Cost of living in Riyadh

(Sorry for lurking but I can't help you with your question.  For some reason, when I read about salaries in KSA, it is always said that Indians can live more cheaply than Westerners.  I really don't know why other than maybe Indians have a more established community and can live like the locals?)

Alliecat wrote:

(Sorry for lurking but I can't help you with your question.  For some reason, when I read about salaries in KSA, it is always said that Indians can live more cheaply than Westerners.  I really don't know why other than maybe Indians have a more established community and can live like the locals?)

Hi Alliecat

     I appreciate ur effort to reply to my topic but considering the fact that there are very limited things to do in Riyadh how much do think a westerner bachelor would spend monthly.

Warm Regards
Navin

5.5K per month for a 23 year old guy seems reasonable if you do choose to live very carefully and frugally. Cooking will certainly save you lots of bucks. Many Indian restaurtants in gtown also offer monthly mealackages for a very paltry sum and the food is truly delicious. Malaz Resurant is one of the more famous eating houses which caters to most Indian palettes.

No doubt single housing will cost at least 10K per annum and maybe even less if you choose to move away from the city. However, that pops up the transportation dilemma since the local public tranbsport system is absolutely putrid and taxis are too expensive for daily commuting.

Of course you can buy a small vehicle for a reasonable monthly instalment within your 5.5K budget, too.

I would feel more comfy with at least 7.5ZK though.

A small Toyota 1300-1500cc sedan would cost approx SR 700-1,000 per month paid over 60 months, on the monthly instalment packages that are on offer by the car sales people around Riyadh

Second hand cars of the same make and model types would probably cost around SR 15K based on the year of manufacture and km reading. The used car sales place is a hectic fish market type atmosphere where you get swarmed by thes ellers like bees around a hive. You have to go there with an Arab speaker or else you can get torn to smithereens by those car sale vultures there.

You will still have to appear for a driving test at the driving school in Riyadh after obtaining your Resident Permit (Iqama) which should not be too mush of a hassle for someone who has been driving back home. What you will need to watch out for is the Left Hand Drive and driving on the Right side of the Street as opposed to the driving rules back in South Asia where its all Right hand Drive and Keep Left. Reverse parking between two closely placed barrels is anopther test you have to pass without hitting the barrels opr the curb.

You have to put up with a little bit of brashness by the driving instructers and testing folks. They can be very abrasvive but remember to keep your cool and smile and pretend to be a hermit lost in the desert looking for his way around. They are still human beings, too.

Good Luck. God Bless. Enjoy the Sands...

yr welcome mate. just keep those inquiries rolling in andf we will share everything we have learned through some good times and also some difficult ones. Its a long and winding road .... in the desert sands. hv a gr8 day!