Cost of Living Estimate

[Margaret]

Hi, I am currently evaluating a move with my husband to Singapore with his employer.  As part of our negotiations I am trying to get an idea of the amount of money we should be allowing for general household expenses in order to assess whether what is left over will be enough to live on.  In particular I am interested in the amount for monthly utility bills, telephone & groceries (assuming I want to continue eating largely western food which I know is very expensive).  Estimates to date for utilities range from $600 - $1,000 per month and groceries (including incidentals) $2500 - $3000 per month.  Someone said telephone (calls & rental) is expensive as well (any informatin welcome).  What about water, contents insurance etc?  It is likely that the company will provide housing allowance, car, health insurance & education so I need to know roughly how much I should allow for other things.

[Margaret]

Re message above - I forgot to mention that in our household there is my husband and I with 2 children (2 & 0) and we are expecting to be accommodated in a 4 bedroom residence.
Thanks

[Hope this helps]

We live in a 3 bedroom condo with pool,gym and playground between town and the Aussie School. That is $5000 per month and a house you'd probably be looking at around $10,000 up or a semi detached with very small yard (really only parking space) about $8000. Cars are expensive to buy and leasing is about $1500 up per month (petrol about $1.40 per litre). Taxis, MRT and buses are cheap. Schooling is about $10, 000 up a year and school buses are a shock per month.You are right about utilities per month. For telephone use a computer to do overseas calls. Food is expensive...there was a site for this...anyone?? But a lot meat is airflown mainly from Australia so beef and lamb are over $15 per kilo chicken and pork can be local and more reasonably priced. Milk $2 per litre, wine (add at least $10 to what you pay at home), beer $3 a can, cereal $5 to $10 a box, flour $2 a kilo. Bring a bbq...they're outrageously priced.I'd say your estimate on spending is right we have 2 adults and three children in our family.Negotiate car with petrol, housing, some utility contribution, schooling and school bus to be paid for.  

[Hope this helps]

Sorry...medical should be covered by your company...ours has a small(and I mean small) dental component but both doctors and dentists know how to charge here. Also if you are looking at a people mover type vehicle look at $2500 a month.

[TIGER]

check careful on your medical insurance - my work cover is - so limited it's basically - "bad" the what if - I have a serious accident - plays on my mind daily. I broke my leg last year and am still trying to claim the 1,000 plus expenses.
The company have claimed off there insurance -whom will not pay out.
CHECK Carefully espically with regards family cover...

[Trajet, not Tragic]

Just bought a brand new Hyundai Trajet, a 7-psgr MPV for just over S$1000 p.m. It is now the best selling MPV in Sing.

And re using the computer to make overseas calls, long distance rates to some countries have fallen from over $1.00 per minute to less than $0.20 per minute so I wouldn't bother with the typically inferior quality of the computer.

Contents insurance is not expensive and if you look at some of the other threads (esp the one about jewellery cover) claims are generally paid quickly.

Medical insurance is a black hole but there are advertisers on this site who can probably give you a good idea of what's available. Local policies for local companies aren't up to snuff as Tiger says .. if you are with a foreign company they may offer a more 'global' standard. Check it out. Maternity is rarely covered locally.

Sounds like your company knows what they are doing .. they probably have someone in their Singapore HR that can help you fine tune the details.

[James JPN]

I just looked for a car, called everywhere.  We want a Honda CRV or something small and similar.  Everyone quoted 3,000+ for a rental or lease.  A Suzuki was $2,400+ a month.  You bought a car, so how long is the note for and what does insurance, etc run?

I would put 3k to lease/rental a new car for a couple of years.  This includes everytbing but gas and tolls.

[Boston Family Sing. bound]

Margret,
Most of the figures that have been suggested have been about right for my experience.  One which may end up being more depending on which type of accomodation you choose is the electricity.  
If you end up in a condo you should be fine at $S600- 1000 even if you have your aircon on all the time.  If you live in a large 3 floor house however it can go much higher. One neighbor told me one of her bills had been $S2,500/mo.  I think she must have run her aircon with the doors open.  However talking to others S1200-1400 for large house with aircon on is not unusual.
The cost of your vehicle is going to vary depending on what the COE is costing the month that you lease/buy.  Go with the high end, if it ends up costing less, the company will be happy.