Relocating to Singapore with 7XXX/month ?

$7k pm is a lot of money for two adults.

Rent in a 1 bedroom condo in Woodlands $1700 pm
Food (at hawker centres and food court) and groceries, including lunch at work $2000 pm
Public transport $300 pm
Utilities $150 pm
Entertainment $500 pm
Misc $500 pm
Total $5150 pm
Savings $1850 pm

it really depends on how you maintain your lifestyle. 7k for a expat couple in SG may be over-stretching your own wallet at the end of every month.

If you are willing to conform to the living standards / preferences of the rest of 70% singaporeans, that is to eat out at hawker centres, getting your household supplies from local supermarts, etc then life shouldn't be that difficult. You'll still get to indulge in fancy stuffs and/or go for holidays once a while.

Some of the expats i know found it rough to adjust their diet to our local food. They prefer to skip hawkers and go for something more hipster-ish, getting their household supplies from specialty stores and etc.

Better talk to your partner first.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

it really depends on how you maintain your lifestyle. 7k for a expat couple in SG may be over-stretching your own wallet at the end of every month.

If you are willing to conform to the living standards / preferences of the rest of 70% singaporeans, that is to eat out at hawker centres, getting your household supplies from local supermarts, etc then life shouldn't be that difficult. You'll still get to indulge in fancy stuffs and/or go for holidays once a while.

Some of the expats i know found it rough to adjust their diet to our local food. They prefer to skip hawkers and go for something more hipster-ish, getting their household supplies from specialty stores and etc.

Better talk to your partner first.

This isn't a discussion about expat or local lifestyle. Most foreigners on expat packages are >300k so it is a given that TS cannot get anywhere close to being expat lifestyle. The rent of a typical expat housing benefit would wipe out most of his salary.

The challenge for him is even by local standards it's not very 'average" either. 7k is significantly below median/average in Singapore for employed household income (median is ~9k, average ~12k). Coupled with the fact that foreigners incur additional expenses and generally do not get to enjoy all the rebates and subsidies compared to citizens, the like for like adjusted income could be closer to 25th percentile.

At the end of the day TS and his partner must be able to accept a lifestyle that is around lower-middle income of a typical Singaporean for this thing to even work.

More info can be found here :http://www.tablebuilder.singstat.gov...on?refId=15438

Originally Posted by Unregistered

This isn't a discussion about expat or local lifestyle. Most foreigners on expat packages are >300k so it is a given that TS cannot get anywhere close to being expat lifestyle. The rent of a typical expat housing benefit would wipe out most of his salary.

The challenge for him is even by local standards it's not very 'average" either. 7k is significantly below median/average in Singapore for employed household income (median is ~9k, average ~12k). Coupled with the fact that foreigners incur additional expenses and generally do not get to enjoy all the rebates and subsidies compared to citizens, the like for like adjusted income could be closer to 25th percentile.

At the end of the day TS and his partner must be able to accept a lifestyle that is around lower-middle income of a typical Singaporean for this thing to even work.

More info can be found here :[://.tablebuilder.singstat.gov.sg/publicfacing/createSpecialTable.action?refId=15438[/

Using the household income may be misleading as many of these households have non-working children included in them.

Since he only has one dependent, the economics are quite different from those with children (more dependents).

In my opinion, TA doesn’t need to spend so much on rent if he’s willing to stay in a 3-room HDB or condo in suburban area. 2k will be enough.

If you are willing to take a master’s bedroom in HDB or condo, rent can be even cheaper at 1k - 1.5k.

7k for two is livable. Comfortable enough.

But not ideal. 17k would be more appropriate for an expat.

You will do a typical Singaporean Down to earth lifestyle with 7k.

Can negotiate? Any setting in allowance?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

7k for two is livable. Comfortable enough.

But not ideal. 17k would be more appropriate for an expat.

You will do a typical Singaporean Down to earth lifestyle with 7k.

Can negotiate? Any setting in allowance?

Need to consider bonus, if he 10 to 12mths bonus, like in o&g shouldnt be a problem

Originally Posted by St1neGrab

And I wonder what the salary should be to live in Singapore 2 adults+ 2 children (school age).

Lifestyle lifestyle.

If scrimp and save, 3 simple meals per day, 5k good enough.

But ideally for a average sg lifestyle about 10k. (Wife not working and support two kids)