Singapore Expats

Hello,
I have been offered an internship position in SG with a Marketing/PR firm. The job sounds great but I am concerned about the pay-
$1000SGD/month
This is lower than minimum wage here in the US and Canada. But I am wondering how far that can go with the cost of living in SG? Not looking to live like a king or even save much, but I don't want to struggle to make ends meet while I am there.
It's a full time position, but I am negotiating with the company to either increase the pay (unlikely), or reduce the hours so that I can also work part time at another job - maybe retail or as a waiter. What do these simple jobs typically pay?
I've read the stickied Kelly Guide and this seems low, but it is a short term (3-6mo) internship.
Thank you!

Unless you are being provided accommodation or have really deep pockets, it undoable. A room in an HDB flat will set you back a minimum of $400, add a minimum of $20/days for food and you are at $1000 already. This is without transport and any other costs. Are you by any chance an Asian Canadian? Could be why they are only paying peanuts. Doesn't sound like too good a deal to me unless you have family here.

Oh, there is no minimum wage in Asia in general. Employees get the short end of the stick generally speaking as this country is pro-business so they tend to protect the employers and not the employee.

I am Caucasian (from the US). No family there, will be on my own. And no subsidies for housing, flight, or any other transport/living.
Yikes.
Thanks for the reply!

Are you still studying? Which school are you at in Vancouver?

Anyway most recent graduates from NUS can be paid as little as $2,500 SGD a month working very long hours six days a week. Somewhere between $2,000 - $4,500 is pretty normal for recent grads from what I've learned from people. But if someone else thinks my numbers are way off let me know.

You could likely get by without any major problems on ~$10 a day for food. I can't cook in my currently place and I can eat 3 square meals for under $10 although I still like to buy some fresh fruits and veggies to snack on.

But yeah for $1000 would only work if you had friends or family to crash with for free (even better if they fed you). Rent is a killer seems like most S'poreans are living with their parents, and then when they get married they will still live with and support their parents.

Anyway I'm from Canada myself and I was used to getting paid very okay wages during internships. I found in Germany like here there was also no minimum wage and people were happy to get a mere $860 SGD! I was able to get more then double that, but the only way I could survive there was by applying to live in heavily subsidized student housing (which was still over 400 SGD)

When you need to pay for flights and all other expenses out of pocket I really don't think it is worth it. They should try to meet you part way, as you will more then likely go into debt and have no chance to pay the costs of the flight. Does the company offering the internship sound reputable?

They will probably make you work 12 hrs a day 6 days a week...you shouldn't do it for so little. 1200 to 1300 would be more reasonable. A grad is lucky if they can get 2500K i would of thought 2k is more the norm, and probably less now, because of the economy, some areas are picking up however! On 1k a month your only option would be to share with all the construction workers packed into sardine cans on bunk beds all sharing the same wash basin

Thanks guys!
I just graduated from the University of British Columbia. I am going to talk to the company more and see if they can do $1500/mo for 8 months.
I am not worried about covering the flight. As long as I can survive there on my salary. Seems low. I found rent a few places sharing a condo for $700ish. So 150/mo so for MRT, the rest for food and whatnot... That might make ends meet.

The company is reputable - www.reddawncommunications.com

Thanks again

At 26A Norris, they are deep in the heart of Little India. They'll probably occupy the second story of a shop house. A somewhat unusual location for such a business... many are indeed located in shop houses but more so in the Tanjong Pagar area.

Interesting. I don't know the districts of SG at all. How is Little India? What is a shop house?
Thanks so much. Appreciate it a lot.

I guess I'm not you but what draws you to Singapore so much? I guess times are tough world wide (I came here after being laid off heh) but why do an internship if you are a recent graduate?

A condo room or nice HDB room going for $700 might not be that easy to nail down, and many might add PUB (utilities) + internet on top.

Looking at the companies website it looks alright, if you're convinced this will advanced or start your career go for it. But yeah $1500 things could work, but still would be tight.

You definitely don't need a huge salary to survive here but try to make sure you are competitive, as UBC is a great school.

Shop houses are usually buildings with a store/restaurant/food house on the bottom floor and maybe 2 floors on top. I'm staying in one for now in the red light district . If they agree to $1,500 try to get in writing what your responsibilities will be. Would really be terrible if you come over and find yourself unchallenged and not learning much.

WyattH wrote:Interesting. I don't know the districts of SG at all. How is Little India? What is a shop house?
Thanks so much. Appreciate it a lot.

Pretty typical streets in Little India... these are shop houses.

Wow, you guys are great. I will keep looking for other jobs and negotiate the salary.

I have always been fascinated with Singapore. Never been, but it's just a place that pulls me. I will be starting law school next year (Fall 2010) so I am only looking for an 8 month position.

If you guys know of any other companies that particularly like expats or are hiring in general, let me know. I majored in Political Science and Economics, placed in the 92nd percentile for the LSAT, and have a nice CV. Will work in pretty much any industry.

If I do get to SG, I owe you all a drink (if I can afford it - Ha ha!).

WyattH wrote:... Will work in pretty much any industry...

How fast can you run? Loan sharks are always looking to recruit runners here.

Hmm cannot tell if you are serious. Probably not! But I am a fast runner. 6'1 and 160lb very lean and fit.

WyattH wrote:Hmm cannot tell if you are serious. Probably not! But I am a fast runner. 6'1 and 160lb very lean and fit.

There's quite a shortage and high turn over, mainly because they keep getting arrested!

Saint wrote:

WyattH wrote:Hmm cannot tell if you are serious. Probably not! But I am a fast runner. 6'1 and 160lb very lean and fit.

There's quite a shortage and high turn over, mainly because they keep getting arrested!

However just like NS you will make many local friends very quickly. There is Ah Long, Ah Song and of course Ah Beng with his yellow handphone. Plus if you do decent work you can work your way up rather quickly and you don't even have to worry about getting the right visa or paying CPF. Also, Ah Beng has a lot of female friends and they should be quite easy to score with, so make sure to ask him for Ah Lien.