Qatar: cost of living

Which prices are rising fastest in Qatar?

Between December 2024 and December 2025, Qatar's consumer price index for education rose from 121.28 to 123.75, clothing and footwear from 91.52 to 94.52, and food and beverages from 110.36 to 111.05, according to the National Planning Council's CPI dataset. The index for housing, water, electricity and gas rose from 91.33 to 92.70. Transport fell from 110.83 to 110.37 and restaurants and hotels from 108.65 to 107.94.

Each index compares prices with a base period set at 100. Comparing the same month in two years shows the change over twelve months.

Official sources: Qatar Open Data API: CPI by group, December 2024 and 2025 · Qatar Open Data: Consumer Price Index by expenditure group, monthly

What interest do banks in Qatar charge on loans?

Banks in Qatar charged an average of 8.56% on credit card loans in riyals in May 2026 and 4.29% on car loans, according to the Qatar Central Bank's monthly lending rates dataset. Loans of three years or more cost 5.48% on average.

A year earlier, in May 2025, car loans averaged 5.57% and credit card loans 8.36%, the same dataset shows. The rates are weighted averages across banks. The Qatari riyal is pegged to the US dollar at 3.64 riyals.

Official sources: monthly lending rates dataset · the same dataset shows

What is the inflation rate in Qatar?

According to the IMF, consumer price inflation in Qatar was 1.3% in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2008, at 15.1%; its low point was 2009, at -4.9%. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 2.1%; Qatar is 16th highest of 20. Of 172 countries with 2024 data, 142nd highest.

How much do households in Qatar spend per person?

In 2020, household consumption per person in Qatar was $13,470, according to the World Bank. The peak was $16,546 in 2012 and the low $13,336 in 2008. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: $3,042; Qatar is 3rd highest of 19. World rank, highest first: 29th of 158.

How many people in Qatar live on under $3 a day?

The World Bank puts the share of people living on less than $3.00 a day in Qatar at 0.0% in 2017. It is 6th highest of 6 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 1.7%. Worldwide: 71st of 77.

What is Qatar's Gini coefficient?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2017, is 35.1. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 35.9; Qatar is 4th highest of 6. Worldwide: 38th of 77.