9 9 schools$2,200/mo avg rentLarge expat community
Large residential district offering good value for space-conscious families. Mix of villas, compounds, and mid-rise apartments.
5/5
Safety
4/5
Family Friendly
3/5
Quality of Life
3/5
Expat Friendly
3/5
Healthcare
Large
Expat Community
14-42°C
Temp Range
Very High
English Level
☀️ Climate & Weather
Monthly temperatures, rainfall, and sea conditions
44°C
Hottest (Aug)
13°C
Coolest (Jan)
28
Sunny days/mo avg
59mm
Annual rainfall
Avg highAvg lowSea tempRainfall
22°
🌊 Jan
22°
🌊 Feb
24°
🌊 Mar
27°
🌊 Apr
31°
🌊 May
33°
🌊 Jun
35°
🌊 Jul
35°
🌊 Aug
33°
🌊 Sep
30°
🌊 Oct
26°
🌊 Nov
23°
🌊 Dec
💰 Cost of Living
Monthly family budget estimates (USD)
At a Glance
$2,200
Avg. rent /mo
$7.00
Budget meal
$32
Mid-range dinner (2 ppl)
Dining & Drinks
Cappuccino$5.00
Domestic beer$0.00
Imported beer$0.00
Water (1.5L)$0.60
Groceries
Loaf of bread$1.20
Milk (1L)$2.20
Dozen eggs$2.50
Chicken (1 kg)$5.50
Transport
Taxi flag-drop$1.50
Taxi per km$1.10
Monthly transit pass$27
Gasoline (per liter)$0.38
Monthly Bills
Internet$55 /mo
Utilities (avg.)$180 /mo
Gym membership$80 /mo
Domestic help$350 /mo
Preschool / nursery$1,400 /mo
Comfortable
Shared or modest apartment, public transport, cooking at home
$3,200/mo
Rent$1,200
Groceries$350
Lifestyle & leisure$120
Transport$80
Utilities$180
Dining out$180
Healthcare$80
School fees (per child)$700
Established
2–3BR villa or apartment, mix of transport, family lifestyle
$5,800/mo
Rent$2,200
Groceries$550
Lifestyle & leisure$350
Transport$200
Utilities$220
Dining out$350
Healthcare$150
School fees (per child)$1,400
Domestic help$350
Premium
Large villa, private school, full domestic help
$9,500/mo
Rent$3,500
Groceries$800
Lifestyle & leisure$700
Transport$400
Utilities$280
Dining out$600
Healthcare$300
School fees (per child)$2,600
Domestic help$350
Al Gharraffa is one of Doha's most affordable established neighborhoods, popular with middle-income expat families due to reasonable rents and good amenity access.
🌬️ Air Quality
Average monthly AQI (US EPA scale)
68Jan
72Feb
85Mar
95Apr
110May
120Jun
115Jul
112Aug
105Sep
90Oct
75Nov
65Dec
Good (0–50)Moderate (51–100)USG (101–150)Unhealthy (151+)
Yearly average AQI is 93. Best air quality Jan–Dec (best: Dec at 65). May–Sep air quality worsens due to heat, humidity, and dust (peak: Jun at 120). Families with children who have asthma or respiratory conditions should plan indoor activities during summer months.
👥 Demographics
78%
Expat Population
middle
Income Level
~85,000
Population
Nationalities
Indian30%
Qatari22%
Egyptian12%
Filipino10%
Pakistani8%
Languages Spoken
Arabic40%
Hindi/Urdu28%
🏘️ Community & Culture
Home of Al-Gharafa Sports Club~78% expat population, mostly South AsianConservative but welcoming atmosphereActive Friday community gatherings
A Neighborhood Shaped by Sport and Community
🌳 Parks & Recreation
Al-Gharafa Stadium on doorstepCommunity football pitches and pool5 min drive to Aspire ZoneActive outdoor life Oct–Apr
Green Spaces and Pitches
🚗 Getting Around
Red Line Metro within reach15 min to city center by carKarwa taxis widely availablePetrol ~QAR 1.40/L (heavily subsidized)
Central Location, Good Connectivity
🛒 Daily Life
Lulu Hypermarket and Carrefour nearbyDiverse budget dining sceneCBSE and British schools within 10 minWeekend is Friday–Saturday
Practical and Well-Stocked
📝 Living with the Climate
Summers exceed 43°C with Gulf humidityWinter (Nov–Mar) is warm and idealA/C runs ~6 months of the yearSandstorm season: Mar–May
