Moving to United Kingdom from Qatar

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Qatar to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Qatar to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 82.9% more expensive than Qatar overall. A QAR273,817 salary in Qatar would need to be roughly £60,444 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 91°F in Doha, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Qatar and United Kingdom.

What does your salary buy?

QAR273,817 £60,444

To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.3 times more

Groceries

pay 45.4% more

Transportation

pay 2.3 times more

Housing

pay 40.4% more

Childcare

pay 85.8% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 25.1% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 QAR = 0.2037 GBP (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Qatar to United Kingdom.

Living there in 2020
2,347 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in Qatar live in United Kingdom · UN DESA

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

Top countries of origin for United Kingdom's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Qatar.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

QA
0.1
GB
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

QA
7.3
GB
2.4

Qatar generally does better on safety, though United Kingdom leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

QA
$2,901
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

QA
25.0
GB
31.7

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Qatar leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

QA
91.0
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

QA
47.3t
GB
4.2t

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Qatar across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

QA
13.6
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

QA
431.0%
GB
14.3%

Qatar generally does better on infrastructure, though United Kingdom leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

QA
0.1%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

QA
$96,600
GB
$54,100

Qatar performs better than United Kingdom across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

QA
79.8 yrs
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

QA
6.6
GB
3.8

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Qatar across all family life metrics.

Data: Public Revenues and Tax Department, Qatar, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Doha Rain: 3.0 in/yr (75 mm)
91° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Doha London
Jan–Mar 75°/58°F (24°/14°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 99°/76°F (37°/24°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 104°/83°F (40°/28°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/67°F (30°/19°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Doha London
Jan 71°/55°F (21.7°/12.8°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 73°/57°F (23.0°/13.7°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.7°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 89°/69°F (31.9°/20.6°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 101°/77°F (38.2°/25.0°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 106°/82°F (41.2°/27.7°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 107°/84°F (41.5°/29.1°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 105°/84°F (40.7°/28.9°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 101°/80°F (38.6°/26.5°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 95°/74°F (35.2°/23.4°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.5°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 75°/59°F (24.1°/15.0°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Qatar Meteorology Department Qatar Meteorology Department, Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Qatar and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.

Qatar passport

Qatar passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Qatar passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Qatar

Visa on Arrival
United Kingdom passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Qatar.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in United Kingdom than Qatar?

On average United Kingdom is around 8% pricier than Qatar, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?

Budget about £15,111 for 3 months in United Kingdom (based on a QAR273,817 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?

Connectivity is usually fine (United Kingdom: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Kingdom offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is United Kingdom safe for expats?

Qatar generally does better on safety, though United Kingdom leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.1 in Qatar.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Qatar?

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Qatar leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 25.0 in Qatar. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Qatar: 76).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Qatar?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 91°F in Doha. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Doha gets 3.0 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Qatar, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

QA GB
Population 2,508,182 67,791,400
Currency Qatari Rial (QAR) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages Arabic English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +974 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 999 999