Good Salary

[colinm]

The current economist has the cost of living index of Singapore set at 106 (New York is 100 and London 107) so they reckon the cost of living is pretty much the same. I'm negotiating an assignment package and would look to match my UK salary plus schooling, medical, insurance etc paid by the company. Would this give me a better standard of living? or similar? They are offering $200k singapore, it sounds a lot, but is it? Given the cost of housing and cars I'm not so sure. Any experiences welcome.
Thanks
Colin

[joe]

It depends entirely upon where in the UK you live, your age and occupation and what your salary is in the UK.  S$200K is a lot of money by local terms but of course if you plan to own a big house, send the kids to an expensive school and drive a big fast car it will be eaten up.

[Sam]

It depends, are you getting paid SGD200k in addition to your accomodation/schooling/car/homeleave allowance etc, or does this SGD200k cover the entire package.  Schools here are very expensive, car prices are just ludicrous. If you get the whole "expat" treatment, with all these extras and effectively take home pay of SGD200k you can have a very nice lifestyle here. I am from the UK, and only schools and cars are more expensive than the UK in my opinion. I live a lot more cheaply here than I did in the UK, and I certainly am not missing out on anything. Money goes a lot further here.  (I was living in London).

[Colinm]

The 200k includes schools and housing so it might not be as attractive as it first sounded, but I'll keep investigating before I make a decision

[Kate]

If you forget about the car, you'll have a better lifestyle than you did in London.  Promise!  (And cabs are cheap.)

[London Lassie]

I lived in London before I came here over a year ago. You will find that you pay a lot less tax here so your cash will go a lot further too. As a recruiter $200K is a good salary (even though I don't know what you do.

Aside from the cash, you have to look at the intangibles too!!! What price can you put on continuously being in the sunshine, playing with your kids in the pool, the enrichment of meeting people from different cultures. One other thing too, I lived in London for 8 years and although there is a lot of stuff to do there, I honestly have to say that I do more here in Singapore. Don't forget as Brit's we moon around in the house for 3/4 of the year waiting for the couple of months in the so called summer to experience outdoor life. Here you can do that everyday. Every time I go out at night or at the weekend I always feel like I am on holiday. You also cannot put a price on the fact that you can let your kids out the front door to play without worrying about nutters.

[London Lassie]

Sorry that was mean't to read...

...I am a recruiter here in Singapore and I can tell you that $200K is a good salary (even though I don't know what you do.

[Anacoluthon]

London Lassie,
You're a recruiter, so recruit me.  What's your field of specialisation?  Big firm or...

[Anon]

London L,
I think you have to look at the "total tax" take on an income of 200K.  The "income tax" might be lower than elsewhere but in Singapore you are (invisibly) taxed in many other ways from gasoline at the pump, to GST on every purchase to the +++ mentality here and especially on cars, duty, etc etc. So, as expats, many of these high taxing things are taken care of by having a free car, free housing, free school fees, etc and some "beneficial value" is ascribed to these benefits and taxed on top of income tax at marginal rates (some expats have "tax paid salaries").
HK is a better (lower taxed) environment for working professionals in this regard.

FYI