Hi ALL,
I have been offered 10,500 SR Per Month by a Saudi Company (based in Riyadh). This salary package includes all benefits i.e. housing and travel. I have been offered a family visa and also the travel and visa expenses will be covered by company(reimbursed after my joining). I will also be provided 30 days leave annually with ticket charges provided by my company(for all family, family includes 1 wife and 2 children). Health insurance is also covered, but i don’t have the details about it.
My History:
I am currently located in Lahore, Pakistan. I am currently earning a package of 100,000 PKR per month (including all benefits like bonuses, medical, provident fund, etc.). I am married, have 1 baby child and i live with my parents and sisters in Lahore (house owned by my father).
My Lifestyle:
I enjoy a good living in Lahore, like weekly eat-outs (even weekdays eat-outs) with my friends or family, Monthly shopping, etc.
I have 6 dependents, and a big house to maintain (utility bills, maintenance,etc.).
Now according to my calculations, a good living with 1 wife and 1 child will cost me almost 8000 SR Per Month in Riyadh, Saudia. But i have to support my family in Pakistan as well, and also do some savings. I need to live in a good house in Riyadh, like at least a 2 bedroom flat / villa with all accessories of life and comfort.
What are your comments on this offered package? I will appreciate if people living in Riyadh would comment on this one.
Thanks,
QQ.
Even today, 100,000 PKR is good money in PK. I am sure you know that bit already.
Your offer sounds fairly good as a number – people live with much much less.. However, its inclusive of ALL benefits hence not as attractive. You can live a good life with that much money in Saudi, no question. However, if you want to support your family back home and want to save some too.. depends entirely on what your target is.
My advice: Plan a year. Set realistic goals for saving / sending money home. If you plan on driving a late 90′s model toyota and are ok with living in non-villa / outside compound accommodation, the package is good.
Comfort is a relative term.. you will not get 100K PKR type Pakistani comfort in 10K SR. People come to KSA to save money and enjoy tax free salary. If you plan on saving 10 lac in 2 yrs, it would be around 2K SR / month.. say you send the same amount home. SR 6500. Deduct 3K per month for housing / tickets.. 1K for the car. 2500 SR will get you, your wife, and baby a good life.. more like 30-40K PKR type life in Saudi.
Summary: I did the same calculations. I am going to KSA for doing Hajj + umrahs + some money. I am definitely not expecting any luxuries of Pakistani life style.
Refer to these already answered questions for some lifestyle cost tips:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvqKIWslGRTiMRf_8Y5s.xUjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20080401041533AA28D0T
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqRXDreMcPK9d95N08FJ59IjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20080529093302AAk2hQo
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtRsU8hxrMFTBAvSlpxYY1AjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20071109140312AAhFHKZ
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtZAeR0WOc8Q.0UL2TFSVn0jzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20080302023736AALYy48
Though Rs 100 K is a good salary in pakistan, i guess you would not be saving any thing significant considering the high inflation pakistan is pasing through right now. Even if u r saving something, u would not save much once, u r billed for the recently announed higher electricity, gas,petrol prices etc.
as regards saudia,, i think u should be incurring following expenses :
accomodation (apartment outside a compound) : SR 2,500/-
household expenses : SR 2,500/-
Car (2nd hand car 1,300 cc) : SR 1,000/-
School (pakistani school) : SR 1,000/-
Misc expenses : SR 1,000/-
I guess, u would be spending appox SR 8,000/- per month. if u really work hard and curb your needs, u would end up at SR 7,000/- but not less than that. now it depends on you, as to what money u would like to send back home. if u send SR 1,500/- (Rs 30 K), u may save SR 2,000/- per month (Rs 40 K per month or Rs 480 K p.a)
I think you can live comfortably on 5000 riyals since your housing is going to be paid for through your housing allowance. And, you may even be able to find a nice place for less than the housing allowance and keep the remainder. You also won’t have the school costs yet since you said you only have 1 baby, so that will save you some money for a while.
Groceries might cost you 1500 a month (including other things bought in the grocery store such as laundry soap, cleaning supplies, etc.) To give you an idea, my husband and I spend maybe 1000 riyals a month.
Eating out might cost you up to 500 a month depending on how much and where you want to eat out. There are a lot of good cheap places to eat though, so you don’t have to spend a lot. We eat out 1-2 times a week, and probably spend no more than 200 riyals total in a month.
Once you get settled in, I think the day to day living cost is very low here.