What if you were born in Qatar?

If you had grown up in Qatar instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Doha could look like.

Try it with my numbers

West Bay skyline from the Corniche, Doha. Photo: Zairon, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Qatar

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in QAR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Qatar: QAR 7,210Rs 548,000
Rent (city centre): QAR 2,080
Transport (public transport): QAR 368
Food: QAR 1,040
Saved: QAR 1,080

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Qatar: QAR 16,600Rs 1,260,000
Rent (suburbs): QAR 4,220
Transport (public transport): QAR 845
Food: QAR 2,820
Saved: QAR 2,480

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Qatar: QAR 26,800Rs 2,040,000
Rent (city centre): QAR 6,570
Transport (car): QAR 2,510
Food: QAR 3,290
Saved: QAR 7,520

Try it with my own income

A day in Doha

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Doha, a city of mild winters around 18°C and hot summers near 36°C, and rain is rare.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Arabic at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Lunch
Lunch might be machboos: spiced rice with meat, and luqaimat: sweet fried dumplings.
Evening
You get home with QAR 2,480 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast.

Qatar compared with Pakistan

	Qatar	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	3.3× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	83 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	108 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	0.1%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	28°C	26°C
Languages	Arabic	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	QAR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Qatar, living in Qatar and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Qatar?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around QAR 16,600 a month at the same level in Qatar (about Rs 1,260,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Qatar more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 3.3 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Qatar?

Mainly Arabic. English is widely spoken.

Can I actually move to Qatar?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Qatar page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.