Compare Your Household Income 2009

Hi Daniel, no, I don't think high salary range is more common--just that what you think as common might be distorted by the salary ranges you hear in your everyday interactions.

In my humble opinion, you can take this as a wake up call and start seeing how you can break through the 30%, 40%, 50%... and so on.

Hi Goodie, thanks for the encouragement. Actually after looking through the comments on the annual income tool, i notice that those non tax payer are not included. Using 19k will put it at 0%. So a rough gauge is 0% (20k) ~ 50% (50k).

Still sad though. But now the picture isn't that clear. I just wonder if include those non tax paying salary, what will the chart look like.

what should be an average income for a family to stay in Singapore? If i am looking at a level of AVP (Asst Vice President), what would be the level of compensation per month?

household expenditure can range from as low as 1000pm to 10000pm depending on whether u eat out, how often u eat out, where u patronise, where u stay (central, suburban), what house type (hdb, condo, landed), size of house.
if u're an avp in a bank, and if spouse is not working, i think you family can only live slightly above the average of singapore citizens.

Hi avp,

I wonder what is your idea of a avp's pay package when you say

"if u're an avp in a bank, and if spouse is not working, i think you family can only live slightly above the average of singapore citizens."

Then again, what is your idea of a "average of singapore citizens."

I just find it weird that a AVP pay package which sounds quite high is = to 2 aver singapore pay package.

correction to my last sentence: "... your family can only live slightly above the average singapore family with both husband and wife working as professionals."
there are many people who think expats can live like kings in singapore, but they neglect the fact that these expats have to support spouses who aren't working and kids who go to expensive international schools, and pay for an expensive house or apartment. if you compare materially with singapore families, these expats aren't much better off.

Hi avp,

I do not profess to know but I do understand that expats get a Living Allowance on top of their salary. And this allowance is enough to cover all the expenses and more.

For eg: I ve a friend whose from New Zealand. His single and his allowance is 6k which covers his condo rental of 4k. 2k leftover which is equal to his Salary + 2k.

According to him, if his married or with children, the allowance is adjusted. Likewise if his family is not in SG, e allowance is also adjusted for market rate back in his country.

Now times have changed so if this Allowance is reduced, I'm not surprise but I understand that some expats are on Contract so the Allowance should remain at the level as when they signed the contract.

If new contract then of course the allowance would be much lesser.

yes you are right. but i would look at the full package. say the expat gets the equivalent of 200k in all, including all benefits like housing and kids education. given the higher tax bracket he's in, and the fact that he "loses out" to locals who get many forms of subsidies (eg hdb), i would say his net income is comparable to a local family with husband and wife each getting 80k.
further, given the general lifestyle an expat leads (locals are extremely frugal in comparison), i would expect his savings to be comparable to a local husband & wife each making 60k.
of cos there are expats out there who really live like kings. but these are the ones getting at least 500k. i don't think there are many of them.

There you go. Your definition of Aver Pay is already very skewed ._.

60k per annum average? Just in case you are basing on the Salary tool provided. I believe it only includes those who have to file Income Tax.

So low earners who struggle for monthly expenses are not included.

i believe i did clarify that i'm only including working professionals, not blue collar workers. afaik, there isn't any "average" stats on the typical household of working professionals - ie both husband and wife are grads and working as professionals. 60k for a grad professional is average as far as i can gauge from people around me and from all the info i have read.