Accomodation or settle for housing allowance?
Should I settle for cash or company provided accomodation?
A company I interviewed with offered me 2 bedroom apt. AND NOT housing allowance (which would be $ 15000/yr calculated @ 3 months basic/year).I'm Indian, in SAP IT arena, manager with 15 yrs experience half of which was in west. I have returned back to India for good and the last job I left paid me twice in west.
I like to seek advise from expats considering that I'm dealing with different employment and hiring culture and attitudes:
A) Can I save something if the company if I seek a $10,000/yr housing allowance. Or does it make sense to settle for company housing?
B)How much will I land up paying for rent ():
1. for a 2 bed+living+kitchen furnished and unfurnished apt. in a good complex (my kids prefer western environment as they as they grew up there).
2. for a 2 bed_living+kitchen furnished and unfurnished apt. in areas where Indians with same salary live.
Note for South Asians: Dont base your advise just because the salary appears good by your/indian standards. I need practical advise (excellent for someone might not be good for other and vice-a-versa)
Always go for company provided accommodation subject to your standard and satisfaction.
You better find out where housing will be located. There are some places (most places) that your kids looking for western type environment will not live. Whatever they give you for allowance will not be enough, rents are through the roof and going higher.
An Apt will cost about 6000/8000QR per month times 12 equals 72000/96000QR per year. A $10,000USD is only 28000QR. Not enough
Go for the accommodation but make sure it is GOOD accommodation.
Try checking out the rents in The Gulf Times newspaper (classifieds). http://www.gulf-times.com/
Best of luck whichever you choose.
I would say go with accommodation. Accommodation prices are rising at an incredibly quick rate and you will always be adding money to your allowance to cover the cost. At least if the company is paying the increase isn't coming out of your pocket.