the monthly utilities and internet and depending on the area, cooling charges.

You want your own place you're looking at a minimum of 6k a month on average (but remember that this is mostly paid in a series of large cheques rather than monthly).

Plus, you're tied to a lease. If all goes belly up for you (and it does for many estate agents) it's a devil getting out of a lease to return home without losing a lot of money in the process. Usually 2-3 months' rent.

6k month/rent + 4k living = 10k, leaving you with 2k savings. Whoa

UAE is not the place for this.

Don't come unless you're prepared to share. At least for your first year. Decent way to meet people.

DXBtoDOH

That I do. I easily save 30k a month. More usually.

scot47

Misers in Saudi used to aspire to membership of the semi-mythical "500 Club" Aim was to live on 500 Saudi Riyals a month. I watched some of them do it - usually at some cost to their mental health.

Bahtatboy

Fair enough, let's move on.

Millhouse

These savings come at a tremendous cost, I reckon.

Millhouse

Well bascially, 12k isn't enough. Some will say 20k but I think 15k is the floor. The teachers bascially get by happily on 10+5k of housing.

Are you a financial advisor?

jam25mack

TBH I see no issue with sharing as long as you get in with a decent group. I know loads of folk who have been doing it for years despite having the means to get their own place. As folk say, you'll be able to get an all inc place for 4k say for a big room in somewhere like the marina. Compare this with living in the sticks in a shitty studio with the responsibility and commitment of a years lease plus bills and its a no brainer. Plus to get out anywhere for a beer you'd end up paying a load in taxis where as if you were in the marina you could just walk.

If I was in your position I know which one I would choose.

DXBtoDOH

Like what....