Singapore Expats

Just thinking about life in Singapore again... Since Singapore is a small country, number of choices in certain things may be restricted, as everybody knows. If something gets expensive, you still have no choice but to buy it, otherwise you have to leave Singapore.
Just want to list down all those "things" in Singapore for which prices can be pushed up until all disposable income and savings of common people are eliminated (assuming they stay in Singapore).

1) accommodation (no choice, or leave)
2) education (you want to stay - you can send your chiild abroad, but for yourself - no choice)
3) transportation (still 20x40 kilometers, can't just walk)
4) alcohol/tobacco (taxes)
5) utilities

...please, somebody help me continue the list or prove me being wrong

I did not put food and clothing in that list since those can be easily imported.

Water. It's either tap with recycled sewage or pay a thousand times more for bottled water.

Food, now that foreigners are being decimated.

Latest smartphone

Quality Television or the lack there off - watch starhub/singtel or die

Barnsley wrote:Latest smartphone

Now that you've mentioned it, things (electronics, branded goods, etc) we complain about being expensive may become even more expensive since the cost of distributing/warehousing will most probably rise and add some overhead.

This is how I feel about things here right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzOZLXTfV6g

nakatago wrote:

Barnsley wrote:Latest smartphone

Now that you've mentioned it, things (electronics, branded goods, etc) we complain about being expensive may become even more expensive since the cost of distributing/warehousing will most probably rise and add some overhead.

Those cannot go up indefinitely bacause you can always order cheaper at Amazon. Food is the same - you can import, not as many restrictions yet.

I mean things that can go REALLY high in prices, and you can't do anything to avoid buying them (other than leaving Singapore).

Barnsley wrote:Latest smartphone

Even locals are doing smartphones already. Competition is there. Cannot get crazily expensive.

Sergei82 wrote:I mean things that can go REALLY high in prices, and you can't do anything to avoid buying them (other than leaving Singapore).

Health insurance. You can't even get cover past the age of 65 if you are a foreigner.

WTF Batam doesn't 'come on down;, is beyond me....



Look: Here is : $1000 cash, grab it.
Them: Huh. What . What do I do?


If Batam got it's shit in gear, SG would be finished.

May I say Gaylang... as the cost of living is increasing, most of the guys stay alone here...

Sergei82 wrote:Just thinking about life in Singapore again... Since Singapore is a small country, number of choices in certain things may be restricted, as everybody knows. If something gets expensive, you still have no choice but to buy it, otherwise you have to leave Singapore.
Just want to list down all those "things" in Singapore for which prices can be pushed up until all disposable income and savings of common people are eliminated (assuming they stay in Singapore).

1) accommodation (no choice, or leave)
2) education (you want to stay - you can send your chiild abroad, but for yourself - no choice)
3) transportation (still 20x40 kilometers, can't just walk)
4) alcohol/tobacco (taxes)
5) utilities

...please, somebody help me continue the list or prove me being wrong

I did not put food and clothing in that list since those can be easily imported.

Typically when I break down my basic costs, it is rent+others. The 'others' part of the expense is just half of my rent.

So if you take care of rent, everything else falls in place. No matter how high other costs are, its never going to get to a point that will make you change your decision of staying here.

Rent is the make or break

BillyB wrote:

Sergei82 wrote:I mean things that can go REALLY high in prices, and you can't do anything to avoid buying them (other than leaving Singapore).

Health insurance. You can't even get cover past the age of 65 if you are a foreigner.

For real? How can that be legal? Ahhhhh.