Qatar (QA)
Qatar is the world's wealthiest nation per capita — a small but extraordinarily ambitious Gulf state sitting atop the world's largest natural gas reserves.
Capital: Doha
Region: Middle East
Language: Arabic
Currency: QAR (ر.ق)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 72)
Emergency: 999
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Qatar — 2026 data in QAR.
72
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Moderately priced. Similar to or slightly less than Western European averages.
Food & Groceries
Bread (500g loaf, local bakery) QAR 1–4
Milk (1L, fresh) QAR 5–9
Eggs (12) QAR 8–15
Chicken breast (1kg) QAR 20–35
Rice (1kg, Basmati) QAR 5–12
Dates (500g, premium Medjoul) QAR 30–80
Imported wine (750ml, hotel off-licence) QAR 90–200 (QDC only)
Beer (6-pack, QDC) QAR 55–80 (QDC licence required)
Monthly groceries for 1 person (LuLu/Carrefour) QAR 500–1,000
Imported European cheese (200g) QAR 25–60
Dining Out
Lunch at Filipino/Indian/Nepali restaurant (workers area) QAR 8–15
Shawarma (chicken) QAR 7–12
McDonald's Big Mac meal QAR 28–35
Mid-range restaurant main course QAR 45–90
Coffee (cappuccino, café) QAR 18–30
Hotel restaurant dinner (main course) QAR 90–200
Dinner for 2 (mid-range, no alcohol) QAR 150–300
Dinner for 2 (licensed hotel restaurant with drinks) QAR 400–900
Talabat food delivery (platform fee + delivery) QAR 5–15 per order
Rent
Studio apartment (West Bay / Pearl, furnished) QAR 4,500–7,000
1-bedroom apartment (West Bay / Pearl, furnished) QAR 6,000–10,000
2-bedroom apartment (West Bay / Pearl, furnished) QAR 9,000–15,000
1-bedroom apartment (Mansoura / Al Sadd, unfurnished) QAR 3,000–5,500
2-bedroom villa in compound (Al Waab / Ain Khaled) QAR 7,000–12,000
3-bedroom villa in compound (Al Rayyan area) QAR 10,000–18,000
Room in shared apartment (Al Sadd / Madinat Khalifa) QAR 1,500–3,000
Compound villa (3 bed, with pool/gym access) QAR 12,000–22,000
Transport
Doha Metro single journey (Alhob card) QAR 2–3
Doha Metro monthly pass (all lines) QAR 100
Uber (minimum fare / short ride) QAR 10–20
Uber (cross-city, e.g. Pearl to Airport) QAR 35–60
Petrol (Super 95, per litre) QAR 2.15
Petrol (Octane 98, per litre) QAR 2.35
Monthly car parking (West Bay, basement) QAR 200–500/month
Car registration renewal QAR 50–100/year
Annual technical inspection (Fahhas) QAR 100–200
Health & Insurance
NHIC (Seha) GP visit at PHCC (co-pay) QAR 20
NHIC specialist visit (covered hospital) QAR 50–100 co-pay
Private GP visit (without NHIC) QAR 150–350
Dentist check-up (private clinic) QAR 100–250
Prescription medication (PHCC pharmacy, with Seha) QAR 5–30
Private international health top-up insurance (BUPA) QAR 3,000–12,000/year
Third-party motor insurance (TPL) QAR 400–900/year
Comprehensive motor insurance QAR 900–6,000/year (based on car value)
Utilities
Electricity and water (Kahramaa, 1–2 bed apartment, subsidised) QAR 80–250
Electricity and water (villa, subsidised) QAR 150–400
District cooling (Baladna/Emicool, Pearl area) QAR 400–1,200 (not subsidised)
Fibre broadband (Ooredoo 100 Mbps) QAR 189/month
Fibre broadband (Vodafone 200 Mbps) QAR 219/month
Mobile plan (50GB data, Ooredoo postpaid) QAR 100–180/month
Botim VoIP app (monthly subscription) QAR 15–30/month
Childcare
Nursery / daycare (private, per month) QAR 2,500–6,000
International school (British curriculum, annual fees) QAR 25,000–55,000/year
International school (American curriculum, annual) QAR 20,000–50,000/year
International school (CBSE/Indian curriculum, annual) QAR 10,000–20,000/year
School bus (return, monthly) QAR 400–800
Babysitter (live-out, per hour) QAR 40–80
Live-in domestic worker (monthly salary) QAR 1,800–3,000 (minimum wage: QAR 1,800)
Leisure
Cinema ticket (VOX or Novo Cinemas) QAR 40–60
Gym membership (compound or private club) QAR 200–600/month
Aspire Zone sports facility (day pass) QAR 20–50
Museum of Islamic Art (entrance) QAR 0 (free)
National Museum of Qatar (entrance) QAR 25
Haircut (men, barber) QAR 25–60
Haircut (women, salon) QAR 80–250
Desert safari trip (half-day, organised) QAR 150–300 per person
Beer in a licensed hotel bar (0.5L) QAR 50–90
Waterpipe / shisha (café) QAR 30–60
Cost of Living
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