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Dubai vs Houston, Texas

33

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 20:27

Does anyone know how the cost of living in Dubai compares with Houston in rent, food, etc? My husband has been transferred there. Will I be able to work if I'm not American? If you had the chance to move there, would you?
Thanks.

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993

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 14 May 2012 - 11:10

Houston and Dallas are classic residents city. In other words there is hardly much to see as tourists, but they are very good places to live in Reasonable weather, apart from tornadoes in DFW Very cheap housing Good shopping choices Friendly customer service (more so in Dallas) Houston in particular is quite international You can fly to almost any part of the US within 3.5 hrs Moving from Dubai, you wont notice the negatives that much: flat, hot in summer etc. Another downside, but a very minor thing, is that they are 2 large cities kind of in the middle of nowhere so there are few day trip options except maybe Austin and San Antonio.

177

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 May 2012 - 10:53

Being in O&G, we've lived in 3 different spots in Texas, and Houston TWICE! We still own our house in Sugar Land and have leased it out. It is an easy place to live really. Lots to do for the family, cost of living is so reasonable, schools are good, people are very friendly... As for working - if your husband is actually being transferred within the same company he will likely come in on an L-1 Visa, which means you will get an L-2 visa - one of the only spousal visas that allow for employment, so yes, you will be able to work. If he goes in with a new company and has an H1B visa, the spousal equivalent will not allow you to work. However, if you have your own qualifications (university degree, or healthcare industry, etc...) you may very well be able to obtain your own work visa (but this must be sponsored by your potential employer. As far as taxation, Texas is great for income tax (no state income tax), and if you do not own a property it will be even better as they get you on property tax in Texas - but at least in SW Houston (Katy, Sugar Land, etc) you can get a really good sized home, often with a pool for about $3500 rent a month. Our house is almost 4000 sq feet (actual square feet of living space, not like here in Dubai), with a salt water pool and spa-hot tub in a gated lake community and we are happy to get $3200/month rent. So housing is quite reasonable, eating out is much less expensive than here, and a great variety of both local and national chains and specialty restaurants. Pretty much every community has a local pool (but most are only open when they are lifeguarded by University students - so around middle of May until first weekend in Sept) - and the weather is very warm at least a couple months on either side of the community pool opening hours, so I recommend a private pool.

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 14 May 2012 - 10:36

Oh... was that aimed at me Aroha? I read back and you could have meant me, SunDevil or Scotchand Diet :D Scotch, I love "Rich B!tch Texas" :) <em>edited by Sanddy_Dogg on 14/05/2012</em>

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 14 May 2012 - 10:34

Aroha, it's not somewhere I would choose randomly, and it's not my first choice. DH's head office is there so the potential to move there is very high. The main reason we're still here is our property. We can't sell it and don't want to leave here with it unsold; even renting's too risky. The 'fors' for us are weather (still hot and humid but not for so long, and not cold like northern Europe), proximity to family (3 hours further from mine than here, but at least puts us on the same continent as DH's family), schooling, lifestyle and most importantly, the chance to lay some roots down in a place that has a lot to offer us. Crime is a bit of a factor there, but I guess that's the same in many parts of the world.

298

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 May 2012 - 09:25

Love Texas and would move there if employment took us there without too much hesitation. I wouldn't be too concerned about the lack of green card (for the wife working I mean... obviously your husband would require one for you to even be there for a job!) as Texas and other states near the border aren't quite so strict on checking such things if you are the right fit for an entry level job (restaurants, bars, stores etc... professional jobs are a different story) Check to see if you are eligible for a H-1B visa if you have tertiary/college/university qualifications (in any field). You could qualify for a work visa on your own steam under this classification. In a slightly related question, have you ever watched Big Rich Texas on the style network? It's "reality" tv (as much as a directed reality show can be anyway!) set in Dallas. Love it- soooo trashy!!

2322

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:39

sorry...SD and Captain America...do you mind me asking what the attraction with Houston is? You say you'd move in a heart beat but why? Hubby is really really keen on doing a stint in the states (though the annual leave they get has smothered the idea for him somewhat) but i for some reason have as a big a mental block about moving there as I do for China (another place he'd love to go) Theres no rational reason for me dragging my feet, and there are many parts of the states I'd love to explore, but i just can't see moving there as an option. Whats got you guys hooked?

GirlAnachronism35688

1039

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:27

I have no actual useful advice for you, but I had aligator goujons in Houston. To be honest, I think that nails it. Houston for me any time! In the short time I spent there, I met a lot of very chatty, friendly people. Even things like walking into a shop and getting a genuine smile and a nice chat made me happy. Oh and to go back to food, you can get waffles the size of a plate. I haven't had dinner tonight, sorry, preocupied! Anyway, go for it!

774

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:20

We are from TX and I love Houston! It's like a second home to us since my BIL and SIL live there. It's much cheaper in TX than Dubai. TX does not have a state income tax so only federal taxes are withheld on your paycheck. There is a lot to do in Houston for families and the beach is nearby. When looking for a place to live it's basically divided into "inside the loop" and "outside the loop". It depends on how much drive time your DH can handle. My BIL and SIL used to live out in the suburbs in a town called Tomball. Nice town and you can get a pretty big house for your money but they both worked downtown and the commute was horrid so they sold that house and moved inside the loop. They paid a lot more for their house and it's an older house but the previous owner completely gutted it and did a beautiful job with the remodel and the house is gorgeous now. They live in an older neighborhood and there are still some original owners there but for the majority it's younger families moving in with children so it's a really great place for families. Plus since it's an older neighborhood they have the HUGE oak trees that cover the houses and the street and it's like a canopy underneath. You'll pay a little more for a house inside the loop but now their commute time is around 15 minutes to work so they have more time with their family.

CAPTAIN AMERICA...

1260

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:17

I am moving back to Dallas this summer :) :\:

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:12

Jealous!! Did both last year. Back to Houston this year. Thankfully we are heading to the UK first so we'll get our share of cold, wet and miserable there :)

31

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:09

Houston is much cheaper than Dubai and cost of living is much lower. Houston tends to have a higher crime rate compared to Dallas, TX. My brother lives there and owns a BBQ restaurant. You could probably get a comparable house to Arabian ranches 4 bed Saheel for under 300K USD. If you are not a green card holder or US citizen you probably will not have work authorization. Your husband will be the only one with work authorization. You will definitely not miss shawrma's and falafel's. They have tons of those their. I am moving back to Dallas this summer :) <em>edited by oganicmom on 13/05/2012</em>

CAPTAIN AMERICA...

1260

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:03

Both are hot, hot, hot! at least there you can go out in shorts and a T without looking like a slapper.

2392

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 21:01

Both are hot, hot, hot!

CAPTAIN AMERICA...

1260

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 20:56

with regards to working, don't you need a Green Card? It is pretty close to the border.....most don't bother;)

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 20:36

Property is cheap and I guess eating out too but trawling around the malls I found that the costs were comparable with here. Saying that, I'd still move there :) with regards to working, don't you need a Green Card?

CAPTAIN AMERICA...

1260

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 20:31

Houston is very cheap compared to Dubai, especially property and eating out etc. I would move there in a heartbeat, if I could. Yes, you can work there.

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