Post by StarboyX on Jan 24, 2018 16:10:41 GMT
1. Gas when up 80%, and it includes VAT. 95 Octane is just over 2 Riyals/L now, and compared to Canada/US, is still less than 1/2 price.
2. Electricity went up 3X; depending where you live and your connection, people will see the impact in their January bill.
For example, in Gulf Homes Compound, I pay a flat rate of 100 SAR/month for utilities. We've been asked to conserve, and as of yet, no official
announcement form management if it will be 300 SAR/month.
3. You'll face 5% on almost all purchases, and generally speaking, it gets rounded up or down. Most places don't like dealing with coins and I personally don't like carrying change either. Law of avees: you'll lose in some places, and make it back in others, so don't sweat it over .50 SAR !!!
4. Mobile/Internet: For some reason, all carriers increased rates for mobile phones and internet. I noticed myself within the first of January. Apparently, people complained. So now the telcos have been directed to revert back or make changes.
5. Banking: Each bank has it's own policy for what VAT will apply for, so you'll have to look it up, however, there is NO VAT on expat remittances.
6. Fees on expatriate workers were applied last July at the rate of 100 SAR per dependent per month. The fees will go up to 200 SAR in 2018, 300 SAR in 2019 and 400 SAR in 2020.
7. Cigarettes now cost 26 to 27 SAR a pack, 1 SAR more b/c of VAT. FYI ... until last June, they were about 12 or 13 SAR a pack, and then were doubled up. This is now standard across the Gulf, including Bahrain and the UAE. However, in Dubai at least, if you are in transit or departing, you pay the amount it was before and Saudi's new rule is the standard 200 cigarettes/1 carton per adult traveler. It used to be 600 cigarettes/3 cartons, not anymore, so keep that in mind if flying via Dubai.
All in all, I haven't really noticed it that much, and even with it being there, it's no big deal.
Sure, it adds up if you're on a budget, however, given all the other perks, its marginalized.
2. Electricity went up 3X; depending where you live and your connection, people will see the impact in their January bill.
For example, in Gulf Homes Compound, I pay a flat rate of 100 SAR/month for utilities. We've been asked to conserve, and as of yet, no official
announcement form management if it will be 300 SAR/month.
3. You'll face 5% on almost all purchases, and generally speaking, it gets rounded up or down. Most places don't like dealing with coins and I personally don't like carrying change either. Law of avees: you'll lose in some places, and make it back in others, so don't sweat it over .50 SAR !!!
4. Mobile/Internet: For some reason, all carriers increased rates for mobile phones and internet. I noticed myself within the first of January. Apparently, people complained. So now the telcos have been directed to revert back or make changes.
5. Banking: Each bank has it's own policy for what VAT will apply for, so you'll have to look it up, however, there is NO VAT on expat remittances.
6. Fees on expatriate workers were applied last July at the rate of 100 SAR per dependent per month. The fees will go up to 200 SAR in 2018, 300 SAR in 2019 and 400 SAR in 2020.
7. Cigarettes now cost 26 to 27 SAR a pack, 1 SAR more b/c of VAT. FYI ... until last June, they were about 12 or 13 SAR a pack, and then were doubled up. This is now standard across the Gulf, including Bahrain and the UAE. However, in Dubai at least, if you are in transit or departing, you pay the amount it was before and Saudi's new rule is the standard 200 cigarettes/1 carton per adult traveler. It used to be 600 cigarettes/3 cartons, not anymore, so keep that in mind if flying via Dubai.
All in all, I haven't really noticed it that much, and even with it being there, it's no big deal.
Sure, it adds up if you're on a budget, however, given all the other perks, its marginalized.
