Updated Living Costs - AUH
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Updated Living Costs - AUH
I know this will bother some, but it has been a while though since any fresh, new general living costs have been addressed.
I understand it is difficult to generalize, as many pilots are spread out and have varied lifestyles, if I may, I'll throw out a scenario to help narrow things down.
Capt.
Married.
Two Kids ( under six ).
Looking ( for example) at the Etihad allowances, they offer @170k for housing. Will that provide comfortable living, ie a villa in a good area ( if the good area exists what are some of the more favored locations to live?)
The Schools. I read a lot about no places etc. Is that still a reality? which are the best ( top three) schools?
Cars. Do most people have just one or is two the norm. Is it better to buy second hand?
Supermarkets. Good selection? affordable?
Is electricity a killer? what about water rates?
And most importantly ( all things being said, and there are a lot of things being said!) overall when you do have time off do you have a good lifestyle, things to do with the family etc. (Drinking is also important...)
If you do generally fit into this criteria, what ( and I know this is personal) would your monthly fixed costs be?
I know most of you are sick of replying to these threads, but it really does help. Most appreciated.
Cheers
I understand it is difficult to generalize, as many pilots are spread out and have varied lifestyles, if I may, I'll throw out a scenario to help narrow things down.
Capt.
Married.
Two Kids ( under six ).
Looking ( for example) at the Etihad allowances, they offer @170k for housing. Will that provide comfortable living, ie a villa in a good area ( if the good area exists what are some of the more favored locations to live?)
The Schools. I read a lot about no places etc. Is that still a reality? which are the best ( top three) schools?
Cars. Do most people have just one or is two the norm. Is it better to buy second hand?
Supermarkets. Good selection? affordable?
Is electricity a killer? what about water rates?
And most importantly ( all things being said, and there are a lot of things being said!) overall when you do have time off do you have a good lifestyle, things to do with the family etc. (Drinking is also important...)
If you do generally fit into this criteria, what ( and I know this is personal) would your monthly fixed costs be?
I know most of you are sick of replying to these threads, but it really does help. Most appreciated.
Cheers
Last edited by mabele; 13th Aug 2010 at 06:40.
Would love if someone at the coal-face could reply mabele questions. Have looked everywhere on the internet to get an idea, however difficult to get definitive answers.
The only thing prune seems to provide at the moment is a method of outwardly venting one's frustration at non-english speakers english and trying to get some top tips/gen prior to committing oneself.
Rantette over have a good weekend.
JD
The only thing prune seems to provide at the moment is a method of outwardly venting one's frustration at non-english speakers english and trying to get some top tips/gen prior to committing oneself.
Rantette over have a good weekend.
JD
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Can only speak for our experience, with the exception of housing, everything else is very reasonable:
Housing is getting cheaper by the month and you can get an Al Raha townhouse 180k, reasonable spot and close to the office.
Al Raha electricity was relatively cheap but the chilled water bill can be expensive in the summer months, friends had an 1800 dirhams bill in the month of august last year however in the winter months this drops to almost zero.
We only bought one, found the new dodge durango for 89k however we would buy used next, just our experience.
Quite a lot of choice of supermarkets, we did not like the abela as the selection was not great nor all that fresh. We prefer the spinneys at mangrove village, close to al raha and well stocked.
We did not count costs and enjoyed the lifestyle in AUH, golf, hotel retaurants, weekends at beach resorts etc and spent about 11-12k dirhams per month. That being said, summer months dont allow for anything but indoor activities so escape when possible.
Housing is getting cheaper by the month and you can get an Al Raha townhouse 180k, reasonable spot and close to the office.
Al Raha electricity was relatively cheap but the chilled water bill can be expensive in the summer months, friends had an 1800 dirhams bill in the month of august last year however in the winter months this drops to almost zero.
We only bought one, found the new dodge durango for 89k however we would buy used next, just our experience.
Quite a lot of choice of supermarkets, we did not like the abela as the selection was not great nor all that fresh. We prefer the spinneys at mangrove village, close to al raha and well stocked.
We did not count costs and enjoyed the lifestyle in AUH, golf, hotel retaurants, weekends at beach resorts etc and spent about 11-12k dirhams per month. That being said, summer months dont allow for anything but indoor activities so escape when possible.
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Another disgruntled FO bitching about DEC's. In ten years time that same FO will be asking for a DEC job somewhere himself. EY took DEC's from day one and will continue to do so. No surprises.
Slopwith, you're only discrediting yourself with those comments.
Slopwith, you're only discrediting yourself with those comments.
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Hi
I joined as an FO a few months ago so can give you the little experiance i have had.
Housing is cheaper than what i was told about 8 months ago. My friend just took a 4 bedroom villa in a new development called AL Reef. He got it for 158k which is the allowance for an FO. I went to visit and its nice but needs some more time to develope.
Cars are cheap and so far i have one but would think of a second next year or if the wife starts work.
Cant help on schools as no kids yet, but from what i hear they are available but expensive again depending on where you put your kids.
Activities are plentiful but can be expensive.
Overall its roughly what i had in mind except for the housing which is cheaper, but the salary is ok for a good life style but more would be nice.
I joined as an FO a few months ago so can give you the little experiance i have had.
Housing is cheaper than what i was told about 8 months ago. My friend just took a 4 bedroom villa in a new development called AL Reef. He got it for 158k which is the allowance for an FO. I went to visit and its nice but needs some more time to develope.
Cars are cheap and so far i have one but would think of a second next year or if the wife starts work.
Cant help on schools as no kids yet, but from what i hear they are available but expensive again depending on where you put your kids.
Activities are plentiful but can be expensive.
Overall its roughly what i had in mind except for the housing which is cheaper, but the salary is ok for a good life style but more would be nice.
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Just make sure to budget for keeping your cars clean. You can be fined here if they're not...
gulfnews : Car wash queues 'too long' in Abu Dhabi
gulfnews : Car wash queues 'too long' in Abu Dhabi
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If you spend 158k you are going to have to dig into your salary to pay the housing extras. Don't forget the 5% realtor fee and 5% damage deposit. Plus your utility usage, fixed costs, and deposits. If your housing allowance is 160K I would try to find something that runs <=130k/year if you want to break even or have a little left over.
