Singapore Expats

Hi,

I have been offered a salary of 2000 SD pm in Singapore as a android developer. Kindly let me know is this a affordable salary to accept and also what are the cost of living there w.r.t 1/2 bed room apartment, food, transport. Currently I am working in India as Software Engineer.My company is located at German center at International Industrial Park.Where it is located at Singapore.How is the living cost near to this place?

is it ok to accept this offer or not?

Appreciate your response in this regard.

Thx and regards,

Rajendar.

Forgeddit. Unless you are prepared to rent a room only ($400-600) and eat vegetarian and don't party or drink. You won't be able to save much that's for sure. But, it is do-able if you want to get you foot into Singapore. I'd try negotiating for more or at least some housing allowance.

My very first salary in Singapore was only 1.8k and dont know how I did it on those days but I could still save $400 at the end of every month. Of coz you will stuck in a rent room, self-cooked meal and public transport.
Entertainment came from the TV with very basic channel (ch 5), no party and no drinking. Now after two and a half years and my salary is 2k, no more saving, no more cooking, still in public transport, still in rent room but the room cost nearly half of my salary, TV with cabel (rarely watch anymore), Friday night out, Sat girl's night out, Sunday party hmm.....

Kitty, I thought that is why there are wed night ladies nights at Clarke Quay so you can have an affordable night out on not much money here?!

Perhaps if you could find a room to rent near to your workplace, and you can walk to work. I suppose if you keep rental max at 500 or 600 you'll be fine.

You can take it to get a foot in the door I suppose.

There are still free things to do in Singapore, like the numerous nice parks to go, and public buildings etc. The things that would cost money are food, transportation, and shopping. Stay away from shopping malls.

One way to have fun is to have a good camera (compact or DSLR). The investment is initial, and then it is endless fun from there.

German center is located at Jurong East

http://gowhere.sg/maps#q:German%20center

The nearest MRT station is Jurong East MRT.

IBP (International Business Park) has a shuttle bus which cost 20 cents from Jurong East MRT to the IBP during morning, lunch time and evening time.

For staying, you can look around Jurong East MRT area.


Base on http://www.streetsine.com/main.html#postalcode-609916

German centre is slightly more than 1km away from Jurong East MRT.

rajendar wrote:Hi,

I have been offered a salary of 2000 SD pm in Singapore as a android developer. Kindly let me know is this a affordable salary to accept and also what are the cost of living there w.r.t 1/2 bed room apartment, food, transport. Currently I am working in India as Software Engineer.My company is located at German center at International Industrial Park.Where it is located at Singapore.How is the living cost near to this place?

is it ok to accept this offer or not?

Appreciate your response in this regard.

Thx and regards,

Rajendar.

I think it is International Business Park, not "Industrial" Park. German Center is at Jurong East area, you can check the link in the post above to check out the location.

Like he said, nearest MRT station is Jurong East, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to find accommodation in JE area only. There are a few condominiums in Chinese Garden, Lakeside and Jurong East areas, but Chinese Garden and Lakeside are a bit further than JE though.

IMHO, if you are single, can live in a rented bedroom (master or common, depending on the rate and location), and can withstand minimum entertainment activities every month, 2,000SGD will be just enough for you.

I'm not sure if your offer comes from a local SME or an int'l firm. But the Android developers I know (working in a French firm) earn more than that. But yes, the differences can be in qualification, working experience and conduct.

You won't be able to get a 1 BR or 2BR apartment, since it will cost nearly your salary. But if you can live in government HDB buildings (which are not as nice as condominiums but not so shabby) you maybe able to find a small 1BR/2BR apartment in the areas I mentioned, but it will still set you back at least 1.5k. Now that doesn't include any fees for utilities, internet, transportation and other subscriptions.

So basically, to answer your question in one word, that would be a big NO.

I know it's harsh but true. But if you are really keen to take this job offer, and let me assume that you will not ask for increment, let me break down your potential spending here.

Note: Room rental can be around 550 ~ 850 depending on location and room type (master or common). So I will take 700 as average.

1st month
------------
Advanced rental fee for bedroom x 700
Agent fee (half of your one month rental fee) x 350

One month deposit fee for the room x 700

Following months
--------------------
Room rental x 700

Transportation (assuming you live in West area) x 100
(N.B: this also includes your occasional travelling into downtown for entertainment, etc, using public transportation)

Food (assuming you eat outside, not at restaurants but usual food courts) x 600 (20 bucks a day)

Utilities (Electricity + Water + Gas) x 100 (for one person only)

Internet (if your landlord doesn't provide for FOC and you apply basic plan for yourselves) x 25

Mobile (assuming you get basic subscription plan) x 25

That sums up to 1550. But it can go up to 1700, depending on your spending habits. And this doesn't include any personal shopping, medical fees, entertainment (clubbing, drinking, movies, etc) and other sorts of spending.

So if you can practice frugal living, by all means, welcome to Singapore. If not, I'd stay where you are at. Maybe start an Android development firm or whatever. Just don't come to this hell's pit.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Forgeddit. Unless you are prepared to rent a room only ($400-600) and eat vegetarian and don't party or drink. You won't be able to save much that's for sure. But, it is do-able if you want to get you foot into Singapore. I'd try negotiating for more or at least some housing allowance.

He won't be able to save at all, SMS ^^

samuel.faith wrote:

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Forgeddit. Unless you are prepared to rent a room only ($400-600) and eat vegetarian and don't party or drink. You won't be able to save much that's for sure. But, it is do-able if you want to get you foot into Singapore. I'd try negotiating for more or at least some housing allowance.

He won't be able to save at all, SMS ^^

KittyJules76 wrote:My very first salary in Singapore was only 1.8k and dont know how I did it on those days but I could still save $400 at the end of every month. Of coz you will stuck in a rent room, self-cooked meal and public transport.
Entertainment came from the TV with very basic channel (ch 5), no party and no drinking. Now after two and a half years and my salary is 2k, no more saving, no more cooking, still in public transport, still in rent room but the room cost nearly half of my salary, TV with cabel (rarely watch anymore), Friday night out, Sat girl's night out, Sunday party hmm.....

You don't know the resourcefulness of 3rd world migrants very well, do you!

I just find out this site

http://www.flathub.com/monthly_room_ren ... 0&mrt[]=51

Had a feel what is the HDB rental look like

You got to be careful with that site. They are not all HDB rooms. Some of them are offices or in industrial estates. The last one on the list @ 4,600/mo is actual an industrial/commercial space in the same building I'm in. It's a huge and empty commercial premises, but they do have a single toilet!

samuel.faith wrote: Food (assuming you eat outside, not at restaurants but usual food courts) x 600 (20 bucks a day)

This one looks like with at least 1 Tiger.

x9200 wrote:

samuel.faith wrote: Food (assuming you eat outside, not at restaurants but usual food courts) x 600 (20 bucks a day)

This one looks like with at least 1 Tiger.

Normal person eats three meals a day. Minimum is two meals.

Three meals a day -> $6.66 per meal
Two meals a day -> $10 per meal

At any food court, meals at regular rates cost about $3 ~ $8 depending on what you're eating. If you order a regular can drink, that'll set you back from $1 ~ $2.

I admit that if you eat two meals a day, $10/meal may seem quite a bit
but trust me, you can't really do two meals a day every single day.

Assuming you can, that two meals will be for lunch and dinner. Will you be satisfied every single day eating Kway Teo or chicken rice?

My numbers are maximum possible spendings for eating at food courts, based on ordinary eating habits of a regular healthy human who will crave for a good meal from time to time, but still don't mind
boring repetitive taste most food courts offer.

I've been in Singapore 2 years now and on average I need like 1200 SD a month including transportation, eating out at least once a day and weekend activities... If you don't feel the urge to go to fancy restaurants and stuff than 2000 are more than enough to survive and even save a bit.

But I'm a student and pretty good at getting the best for my bucks!

samuel.faith wrote:
I admit that if you eat two meals a day, $10/meal may seem quite a bit
but trust me, you can't really do two meals a day every single day.

For the better part of 10 years I did ONE meal a day and a large cup of tea for breakfast AND I gained 25kg! Two meals a day is easy. Hawker center? 80¢ for tea, Breakfast no more than $2.50. Lunch - soft drink 1.00 or tea again, meals $3.00, desert - fruit $1; Dinner - Soft drink $1, meal $5, dessert $1. Total/day: $15-16 x 30 = less than $500/month. If you only eat lunch at a hawker centre it's even cheaper! Transport? no more than $150/mo - my cost is around $110-120 and I take 2 buses & the MRT from Serangoon North to Toh Guan Road East (near IMM - Jurong) 6 days/week.

Phone costs can eat you up if you are not careful. But long distance, if you own a notebook, can be next to nothing if you use skype and wireless hotspots.