DAMMAM: Expatriate families here are feeling the pressure from what they say are skyrocketing prices for house rents, school fees and other essential commodities. While the Kingdom's economy may be booming, many families earn too little to have a decent standard of living. A few companies have been trying to help their foreign employees, but families have had to slash their costs drastically, including cutting out all luxury items. Abdul Latheef, a long time expatriate in the Eastern Province said, “Except for Khubz, the staple Arabic bread, there is hardly any sector where prices have remained stable, almost every commodity and service has become costlier.” He said the costliest has been accommodation. Nader, a Pakistani expatriate, said that flat rentals have gone up more than 25 percent and almost all foodstuffs by 30 percent or more. “Fruit and vegetables are fast becoming luxuries for the common man. Medicines and children's items now cost a lot. These price hikes are too much for my wallet and I am seriously thinking about repatriating my family although I cannot imagine living without them,” he said. Samira, an Egyptian expatriate, said many of the restaurants have also hiked their prices because of the increased cost of rice and vegetables. Schools have also increased tuition fees and transportation charges. “It is quite difficult to make ends meet with my husband's income. I am planning to look for a job to support him,” she said. “Sugar which I bought two years ago for SR2 per kilo is now SR5 which is unimaginable to me,” she said. Shiva Kumar, who hails from Kerala and works at a private firm as a production supervisor, said that because of the rise in living costs in the Kingdom he has decided to send his family back home. Many others have also decided not to bring their wives and children. “Up until last year I was paying SR12,000 for my one bedroom apartment, but now the owner increased it to SR17,000. Besides that, school fees increased 40 percent and school bus transportation 20 percent,” he said. With the beginning of the new academic year, many parents have found it difficult to buy books and stationery. Most of the Indian parents have resorted to using second
