Singapore Expats

Hi,

I am new to the site, but the amount of info on the forum is great to newbie's like myself considering a role in Singapore.

I have been offered a role in Singa for S$100k base wage with a S$20k car allowance. I'm trying to work out what this can deliver in terms of lifestyle. What I have been told is that this will need to cover accommodation - my preferance is for a 2 bed apt/condo with gym & pool facilities. I am also going to have to cover leasing a car ongoing with the above allowance.

I would like to live centrally in an area with a good range of food & shops - have been told Holland Village is the way to go? I will be working in Tuas, so this may be an issue as regards commute time?

In terms of other costs - I wil need to cover utilities, nights out (one casual food a week and one more hectioc weekend night), groceries (myself and partner) and my broadband, cellphones and satelite TV, health insurance x 2.

Does this sound achievable on the above wage? Really appreciate any help/guidance from you experienced ex-pats....

Thanks...appreciate any help/advice

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/ci ... =Singapore

http://www.icare2share.com/2010/06/cost ... 0-for.html

You are getting the car allowance only. The cost of buying a car in Singapore is Get an idea of the cost of living from the above two links.
So I'd suggest don't go for the car now. If you are anyways going to get the allowance irrespective of whether you opt for a car or not, then I'd say its a very decent amount. The per capita household income in Singapore is close to S$5500 per month. All the best.

S$20k per year for car? I just went through the same thing. That will get you an "average" car by US standards. After you factor in petrol, insurance, parking, and annual tax, you'll be able to get a high-end Civic or something like that. My car allowance is S$1300 a month. $917 is the car (used Honda Fit) and the insurance, petrol, parking, and everything else makes me go over that $1300. And parking is free at work for me.

If you don't have housing allowance, be aware that renting a private condo by Holland Village will probably be more than half your monthly income on that base. Renting an HDB will be ~$3k or less, and a room with roommates a lot less.

VillierG
I can see that you want to live in an area with a bit of life going on, but try not to fall into the common trap (for people planning to move) of believing you have to live right in the middle Orchard/HV etc. You don't, and you will pay a serious premium to do so. Plus then your commute to Tuas is going to be a pretty damned long one. If I were you I'd be inclined to try and find an area that is a compromise between being right in the hubba, and being somewhat closer to work.

ganeshiyerv wrote:The per capita household income in Singapore is close to S$5500 per month. All the best.

I'm not sure what 'per capita household income' is, but median household income is just over $7k. Er, actually I'm not sure how either is relevant to this conversation...

Housing $2,500
Taxes - 15%
Food - $1,000

Yes, I'd say $8,000 per month should cover it.

Do you really need a car? For $20,000 you can take a lot of taxi rides, MRT, bus, etc. Great public transportation here. Just a bit slower than driving. But MUCH cheaper.

scarbowl wrote:Housing $2,500
Taxes - 15%
Food - $1,000

Yes, I'd say $8,000 per month should cover it.

Do you really need a car? For $20,000 you can take a lot of taxi rides, MRT, bus, etc. Great public transportation here. Just a bit slower than driving. But MUCH cheaper.

From Holland Village to/from Tuas everyday? According to go there, that's at least S$20 each way via taxi. He'll eat up more than half his budget on can rides. Plus, you have to CATCH a taxi, which might be hard out there in Tuas. Once you're spending $750+ a month on taxis, it makes sense to just buy a car. You're all in for everything cost for a cheap car will be S$1000 (Say for a small 1.4liter japanese or korean car, after taxs, insurance, petrol, parking) but you have the freedom to come and go as you please.


For taxes, OP will be treated as a tax resident as long as he doesn't leave in under six months. Total income tax on $120k will be just under S$8k:
http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page04.aspx?id=1190

Oh, and 2bedroom condo for $2500? OP wants the facilities, so no HDB for him.

ganeshiyerv wrote:http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/ci ... =Singapore

http://www.icare2share.com/2010/06/cost ... 0-for.html

You are getting the car allowance only. The cost of buying a car in Singapore is Get an idea of the cost of living from the above two links.
So I'd suggest don't go for the car now. If you are anyways going to get the allowance irrespective of whether you opt for a car or not, then I'd say its a very decent amount. The per capita household income in Singapore is close to S$5500 per month. All the best.

Tis better to use government publications rather than something that has been cobbled together with somebody's personal agenda or using out of date information.

http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/papers/ ... pp-s18.pdf

3 On a total household income basis, median monthly household income from work increased from $6,340 in 2010 to $7,040 in 2011, an 11 per cent growth in nominal terms, or 5.6 per cent in real terms. The tenth decile saw the highest percentage growth in average monthly household income of 14 per cent in nominal terms, or 7.9 per cent in real terms.

Great, thanks a million for the info guys.

A Civic or Fiat sounds perfect for what I need, although I hear you that it may tip me slightly over car allowance.

Any advice on a good location to seek an apt/condo that balances good energy & atmosphere but is decent value and in some way reasonable for a commute to Tuas...appreciate reasonable is probably a relative term, I guess approx S$2,000 - $3,500 for a 2 bed non HDB with facilities - pool, tennis, gym?

Thanks again for all of the help & info

villierg wrote:Great, thanks a million for the info guys.

A Civic or Fiat sounds perfect for what I need, although I hear you that it may tip me slightly over car allowance.

Any advice on a good location to seek an apt/condo that balances good energy & atmosphere but is decent value and in some way reasonable for a commute to Tuas...appreciate reasonable is probably a relative term, I guess approx S$2,000 - $3,500 for a 2 bed non HDB with facilities - pool, tennis, gym?

Thanks again for all of the help & info

Well, if you need a two-bedroom condo for 3500 or less, being close to Tuas won't be a problem

I'd start looking in the areas at Holland Village (probably too expensive but you never know) and west.

Boon Lay, Jurong & Jurong East would be the places to look.