Job offer - Jeddah - what salary and what are living costs?

Dependent tax 200 - WILL INCREASE TO 300 AND 400 YOY, it is per dependent

Food and leisure 3,000 - TAKE AS 5000 PM

Rent for 3 bedroom apartment 5,000 (I don't need to stay in a compound but the more luxurious the better) - SHOULD GET FOR 3000-4000 RANGE IF NOT COMPOUND

2 cars on lease + fuel 2,000

Utilities, cleaning and internet 1,200

Other unexpected costs 4,000

Factor in School costs after 3 years and also ask for insurance and yearly tickets!

Hope this helps

Thank you.

Having spoken to my 3rd party recruitment contact he has advised that my salary demand is in the right range.

He did suggest however that I should go for the compound option to make it easy on the family to settle in, at least initially if not forever.

That would raise the cost to 12,000-20,000 depending on where I end up. I guess I have to allocate the 4k of unexpected costs I had budgeted to accommodation and maybe settle for one car rather than 2 if the wife and child will be busy in the compound most of the time.

Dear gentleheating
I suggest you to live in a flat instead of living in a compound because there are reasonable rent in flats with 3 to 4 bedrooms and it will help you for saving and almost you have to 1500 to 2500 SAR per month.

I guess the challenge for me is to think about what the wife and child will do whilst I am at work. Although we are practising Muslims we have grown up in the UK and the free Western environment.

In the compound I would not be worried as there will be plenty of things to keep them occupied in terms of facilities and organised social activities without them having needing to go anywhere else. I know my wife really likes the sound of life inside the compound.

I know I could get a very good apartment for a lot cheaper outside a compound. We have visited Saudi Arabia before for short 2 week visits for religious purposes but living full time in the country is a new challenge.

My wife who is a social character and likes to meet people, go to the gym and do activities etc. Yes I'm sure she can eventually find these things outside of a compound. But living in a good compound means she will not have to worry about any of that as it will all be available on our door step.

Is there a good area to stay in Jeddah where I can find a nice 3 bed apartment and also lots of good family and social activities outside of a compound?