Housing biggest cost in Qatar

The average monthly spending of a Qatari household was 40,757 rials ($11,190) in 2007, up 82.2 per cent from its level in 2001, a survey conducted by the Qatar Statistic Authority (QSA) showed.

Expatriate families living in the world's biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas spent, on an average, QR13,329 per month last year, a 46-per cent gain on spending in 2001, the QSA said in a household expenditure survey posted on its website.

Housing took the biggest portion of monthly spending for residents in the Gulf state, home to 1.45 million people. Qatar relies heavily on migrant labour from South Asia as it expands its $69 billion economy.

A Qatari family's spending on housing, water and electricity accounted for 29.3 per cent of monthly expenses, up from 17.6 per cent in 2001, the data showed.

For expatriates, housing costs accounted for 30.8 per cent of monthly spending in 2007, up from 21.7 per cent in 2001. Qatar is fighting the Gulf region's highest rate of inflation, with consumer prices rising 14.8 per cent in the first quarter, just off a record, driven by escalating rents and food costs.

A Qatari family's spending on food, beverage and tobacco in 2007 amounted to 11.2 per cent of total expenses, down from 17.5 per cent in 2001, while expatriates spent 13.8 per cent of their monthly budgets on food, down from 19 per cent, the data showed.

In its efforts to battle inflation, Qatar this year introduced a two-year rent freeze, boosted subsidies and held steel and cement prices for three years.