Singapore Expats

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all well. I have just very recently been made an exciting offer to relocate to Singapore with my company from London, UK but I have a couple of questions if you could be kind enough to answer I would be very grateful. What is the average salary in Singapore for a Middleweight Graphic Designer?

I realise from the pictures, documentaries and videos I saw that Singapore is mainly a city with lots of people and with little countryside but I really wish to live in the suburbs where there is some peace and quiet and maybe trees or a park? Could you recommend areas that fit this description roughly? Thanks very much for your help.

In general, Singapore is very green. You will see trees everywhere, even there is a small park in almost every neighbourhood.

Do you know where is your office going to be? East Coast is popular because it is near to the beach (though its not exactly the best beach around) and has the longest park, whereby many people will go there to cycle and roller-blade. There are a few other options including Labrador Park area, and even Sentosa (if you own your own transport).

Jaspreet wrote:I really wish to live in the suburbs where there is some peace and quiet and maybe trees or a park? Could you recommend areas that fit this description roughly? Thanks very much for your help.

Green - yes, peace and quiet - probably not. There are plenty of parks but people are everywhere and practically always around even very late in the evening.

Like I've said before, I criticize Singapore for a lot of things but I gotta commend it on the fact there are a lot of plants. The whole island is practically a landscaped garden city.

That said, the only "suburban" places are those areas where people can afford to buy landed houses. Peace and quiet--your mileage may vary even on those places with very little vehicular and pedestrian traffic, depending on the type of community, your neighbors, demographics, etc, etc, ad nauseam.

Jaspreet wrote:What is the average salary in Singapore for a Middleweight Graphic Designer?

As far as I know, designers in Singapore are not paid by weight, but by month, like all other employees.
In any case, what IS your weight?

Thanks for your responses so far, very helpful. I believe my office is located on 'Temasek Boulevard' but I don't mind living out in the suburbs... Just trying to put a picture together regarding which areas to look in for accommodation.

Also do many people cycle into work over there? Or is the main transport only public and vehicles?

beppl - I'm not sure whether you understood my question regarding 'Graphic Designers' in Singapore. By middleweight I meant my level of experience as a Designer

Many Thanks

Suburbs. It is not a concept that I have really thought of in relation to Singapore. If you can't afford landed property, then I imagine you're going to be living in a tower block.

Green and quiet is going to be a rare thing to find. Singapore is noisy because anything over 15 years old is a candidate to be demolished and rebuilt so being surrounded by building works is seemingly perpetual. Green? As Nak said it is a managed or landscaped green, rather than a natural one. They chopped down almost every tree on our previous large condo estate on the basis that they were old. One side-result of which was that traffic noise from the road in front increased about 100%.

Anyway, don't listen to doomsters like me too much. SG is a fun place to come and spend some time even if you don't live quite where and how you would like

Why not look at Google Maps with a satellite view? That might assist you. There are even agricultural lands and farms in the north west around Kranji and so on, but your commute would be serious hell I think!

Jaspreet wrote:beppl - I'm not sure whether you understood my question regarding 'Graphic Designers' in Singapore. By middleweight I meant my level of experience as a Designer

Oh, you mean designers gain weight with experience?
Kind of like all men who don't like to call it age?

Beppi: You crack me up!

Jaspreet: If you like somewhere a bit quieter, you could try Choa Chu Kang. It's a medium-density (but still high-rise) housing estate in the north-west of Singapore. The commute is a bit long (would take about 75 - 90 mins to get to Temasek Boulevard via public transport in rush hour traffic) but it's a lot less crowded than town, and goods and services are generally a bit cheaper. I know. I live here.

It's easy to get around Singapore and explore the parks, etc for some peace and quiet but getting to work everyday either by bus, train or driving your own car can be quite a b*tch during peak hours.

So Priority? Try to stay near Mrt stations closer to your work place.

mummy mantras wrote:Beppi: You crack me up!

Jaspreet: If you like somewhere a bit quieter, you could try Choa Chu Kang. It's a medium-density (but still high-rise) housing estate in the north-west of Singapore. The commute is a bit long (would take about 75 - 90 mins to get to Temasek Boulevard via public transport in rush hour traffic) but it's a lot less crowded than town, and goods and services are generally a bit cheaper. I know. I live here.

If memory serves, there is a direct bus to the orchard or city area from Bukit Batok. If you're gonna go out there, might as well go all the way.

And speaking of Google maps, Street View is supported in all of Singapore's public roads where cars pass.

nakatago wrote:

mummy mantras wrote:Beppi: You crack me up!

Jaspreet: If you like somewhere a bit quieter, you could try Choa Chu Kang. It's a medium-density (but still high-rise) housing estate in the north-west of Singapore. The commute is a bit long (would take about 75 - 90 mins to get to Temasek Boulevard via public transport in rush hour traffic) but it's a lot less crowded than town, and goods and services are generally a bit cheaper. I know. I live here.

If memory serves, there is a direct bus to the orchard or city area from Bukit Batok. If you're gonna go out there, might as well go all the way.

That reminds me of a line from Apocalypse Now!

Edit to add:
'Willard: [voice-over] "Never get out of the boat." Absolutely goddamn right! Unless you were goin' all the way... Kurtz got off the boat. He split from the whole fu$$in' program.'

You're right Nakatago. I take an express bus to work in the mornings (when I need to go to the office, that is).

Service 590 (http://www.smrtbuses.com.sg/busguide/ro ... viceType=P) from Choa Chu Kang Crescent to town.

Jaspreet: There are lots of express and premium bus services all over the island that connect the various housing estates with the city centre. But do note that some, like service 590, only run in the morning (when people are in a rush to get to the office on time). You'll have to take the slower bus & MRT train combo to get home in the evenings. But it is do-able.

if you wish to live in suburbs. only place I can think of with space that doesnt cost a bomb yet... try somewhere near thomson/peirce reservoir

but you need about 8k/mth to live in decent landed property in sg though

Hey thanks guys I shall be looking into your recommendations! I received confirmation of my visa today! So I've got the green light, looks like I head over in mid-May to early June. Wow, so excited!