$15K a month

[Hi Five]

I forgot to add that the two of you are fixated on "giving more information" on lifestyles when really that is not the question. The question is really the COST of living there. you are so one track minded. (if you have a mind at all)

[No Idea]

Well, High Five, you have outdone yourself again.  Jumping blindly where others fear to tread.  The lifestyle issue was brought up by the orihinal poster.  

Are you that thick?  Can you read or is someone giving you a hand reading and writing in this forum.  

If it's a matter of cost of living, then the question is easy to answer.  

According to many COLA contracts KL has a standard of living and cost of living approximately 1/2 that of Singapore.  In otehr words, if you spend $10 in Singapore you get $20 worth in Kuala Lumpur.  

See, correct phraseology will always get you an answer.  

By the way, have a great job, which also allows me enough time to wrangle with you on this board.  Now, pack your kit and toodle off home.  

[You get what you worth]

No, no relation, but I like the style and would cetainly give them a job -- unlike you.

[Kenneth Cole sucks]

Y'all bore me to tears...

[Joseph27]

All this angst for a stupid question

I am in a similar boat but offered  more than that.  Malaysia is cheaper according to my other thread I started but car prices still suck.  A new corolla will cost you $105K ringgit - which will be around $42K Aussie.  I could buy a decent car for that amount but alas I will probably have to end up with some piece of crap over inflated priced car.  

Shopping centres are okay - and your groceries are a bit cheaper.  Wages are totally low - a salesperson will get around $1500 ringgit a month depending on how good they are.  My cashiers currently get a lot more than that in Singapore.  No wonder they seem so keen to work down here.    

Utilities are cheaper but everything depends on your lifestyle choices.  $180 will set you up in the top income bracket - but if you think you will be living in a bungalow with a new mercedes think again.  On that money you could afford nice accomodation, an average car, and a comfortable life. What more could you ask for.  

My biggest fear is when I have kids - the international schools are a damn rip off - so I'm already saving for them.   Anyone know an average cost?  

Also does anyone know a good place to buy a car ?  Something that will cost around $2500 ringgit or less a month?  

Thanks

[fifa]

You will see that most M'sias drive Protons - a brand new top-range model only costs about RM50K (so I've been told). This is why foreign makes are expensive -- only the rich will buy them and the dealers are out to make a buck from them.

Living in M'sia is definitely cheap compared to SG. But the real challenge is that sustaining the kind of expat lifestyle (imported foods, fine restos etc) is a lot more difficult. For all the complaints about the lack of range in SG, a hop to MY will tell you that SG in a paraside in comparison. The range is so much smaller, and the costs are often higher because of the limited market.

Of course, I'm not an expert in this area and haven't spent as much time in KL the past year as before, so things could have changed quite a bit. But these are my general impressions.

[This message has been edited by fifa (edited 21-08-2003).]

[A_Friend]

Regarding the above post, we have lived in both Singapore and KL. We had no problems at the supermarket in purchasing things in KL that we could get in Singapore.  I found KL to be cheaper for the weekly shop.

Regarding eating out, we found the standard of restaurants (both western and local) to be better in KL than in Singapore.   It is also a pleasant surprise to be presented with a bill that does not require a bank loan to pay off.

[fifa]

Good to know - either I've been hanging out in all the cheapo places in Singapore or all the pricey ones in KL!

[Club]

One of the reasons why our companies wishes to relocate you to Singapore is because it is more cost-effective to sack us under the Singapore jurisdiction as what the above post suggests.

SIngapore branch or related employers or headhunters are not OBLIGED to pay you jobless benefits and severance packages if your services are terminated here under the Singapore branch office or existing regulatory framework.

In order words, when we work in singapore, it indirectly suggests that the company is going to terminate our services in a jurisdiction that saves them hefty severage package costs !

I was a victim of this "transfer of foriegn talent policy" that the advocates.

It's like a dumping ground for overseas expat workers for companies wishing to cut labour costs "legally".

[Kinda gave up]

I think any one knows that the ringitt is low compared to the Sing dollar.   So somebody coming on here asking such a ridiculous question such as ' Is 150k enough to live on' really is just talking nonsense.

OBVIOUSLY 150k is big bucks anywhere
If you really dont know, take a 90 buck day trip up there have a look around or have a long weekend, hang out in the expat bars and really find out.  No big deal.

[MovetoKL]

Thanks for the feedback from everyone

The question remains valid (but i did manage to negotiation quite a bit more money).  The pay is in ringgit by the way.

If you want a big house and BMW 7 series and international school for the kids this wage will not be sufficient.  It depends on lifestyle choices.  The money is good for my situation for the next year but want more after that one.