Cost Of Living For a Student in Doha 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: QAR
Average monthly spending for students in Doha
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Doha?
Students in Doha spend around 6,000 QAR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 920 QAR or as high as 40,000 QAR. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Doha
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 30,000 QAR | 59,000 QAR | 79,000 QAR |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 1,100 QAR | 1,600 QAR | 4,300 QAR |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1,600 QAR | 2,600 QAR | 6,500 QAR |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2,200 QAR | 3,300 QAR | 8,700 QAR |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 220,000 QAR | 330,000 QAR | 650,000 QAR |
1-bedroom apartment
| 260,000 QAR | 430,000 QAR | 1.6M QAR |
| $72,000 | $120,000 | $450,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 430,000 QAR | 1.3M QAR | 2.6M QAR |
| $120,000 | $360,000 | $720,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 1,200 QAR | 1,500 QAR | 2,000 QAR |
Double Bed
| 790 QAR | 1,200 QAR | 1,500 QAR |
Single Bed
| 700 QAR | 910 QAR | 1,200 QAR |
Living Room
| 1,300 QAR | 1,700 QAR | 5,900 QAR |
Dining Table
| 590 QAR | 790 QAR | 1,500 QAR |
Sofa or Couch
| 790 QAR | 1,100 QAR | 2,400 QAR |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 790 QAR | 1,200 QAR | 2,400 QAR |
Fridge or Freezer
| 700 QAR | 1,100 QAR | 1,500 QAR |
Washing Machine
| 910 QAR | 1,300 QAR | 2,400 QAR |
Stove or Cooker
| 840 QAR | 1,100 QAR | 1,500 QAR |
Mobile Phone
| 990 QAR | 1,200 QAR | 1,700 QAR |
Laptop or Computer
| 1,100 QAR | 1,300 QAR | 2,400 QAR |
How do students spend their money in Doha?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost20%
20% of total expenses on average (15% to 26%)
| LOW | $61 220 QAR |
| AVERAGE | $390 1,400 QAR |
| HIGH | $2,600 9,600 QAR |
| Per Month |
Students in Doha typically spend from 15% to 26% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 20% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1,400 QAR with expenditure ranging from 220 QAR to 9,600 QAR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities5%
5% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | $10 37 QAR |
| AVERAGE | $66 240 QAR |
| HIGH | $440 1,600 QAR |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Doha ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 240 QAR with 37 QAR and 1,600 QAR being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel5%
5% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $18 65 QAR |
| AVERAGE | $110 420 QAR |
| HIGH | $770 2,800 QAR |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 65 QAR to 2,800 QAR in a month on commuting with 420 QAR being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 26%)
| LOW | $51 180 QAR |
| AVERAGE | $330 1,200 QAR |
| HIGH | $2,200 8,000 QAR |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Doha is 1,200 QAR. The cost of groceries can range between 180 QAR to 8,000 QAR. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare8%
8% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $15 55 QAR |
| AVERAGE | $99 360 QAR |
| HIGH | $660 2,400 QAR |
| Per Month |
Students in Doha allocate 5% to 11% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 55 QAR to 2,400 QAR with 360 QAR being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping4%
4% of total expenses on average (2% to 8%)
| LOW | $13 46 QAR |
| AVERAGE | $82 300 QAR |
| HIGH | $550 2,000 QAR |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 46 QAR to 2,000 QAR with 300 QAR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $48 180 QAR |
| AVERAGE | $310 1,100 QAR |
| HIGH | $2,100 7,600 QAR |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,100 QAR per month with 180 QAR being the minimum spent amount and 7,600 QAR being the maximum.
Other Expenses17%
17% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $38 140 QAR |
| AVERAGE | $250 900 QAR |
| HIGH | $1,600 6,000 QAR |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Doha
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Doha?
Around 83% of surveyed students think that living in Doha is affordable with proper budgeting while 18% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Doha
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options65%
Few low-cost options35%
Based on the survey, 65% of the students living in Doha have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 35% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Doha whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes78%
No22%
Based on the survey, 22% of the students living in Doha said that they don't have an emergency fund while 78% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Qatar
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy71%
We asked student guardians and parents in Doha whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 29% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 71% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of Qatar have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 30% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 70% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance30%
Easily manages finances70%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Doha
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Doha
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,100 QAR | 1,600 QAR | 4,300 QAR |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,600 QAR | 2,600 QAR | 6,500 QAR |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,200 QAR | 3,300 QAR | 8,700 QAR |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,600 QAR | 4,300 QAR | 12,000 QAR |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 5,200 QAR | 13,000 QAR | 26,000 QAR |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 4,300 QAR | 6,500 QAR | 19,000 QAR |
House monthly rent cost
| 5,200 QAR | 13,000 QAR | 26,000 QAR |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 6,500 QAR | 16,000 QAR | 26,000 QAR |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Doha ranges between 1,100 QAR and 4,300 QAR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,600 QAR to 6,500 QAR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,200 QAR and 8,700 QAR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 2,600 QAR to 12,000 QAR. The average rent of a townhouse in Doha is around 6,500 QAR while house rental costs can be as high as 13,000 QAR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 6,500 QAR to 26,000 QAR per month.
Apartment and house prices in Doha
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 220,000 QAR | 330,000 QAR | 650,000 QAR |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 260,000 QAR | 430,000 QAR | 1.6M QAR |
| $72,000 | $120,000 | $450,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 430,000 QAR | 1.3M QAR | 2.6M QAR |
| $120,000 | $360,000 | $720,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 1.4M QAR | 2.2M QAR | 6.5M QAR |
Townhouse price
| 1.9M QAR | 4.3M QAR | 16M QAR |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Doha can range from 220,000 QAR to 650,000 QAR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 260,000 QAR to 1.6M QAR. A villa can cost you 14M QAR on average with prices ranging from 2.6M QAR to 22M QAR.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Doha will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 47 | x138 monthly income | 234 |
Property prices in Doha can be x138 to x234 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x138 multiples of the average monthly salary in Doha.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Doha is around 36%. This means that people pay 36% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 25% to 47% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
33% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Doha
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Doha
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 240 QAR. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 59 QAR to 160 QAR with 120 QAR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 79 QAR but can range between 47 QAR and 240 QAR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Doha is around 5.4%. This means that people pay 5.4% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.2% to 9.8% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Doha
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Doha
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Doha is approximatly 24 QAR with meal cost ranging from 12 QAR to 39 QAR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 41 QAR and 120 QAR with 62 QAR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Doha.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 83 QAR to 500 QAR with the average cost being 120 QAR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Doha.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Doha is around 16 QAR. Price ranges between 9.9 QAR and 24 QAR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Doha is 9.5 QAR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 12 QAR and the minimum being 7.9 QAR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 7.9 QAR on average with 5.9 QAR and 12 QAR being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Doha is between 13 QAR and 25 QAR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 17 QAR.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 24 QAR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Doha costs around 8.7 QAR on average with prices rangeing between 6.4 QAR and 12 QAR depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 2.4 QAR to 5.9 QAR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 5.5 QAR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Doha is around 27%. This means that students spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 34% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 180 QAR to 8,000 QAR with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
