Singapore Expats

Hello,

I have been offered a base salary of Singapore $ 5860 per mnth which includes complete medical expense for me. My wife and new born baby's medical expense are not covered on this package.

Will this be enuff for my small family with relatively low cost of miscellaneous expense to be added on.

You can also ratify if my assumptions and pls feel free to change any number that is wrong: (all costs are for per month basis and in Singapore $)

House Rent - 1500 (HDB)
Gas+Electricity+Water - 350
MRT + Bus - 200
Medical Insurance (Wife+Kid) - 300
Medical (cold/injury etc etc) - 250
Food (grocery + Baby) - 600
Maintainence - 150
Internet - 70
TV (Cable + License Fees) - 200

I suppose all other costs apart from the above are controllable by me (movies, going out, eating out, holidays etc etc)

Pls add any extra costs that youe experience may foresee which is compulsory as per Singapore laws or standards.

thanks,
RR

Ronio.Ron wrote:House Rent - 1500 (HDB)

Unlikely. Better count on 2000 or more.

Ronio.Ron wrote:Gas+Electricity+Water - 350

You can run a lot of aircon for that money, or use it less and cut cost by half or more!

Ronio.Ron wrote:MRT + Bus - 200

Realistic!

Ronio.Ron wrote:Medical Insurance (Wife+Kid) - 300

Medical insurance as you might know from back home is almost unknown here. International companies that cover Singapore cost a lot more, but basic hospitalisation and surgery cover is available locally for much less.

Ronio.Ron wrote:Food (grocery + Baby) - 600

Realistic, if per person (then it includes weekly restaurant meal with beer)

Ronio.Ron wrote:Maintainence - 150

For what?

Ronio.Ron wrote:Internet - 70

30 is enough, unless you stream videos or do online gaming.

Ronio.Ron wrote:TV (Cable + License Fees) - 200

No idea, we have no TV.

Cable & internet all together, no more than $150 using cable modem as well.

For 1500 you can only get an unfurnished 2 bedroom HDB flat.
If you have sometime to search around once you are here, like atleast 2 weeks, you can get a decent house for 1800, at locations 10-20 kms away from CBD.But if you are in hurry expect to spend 2k-2.2k.

S$3K would not cover my rent, let alone utilities, food, and such.

It all depends what level you choose to live at. I live in a semi-detached with a nice (small) yard and I don't like high rise living.

For a semi-detached, and a lifestyle that permits entertainment, I think a minimum of about S$8K is required.

Don't forget taxes. Based on your salary - you would pay $3480 in tax in 2010 (will be less as you're here for less than a full year) - calculator at http://www.iras.gov.sg. These are payable in arrears - so while it is great to get your full salary in your account you need to remember to set that money aside for when the assessment comes through (March).

My tv and internet costs are $135pm and I get most of the basic english channels and the starhub sports channel. You can check out http://www.starhub.com.sg or http://mio.singtel.com/miotv/#signup to calculate your exact cost.

beppi wrote:

Ronio.Ron wrote:

Ronio.Ron wrote:Medical Insurance (Wife+Kid) - 300

Medical insurance as you might know from back home is almost unknown here. International companies that cover Singapore cost a lot more, but basic hospitalisation and surgery cover is available locally for much less.

300 for 2 should be good enough for an insurance with the co-payment.

If wife and kid will be at home most of the time then I'd say the MRT + Bus cost is too high, you shouldn't be spending more than 100

As mentioned, for cable and internet you shouldn't pay more than 150, mine is 130 with 12MB internet and 4 groups with the basic upsizes and HBO, I'd imagine you can probably get the internet cheaper now too what with Starhub hurting after losing a lot of their customers when they lost the football rights

Thank you all.

Highly appreciated. Alas my negotiations have failed and i have to make do with the number i have given above.

I hear your comments, specially as i will have 2-3 weeks paid stay to hunt for decent accommodations. Will try and keep costs to a minimum.

Rgds,