I would like to give a different, perhaps more positive perspective. I am an American that moved out here with my family (husband + 2 kids) 2 years ago to work for an American company. Like many American companies, benefits were not great (no housing allowing, no school allowance, etc.). Salary was a bit higher than yours to start, but not by a huge margin. While I think that 10K a month may be a bit low for accommodation for a family with kids, I disagree with gene_lv's statement that "A modest 2 bedroom where expats from the US can live could be at least QR 15K." I am guessing that in gene's view, US expats can only live in places like The Pearl or West Bay. However, if you are willing to venture out into the rest of Doha (which is really not so scary), you can find quite a nice accommodation for much less than that. For my first year, I leased a 5 bedroom villa with a 2-car carport in a secured compound for 12000 per month. The compound had adequate clubhouse facilities including a pool, and a very responsive, friendly maintenance staff. It was in Al Gharafa, which is close to many schools, and which, particularly if you are working in West Bay or points north (Lusail, etc.), gives you a not terrible commute time. Although my 2 immediate next door neighbors were Qatari (if that bothers you, I never had a problem), the neighborhood was quite diverse, with families from England, France, Russia, Nigeria, Lebanon, etc. My kids (ages 8 and 9) were able to make fast friends there, and would play outside (or inside neighbor's homes) nearly every day (something they couldn't do back in the States). With regard to schools, it's also a matter of how much you need/want to keep your kids isolated from non-Western nationalities. My kids study at the Gulf English School, where they are taught according to the National Curriculum of England by mostly English teachers, and where the tuition is about half of what it is in some of the pricier American (ASD, ACS) and international schools (Compass, etc.). While the majority of students there are either Qatari or other Arab expats, there are some other Western kids, and my kids have never been short on birthday party invitations from both their local and expat schoolmates. I am not sure how your salary offer compares to the market in the US, but if this seems like a good opportunity to you, then go for it. It is easy for expats to fall into the trap of living (and indeed, expecting) an extravagant life here that they wouldn't demand back home. If you want to come here and have a nanny and 2 luxury cars, as well as living in a high-end community surrounded by only Westerners, then, yes, the salary on offer is probably too low. If instead, you are coming here to work, are willing to drive the kind of car you might drive back home, and don't feel especially compelled to have a servant doing your grocery shopping for you, then give it a shot. This place is not for everyone, but it is an adventure that will broaden your kids' point of view on the world, and which will give you valuable international experience that many Americans don't have. Just my 2 cents...