Official salary benchmarks and minimum living costs across all 6 Gulf countries, fact-checked by Gulf financial experts.
Average monthly market salaries in local currency · 2026 official wage data
| Job Category | 🇸🇦 Saudi (SAR) | 🇦🇪 UAE (AED) | 🇶🇦 Qatar (QAR) | 🇰🇼 Kuwait (KWD) | 🇴🇲 Oman (OMR) | 🇧🇭 Bahrain (BHD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Labour | 1,000–1,400 | 1,200–1,800 | 1,100–1,600 | 65–100 | 90–140 | 85–130 |
| Construction Worker | 1,150–1,800 | 1,350–2,200 | 1,250–2,000 | 75–130 | 100–165 | 90–150 |
| Cleaner / Housekeeping | 900–1,200 | 1,000–1,600 | 900–1,400 | 55–85 | 75–120 | 70–110 |
| Driver (Car / HGV) | 1,500–2,500 | 2,200–3,500 | 1,950–3,200 | 130–210 | 165–250 | 155–230 |
| Security Guard | 1,050–1,800 | 1,600–2,500 | 1,400–2,200 | 85–140 | 120–175 | 105–165 |
| Cook / Kitchen Staff | 1,200–2,200 | 2,000–3,500 | 1,700–2,800 | 100–165 | 140–215 | 120–185 |
| Electrician / Plumber | 2,400–3,800 | 3,200–5,200 | 3,000–4,800 | 200–310 | 240–380 | 215–340 |
| AC & HVAC Technician | 2,700–4,200 | 3,800–5,800 | 3,500–5,200 | 225–340 | 280–420 | 250–370 |
| Auto Mechanic | 2,100–3,600 | 3,000–4,800 | 2,800–4,400 | 175–270 | 215–340 | 195–310 |
| Office Clerk / Admin | 2,600–4,000 | 3,800–5,500 | 3,400–5,000 | 220–330 | 270–400 | 245–370 |
| Sales / Retail Staff | 1,900–3,000 | 2,700–4,200 | 2,400–3,800 | 175–270 | 195–300 | 195–290 |
| Engineer (Civil/Mech/Elec) | 7,500–16,000 | 11,000–22,000 | 10,500–20,000 | 700–1,100 | 750–1,300 | 700–1,100 |
| IT / Software Professional | 7,500–16,000 | 10,000–22,000 | 9,500–18,000 | 650–1,050 | 700–1,200 | 650–1,050 |
| Nurse / Healthcare Worker | 4,200–8,500 | 6,000–12,000 | 5,500–10,000 | 390–700 | 420–800 | 380–720 |
| Teacher / Trainer | 4,800–9,000 | 6,500–13,000 | 6,000–11,000 | 430–750 | 460–820 | 410–760 |
* Sources: 2026 MHRSD (KSA) · MOHRE UAE Wage Protection System · Qatar QEERI Wage Study · Kuwait CSB · Oman NCSI · Bahrain LMRA. Figures represent market averages; actual salaries vary by employer, experience and contract.
Minimum monthly expenses for a single worker (shared room, home cooking)
| Expense | 🇸🇦 Saudi (SAR) | 🇦🇪 UAE (AED) | 🇶🇦 Qatar (QAR) | 🇰🇼 Kuwait (KWD) | 🇴🇲 Oman (OMR) | 🇧🇭 Bahrain (BHD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared room rent | 250–380 | 500–750 | 380–620 | 28–48 | 32–58 | 38–65 |
| Food (home cooking) | 380–500 | 600–800 | 550–750 | 42–65 | 46–72 | 55–78 |
| Transport | 120–280 | 200–380 | 180–340 | 18–42 | 22–50 | 25–52 |
| Phone + utilities (share) | 80–140 | 140–220 | 120–200 | 10–20 | 12–24 | 14–28 |
| Personal / misc | 120–200 | 200–360 | 180–320 | 18–38 | 20–40 | 22–42 |
| Total (shared room) | 950–1,500 | 1,640–2,510 | 1,410–2,230 | 116–213 | 132–244 | 154–265 |
| With employer housing | 600–1,050 | 1,050–1,750 | 900–1,580 | 78–155 | 88–175 | 104–193 |
Based on job type, salary level and lifestyle priorities
Best for: Construction, labour, drivers, cooks, cleaners, IT professionals
Advantage: Largest job market in GCC; employer housing very common; affordable food and transport
Challenge: Conservative culture; limited entertainment options; Riyadh public transport outside metro coverage patchy
Best for: Electricians, engineers, IT, healthcare, hospitality managers, sales
Advantage: Highest absolute salaries in GCC; modern infrastructure; Dubai Metro reduces transport costs
Challenge: Very high rent; 5% VAT on most goods; sub-AED 2,500 salaries without housing are not viable
Best for: Civil engineers, MEP contractors, nurses, project managers, IT
Advantage: Strong salaries for professional roles; employer housing standard for skilled trades; World Cup legacy infrastructure investments continuing
Challenge: Extreme summer heat; limited cultural options; smaller job market than KSA or UAE
Best for: Workers prioritising quality of life; long-term residents; families
Advantage: Lowest cost of living in GCC; genuinely friendly culture; safest country for expats; beautiful landscape
Challenge: Lower salaries; smaller job market; fewer opportunities for unskilled workers specifically
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