What about average monthly income and living cost in Riyadh?

20POSTS

13 years ago

Hi, i'm thinking about moving in Riyadh because i have been offered from a firm. They offered me 18.500 sar per month. Therefore they would give me medical insurance and annual ticket to go back to Italy, but no contribution for housing and transportation. Can this be considered a good (or hopefully very good) salary? What about living cost in Riyadh? With this income is it possible to live in a decent way? For decent way i mean living alone (i'm bachelor and i don't have children) in a nice house in a calm and nice area, eating in restaurants, doing shopping, traveling abroad sometimes for holidays... i'm not talking eating in expensive restaurants everyday, or shopping expensive clothes by famous italian fashion brand or travelling in luxury resorts... but just sometimes have some fun and relax in a normal way without thinking all the time about money (this one is too much expensive, i can't afford that one...). The point is that, if i am going to say yes to this opportunity, i want to upgrade my lifestyle, not to get worse it. Therefore, is it realistic thinking to get some saving (hopefully 50%)? And what about housing cost? is it better to find home in a compound or not? there is so many difference between living in a compound or outside, in terms of quality of life and cost?
What aboout public trasportation in Riyadh? Is it a good service? or having an own car is strictly reccomended if i want to move around without troubles?
Many many thanks for your precious help and for your useful advices!

See also

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Freshlikesushi ViP

1455POSTS

13 years ago

All your questions are answered already

billiz79 Member

20POSTS

13 years ago

know that all questions are already answered, but i hoped to have some more detailed information and specific answers... in forum there are so many information, but answers and opinion sometimes seem contradicting each other: for some people 25k sar per month is a basic salary, for others 10k is very good...
anyway, if someone can give me more info it would be very appreciated.
Therefore, i am a professional with 5+ years of experience in marketing and communication field... 18,5k sar PM is a good salary o i could ask for more?

My budget monthly plan could be:
-> 5.000 sar for house renting
-> 7.500 sar for living
-> 6.000 sar saving

is that realistic?

Thaks a lot for your answers.
Bye!

saimans Guest

0POSTS

13 years ago

5k for house renting is ok, if u will be staying out of compound. living expenses of 7.5k is very high for a single individual.. unless u have some expensive interests... saving potential will vary accordingly. good luck.

shoaib629 Active member

25POSTS

13 years ago

billiz79 wrote:
My budget monthly plan could be:
-> 5.000 sar for house renting
-> 7.500 sar for living
-> 6.000 sar saving

is that realistic?

That seems realistic.... though u'll be spending much less than 7.5k for living based on ur requirements... that means more savings...

Actually more than money, wat u shud consider is that u'll get bored out of your mind in Riyadh!!!

billiz79 Member

20POSTS

13 years ago

hi guys, thanks for your answers! But which is the real difference between living in compoud or living outside? It affects in a tangible way your quality of life? and why? For instance, as far as concerns the security issue, i am not worried about it in Riyadh... so i guess, from personal security point of view, nothing should chiange... but maybe i'm wrong and i totally should be in security issue.
Anyway, do you know how much does it cost renting a nice house for 1 person in compound? Do you know any websites i can check in order to get information about the average cost?
I know Riyadh is not the funniest city in the world (probably is one of the most boring...), but i'm available to spend there a period of my life (maybe years) if this allows me to be more competitive, according to a professional perspective, and (of course) to gain more money than i have at moment. It's not an easy decision (and, anyway, i do not have much time to think about), and for this i am tring to get as more information as possible to take best choice for me. Indeed, i have to say that a new experience, not only professional but concerning my entire life, is getting me very excited and curious, also in a city like Riyadh.
Another question: do you know something about working contracts in Saudi Arabia? Because the firm has offered me not a permanent contract, but a 1 year contract with automatic renewal system (unless of different communication)... is that normal in KSA? i should insist to get a permament contract from the job start?
Sooo many thanks for your patience and for your help and advices!
Bye!

Freshlikesushi ViP

1455POSTS

13 years ago

being a western guy with his wife here
i spend on just stuff less than 4k a month. most of it is food. some of it is buying random things.

if you worked at it, you could live COMFORTABLY on under 2k a month

Bruckner Contributor

181POSTS

13 years ago

18.5k is fine for a bachelor, according to your description.
7.5k for spending/month is too much, unless you have a high standard of living.
5k is not enough for an apt in a compound but you can rent an apt with that amount outside, in a nice area.
Regarding the contract, it's normal that way.

billiz79 Member

20POSTS

13 years ago

Thanks, Bruckner! Yesterday evening i was checking renting house costs for apt in compound... they are crazy expensive!!! But, indeed, the apts are quite big (3 bedrooms, each one with its own bathroom, living room, kitchen...); so i thought, to get lower the huouse cost, a good idea would be sharing the house with other flatmates... doing that, i calculated that monthly rent for a rooom in a compound apt will be around 5k SAR (maybe a little bit more). Is that correct, according to you? Is sharing flat common in Saudi? Will it be easy finding potential flatmates?
I read in this forum a lot of posts where people highly reccomend to other expat not to live outside compound for some reasons like safety (????? is Riyadh so dangerous??? i don't think so...), freedom, socialisation... what do you think about that matter? What's your experience about?
Many thanks for your answers!

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

13 years ago

#10

billiz79 wrote:
I read in this forum a lot of posts where people highly reccomend to other expat not to live outside compound for some reasons like safety (????? is Riyadh so dangerous??? i don't think so...),

Second time you've said something like this, so I've got to speak up. Maybe you've never lived in a country before where it will *always* be obvious you are not a native. Maybe you don't follow the news (three Al-Qaeda cells were broken up in August in Riyadh). Lots of 'maybe's' but if you're planning to move to the Middle East (which isn't exactly Tuscany, my friend), you need to educate yourself and security needs to always be a consideration.

Terrorist BS aside, there are a fair number of home break-in's in Saudia and as a perceived 'rich' foreigner, who lives alone and is away all day at work, isn't it possible you could be a target?

Also, if you end up buying a car and you're not on a compound, you would be parking on the street. Car theft is an ever-increasing problem here.

Anyway, this is in no way an attempt to make you paranoid. Just please don't 'poo-poo' the safety aspects of life in KSA!

Good luck.

pkmusd Serial expat

827POSTS

13 years ago

#11

billiz79 wrote:
Thanks, Bruckner! Yesterday evening i was checking renting house costs for apt in compound... they are crazy expensive!!! But, indeed, the apts are quite big (3 bedrooms, each one with its own bathroom, living room, kitchen...); so i thought, to get lower the huouse cost, a good idea would be sharing the house with other flatmates... doing that, i calculated that monthly rent for a rooom in a compound apt will be around 5k SAR (maybe a little bit more). Is that correct, according to you? Is sharing flat common in Saudi? Will it be easy finding potential flatmates?
I read in this forum a lot of posts where people highly reccomend to other expat not to live outside compound for some reasons like safety (????? is Riyadh so dangerous??? i don't think so...), freedom, socialisation... what do you think about that matter? What's your experience about?
Many thanks for your answers!

Man, Let me tell you.. there is a state when a person overthink too much and created problems and distractions for himself. same is the case with you.

You;ve already done good research.. but you are doing the re-search of the research.

Riyadh is Safe, its just that living in a compound makes you more social but they are crazy expensive. far more than your budget of 5K per month.. so drop that idea.

18.5 is a nice salary for a bachelor.. not bad at all. It depends on your lifestyle, if you like to live labishly.. furnish your place beautifully, often visit bahrain/uae then you'll suffer.
If you live normally it will be good plus you can save some.

roudrik New member

7POSTS

13 years ago

#12

man you are so lucky i work here in riyadh for a salary of 5000 SR per month and iam trying as mush as i can to find a room in any compound i dont know how much would you be abble to live outside of a compound i know i cant and iam trying to find any thing so if you are still looking for a flatmate iam here give me a call and thanks (00966503367093)

Aurélie ViP

22735POSTS

13 years ago

#13

Hello roudrik -> You should post an advert in the Housing in Riyadh section. It may help.

Thank you,
Aurélie

billiz79 Member

20POSTS

13 years ago

#14

Hi roudrik, i am not yet in Riyadh, so i do not know what's gonna happen about my housing situation. i will be there for the beginning of april, if everything's gonna be ok with my visa entry (i am still waiting for the final confirmation from the embassy). Anyway, i will be able to understand better what i have to do regarding compound/housing... only when i will be in riyadh, after talking with my boss, checking flats availability, prices... do not worry, i keep you informed, and if i will need a flatmate i am going to contact you!

roudrik New member

7POSTS

13 years ago

#15

thank you very mush sir i dont know your name though you are trying to help, iam really thankfull any ways i would prefer if we can contact each other by whatsapp or face book or any thing, thats my number in saudi arabia please call (00966503367093) tc and waiting for your call

slyshooter Serial expat

863POSTS

13 years ago

#16

Alliecat wrote:
billiz79 wrote:
I read in this forum a lot of posts where people highly reccomend to other expat not to live outside compound for some reasons like safety (????? is Riyadh so dangerous??? i don't think so...),

Second time you've said something like this, so I've got to speak up. Maybe you've never lived in a country before where it will *always* be obvious you are not a native. Maybe you don't follow the news (three Al-Qaeda cells were broken up in August in Riyadh). Lots of 'maybe's' but if you're planning to move to the Middle East (which isn't exactly Tuscany, my friend), you need to educate yourself and security needs to always be a consideration.

Terrorist BS aside, there are a fair number of home break-in's in Saudia and as a perceived 'rich' foreigner, who lives alone and is away all day at work, isn't it possible you could be a target?

Also, if you end up buying a car and you're not on a compound, you would be parking on the street. Car theft is an ever-increasing problem here.

Anyway, this is in no way an attempt to make you paranoid. Just please don't 'poo-poo' the safety aspects of life in KSA!

Good luck.

This is BS, considering break-ins or thefts; streets and houses in Riyadh would be 10 times safer than that of Rome or any other large city in the world.

I'm not ruling out the crimes and saying it is 100% safe, but there are no terrorist or Al Qaeda roaming on the streets killing foreigners.

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

12 years ago

#17

slyshooter wrote:
I'm not ruling out the crimes and saying it is 100% safe, but there are no terrorist or Al Qaeda roaming on the streets killing foreigners.

I didn't say there were, just trying to give the guy some perspective on compounds. You may kid yourself that it's all about the social aspects, but it's equally about security.