I need to know about the cost of living and life style in Al Khobar/Damma to negotiate an offer for employment

Question

I have received an offer from a MNC company based in Al Khobar. Now before I decide on the offer I need to know the following:

a. I will be shifting with my family [me, my wife and daughter aged 1 years]. Is it safe to shift with family? I will turn down the offer if I need to relocate alone without my family.

b. We are non muslims not particularly religious types but do respect others who follow it. Any particular difficulty?

c. What is the cost of living with particular reference to cost of provisions [vegetable, non-veg items, fruits, grocerries, milk]?

d. What should an accomodation cost ? I am looking at 2 bed rooms, 1 kitchen, atleast 1 bathroom, a drawing room, portico.

e. I heard furnished options are available and how much should that cost?

f. If taken unfurnished, how much will furnishing cost?

g. Cost of utilities - gas, electricity,water

h. Commuting cost

Regards,

Answer 1

d/e- if you are European/American, then  you need to stay at compounds, anything else might cause troubles and no comfort for you and your neighbors due to close mindness and some Saudis never saw/talked to American/European in Real life.

If you choose to not stay in compounds, then rent is ranges based on location, e.g. for a family apt (+3 rooms/bathrooms) rent can be 20-+30k unfurnished.  If you want furnished, for a two bedroom 18-+30k

Compounds prices also ranges based on if it is full or not, and how nice it is.  I have no idea about figures.

f - furniture also ranges based on where you are shopping.  You can buy a whole bedroom for ~4000SR, you can buy a kitchen for 7k or up to 100k.

Life style:

It is really hard to build a relationship with Saudis outside of work.  Saudi's life style is mainly during the night.  Most shops are close in the daytime.  Shops are always open till 12-2 am.  Driving is a chaos here.  customers are treated differently here in Saudi Arabia.  Usually the customers always right in the US.  Here the store is always right, if you don't like, then their reply would be "get the h**l out of here"!!

Answer 2

a.  I think it's safe.  I just wouldn't suggest living too far from where you work.

b.  You won't have any problems.  There are a lot of people here who aren't muslims, and also a lot of people who don't practice any religion.

c.  Vegetables/Fruits - Usually pretty cheap when compared to the prices in the US.  Sorry, I don't know how prices are around the world.  Some veggies and fruits are more expensive, but that's due to importing them.  For example, celery is usually expensive in my opinion.  But, cucumbers are very cheap.

Milk - 7 riyals for 2 liters.

rice - kinda expensive, but it's something you have to buy, right?  I haven't bought rice in a while, so I forget the exact price.

Beans- very cheap if they're dried.

Canned foods - moderate price.

Bread - 1-2 riyals for pita bread.  2.5-3.5 riyals for a loaf of sandwich bread.

Meat - 15-18 riyals for 500 g boneless, skinless chicken breast.  14-15 riyals for 500 g ground lamb/beef/camel.  I don't buy much meat with bones, so I don't know the price, but I know whole chickens can be cheap.  They sell huge boxes of chickens.

My husband and I alone probably spend about 800-1000 riyals per week on food.  If we were concerned about cost of food, then I'm sure we could cut that in half, or close to it.

Restaurants - Fast food meals are 14-20 riyals.  Saudi food can be very cheap.  You can eat a meal for a few riyals.  Your family could eat for under 10 riyals total.

d.  no idea, sorry

e.  again, no idea

f.  you can find used furniture.  I'm sure there's a wide range of prices when it comes to buying new furniture.  

g.  utilities are cheap.  Our last electricity bill was, I think, 44 riyals.  I'm not sure how much gas and water cost.

h.  Gas for the car is very cheap.  For a small car, you might pay 30 riyals to fill up with the higher grade of gasoline.

Answer 3

like any other Saudi city