Advise on Salary --- please

thanks lucky..got ur msg. i have been here a few months myself and here's how the expenses are turning out:

Housing 10.5k (a 4 bed furnished almost new villa compound, yes prices are falling)

Car expenses 2.5k, Groceries 3.5k, Maid + Driver for kids 2k, utilities 1k, Entertainment/Misc 2k. In short, monthly average expenses about 22k for mid-sized family.

Your cash salary (26+2+14.2)= 42.2k. Net savings = 20k or USD5.5K! Add another USD2k p.m. on average if you consider bonuses and end service benefits. I would suggest you make a 3 year spreadsheet of potential inflows and outflows. This analysis ofcourse doesn't consider your wife working or your Canadian liabilities.

Where else in the world would you get savings like that working a relatively relaxed job (you get off at 2.30pm!) and your wife has the luxury of not having to work. That plus life here is quite fun if you are a young family, and certainly not as freezing as canada..:)

There...that's the best I could sell you Qatar..;)

in Canada

Your income: 130K (95K after taxes) ~ QAR 342K (28.5K p.m)

Wife's income: 50K (40K after taxes) ~ QAR 144K (12K p.m)

Kid's schooling: Free

Health care: free

Rental + utilities (assumption): $2300 (~QAR 8500 p.m)

So you and your wife together are taking home QAR equivalent of 40K per month minus the rental (for mortgage you should factor in the principal repayment part as well)

So roughly you're left with QAR 30-31K per month for all expenses.

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in QATAR .........

your income: QAR 43K

Rental: -13K p.m

Schooling: paid for by Q.P

Considering all other living costs being equal (I think they are). you'll end up with pretty much the same amount of savings as in Canada. However, if your finds a job, that would be additional to any money you end up saving in Canada.

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dont listen to the naysayers, they are probably just jealous..;). yours is a very good package, with a high potential to save.

My basic is only marginally above your 'basic+WIA' salary, and I end up saving $6k per month and probably $8k per month if I take bonuses/ESA into account. our lifestyle (2 kids) is pretty much the same as you have described about your family.

the bottomline is how much you save every month compared to your current savings. If its over twice as much, then it justifies the move.

waiting game....

it is actually base + western allownces....i look at it as base salary

Good luck...

.....that is the breaking point, according to our calculations we should be able to save 5K USD/month with that salary and benefits. This will be with one icnome and we are currently saving little less than that wiht both of us working like a dog....it will be a good deal if the employer agrees to it, not sure though

I have been very firm with them, let's see what they see - if they want me bad, they gonna have to pay some cash $$ :-)

will keep u all posted, again - thank u all and God Bless! Whoeever u are and whereever u are, stay well & healthy, and make a lot of money (i.e. TAX FREE :-))

your words are always very discouraging. your breakdown in those expenses seems like you're so confident. maybe you can lie to those new birds, but not an old bird like me. 2 cars 6k/month? are you OK, excuse me.

i urge you to agree with the remuneration package. ignore those negative opinions in this forum. i had been in the middle east long enough to say confidently that things are not that bad as people all say. your package is more than enough. but if you think you want to be a millionaire in one year by being an employee, then that's not realistic.

out here, if you make friends with people instead of enemies, there will not be any end to your career. your presence in Qatar may lead to something else, something bigger. come over to Qatar, be humble, let people curse and swear at you, continue doing good things to others, make as many friends as possible and you'll be OK.

if you realy want it, you should think about it again.

Pros and cons!

thank u ALL

thinking to reject it......I believe that I need 5K more monthly to make it worth while, they don't seem to negotiate....feel sad becuase this is the job I wanted and this is where I wanted to live for few years....:-(

ASD has a long waiting list. It is a good and expensive school.

Now,it is your decision what to do. You have lot of information and can get more if you ask more.

Good luck!

Net is 70K, Taxes r killing me

so grab that opportunity as it will never come again! IMO!

You say In canada you make 130,000CAD/year That's 10,833.33CAD per month. Which is QR39,325 per month, your offer is for QR26,000, Are you listening??

You should not count on allowances as income, including your yearly airfare, they are used to cover your expenses, and from the looks of it, it barely does. Also you should not count on your wife making much money. Babysitters get QR25 per hour, at best. You are also willing to loose 50,000CAD per year that she makes? Are you listening??? Sure, you're close to Mecca but what does that get you?

The general rule is that you get a competitive home country salary here plus 25%, plus housing, schooling, medical, transportation and airfare. Anything less just isn't worth it. You may also be liable for Canadian taxes if you aren't very careful to qualify for the exemption.

Mandi

Mine doesn't but I have no kids

No way to that offer.

Should be at least double plus housing provided.

Would be good to get away from the Can tax though...

Thanks Folks again......

appreciate your input all.....basically, what we are thinking is that we get annual airfare to Canada as Cash (family of 5) figuring it to be around 10K USD range - that money can be used for annual vacation

one car will be covered with the 2K allownce (after buying it on interest free loan) - i.e. 2K will pay off the loan, so net will be zero for car 1. Car 2 will be an expense

Wife is thinking to work there....has a lot of experience in day care and with all ages of children. Loves children and wants to be with children there as well, hoping nothing high paying job - but something to keep her busy and hopefully get 5K a month at least

we will need maid

what do you guys think, the plan is to save at least 3-4K USD with my income alone, anything wife brings is a gravy :-)

something change from routine, exposure to different culture, close to Mecca (we r muslims), close to all GCC countries (travel nearby countries), gain expereince in OIL & GAS industry (major company in the world), have maid for house chores...

QUESTIONS: Is the ASD equal to Private schools in North America or is it like public school? How is the education, that is important to us - and how about waitng list

BTW, company is not negotiating, unfortunately

like to get more opinions please, thansk in advance,

You have some conflicting views there.... personally i disagree with the following statements by bea:

1. although boring as hell ha ha

2. as a Canadian - it doesn't really matter what is her line of work

3. your kid/s will not get the same standad of education here

Thanks FOLKS

26K pm is in QR and all other allownces housing, schools, car allownce, annual air fare are EXTRA

Have 3 kids, we don't drink alchohol, but like to eat out a lot :-)

thanks again folks, u guys are fantastic

I would like to hear more......

the package is very good for the role and for your qualification. you can have a decent life here (although boring as hell ha ha).

Your wife will also get a job easily (as a Canadian - it doesn't really matter what is her line of work).

The only thing you need to consider is that your kid/s will not get the same standad of education here as they would in Canada...

Whatever you decide - remember that nothing in Qatar is permanent (people coming on permanent contracts get demobilised easily and for silly reasons!) It is fine if you're single, but with a family it is a slightly different picture.

how many kids do you have?

for 14.2K you will be able to rent very avarage villa, not something special.

Utilities 1K-1.5K QAR /month

2 cars at least 6K QAR /month

Basic monthly expenses for family of 4 (again, not sure how many kids)at very least around 6-8K QAR.

Entertainment (including bars) could be another 5-6K QAR, depends on your drinking habits.

Travelling (and you will need it a lot, as there is nothing to do here during the holiday!)- to save for travelling about 2-3K a month.

I would say, after all you will be able to save around 3K CAD per month (IF!). Is that what are you looking for?

I am not sure what your wife is doing, but usually those who under their husbands' sponsorship are not given too high salaries, and no allowances.

Also, if your wife wants to work, you probably will need a housemaid. So, here you go, more expenses.

Negotiate a basic salary, ask for at least 10K more.

Ask for more or stay back. Do the currency conversion and check for yourself.

I think you are better off in Canada. Even if they are offering a few extra bucks life here is nothing like what you have in Canada. The weather is extremely harsh, the traffic is life threatening, and the schools with big names are just money making business. You will will be disillusioned, I bet!!

the salary offer is posted above, do you think that is suitable for those qualifications and experience? considering the joint salary they are giving up at home. Me thinks not. I know people working in QP companies with far less qualifications and limited experience earning greater salaries than that.

a good offer im afraid.

Is the housing included in base? you meantioned included alloances. If "yes", your base salary is only QR9.5K (are you happy with it?)

1CAD aprox 3.6QR. You can do your own calculation now and see if you can accept the offer.

QR14.2K for housing could be OK, depends of your standards. Check the classifieds section.

Your present package at Canada is good but if you wish to saty in Qatar for what so ever reason, then as per Qatar standard, the package is good. You can get very decent house and rather HRA itself can meet your all expenses in Qatar if you compromise for a decent flat instead of villa and control your wastage.

Please dont add your wife salary here as you have to see your own income and compare.

better you stay in canada..life here in qatar is boring.

ask for a lot more.

Sorry, could you make it clear which currency you are calculating in?

Mandi