Is SG$260K ok?

[Flaunt????]

What's there to flaunt about $260K per annum? After tax, that's a scrape-by salary for expats. Even more so if one has children and wants to educate them privately. There won't be much left over for holidays back home (or much else) either. Why bother coming, unless you really don't have any other options.

[Dr Who]

I need to leave this place reading these posts!  260 K is a fabulous wage.

[Painful]

The fact is, it is expensive here. There, I've said it.

[Ad Nauseum]

I've posted many times on these salary threads and got my teeth kicked in many times for posting.

I make $350.  Many benefits are direct paid benefits. Housing, schooling, tax equalization etc. This makes the number seem bigger but the bottom line is that I live better here than I would at home and I save more money. Otherwise why be here?

School fees = $20k
Housing = $130,000
Car = $24,000

Of course you can live on less.  These discussions always devolve into how you can live on SGD$3,000 a month like everyone else but that's not the point.  The point is, "Can I live better than I can at home and save more money."

There are other reasons to come.

See the world
Get global experience
Meet Asian chicks

But the bottom line for the average western family is, "Why give up friends, family, support networks, security, lifestyle and all that, knowing my husband will be under tremendous work pressure and exposed to all kinds of "temptations," while making less money?"

[onlyone]

Its all about the lifestyle you want, but as a PP says here why move for less?.Dont move for opp to see the world, as you wont have time!.

Any way here's the latest budget:

Rent(5 bed with pool,Buckit Timah)       118k (fingers crossed)
Travel, Hols, Club                        67k
Utilties                                  9k
Telphone/Intenet/Mobiles/TV               6k
Food & Groceries at home                  9k
School Fees inc Bus & Tution             61k
Maid inc Maid Tax                        11k
Other Clothes/Ent/Cash/
Taxis/Drink/Kid costs inc Trips          65k
Car (Rent only Merc C class car)         31k.

Our effective income tax rate is 20% (highest we ever paid in the world) and we have over 100k down as deposits. Living standard only marginly above at home in Europe.


$260 SGD is not enough.

[Ad Naseum]

Clearly you are going to flamed for your holidays and "others" budget which represent your lifestyle and your biggest area of discretionary spending.

Based on your fees I assume 3 kids so there are some costs there as well.

Your budget is not atypical for many expats. So put on your kevlar and watch the show.

[flaunting]

What's there to flaunt about $260K per annum? After tax, that's a scrape-by salary for expats. Even more so if one has children and wants to educate them privately. There won't be much left over for holidays back home (or much else) either. Why bother coming, unless you really don't have any other options.

1) Have you ever heard of a thing called Google?  Using it you can find cost of living information for Singapore, you can find school tuitions, cost of a car, club memberships etc.

2) The OP did not have a specific question, he just asked "Is it enough?"  What the hell is that supposed to mean?  I wonder what kind of profession he is in, because he doesn't seem too skilled in information gathering.

3) Just looking at the cold hard statistics, 260K is NOT a scrape by salary for expats.  I find it laughable you make such bombastic statements without any hard data to back up your wild assertions.

4) How is there not enough left for "holidays back home"?  Maybe look at some travel websites and you will quickly see there is more than enough for a holiday.

I really wonder why you posted such nonsense.  I can only conclude you don't really believe what you say, you are either repeating what you overheard or are just trying to wind people up.

[Below Deck]

Hmmm. Who said anything about "a" holiday? You are not really living at any kind of reasonable standard if you can't afford several holidays a year and in comfort and style too. If you just want to play catch your ass, why come here? Stay home.

[stay home?]

Hmmm. Who said anything about "a" holiday? You are not really living at any kind of reasonable standard if you can't afford several holidays a year and in comfort and style too. If you just want to play catch your ass, why come here? Stay home.

What the heck is this "stay home" nonsense?  I think most people find they get better packages when they are sent overseas, because employers know they are making a sacrifice so they sweeten the pot a little. 

I'm not sure about the OPs home country but if there is no double taxation, it's hard to beat Singapore's tax rates.

If the OP was truly getting a worse offer to work abroad, is this something that needs to be debated on a message site before deciding not to come?

[Beats Me]

"If the OP was truly getting a worse offer to work abroad, is this something that needs to be debated on a message site before deciding not to come?"

Beats me. Seems like the OP thought it was worth discussing and so did countless others. As for the tax rates. Yes they are low, but there are few allowances to take advantage of.

[eh???]

"If the OP was truly getting a worse offer to work abroad, is this something that needs to be debated on a message site before deciding not to come?"

Beats me. Seems like the OP thought it was worth discussing and so did countless others. As for the tax rates. Yes they are low, but there are few allowances to take advantage of.

Where did the OP say he was entertaining a worse offer to come here?

Sompe people just like talking about money.  This whole thread is ridiculous, the OP didn't really have a question to ask, and the people who responded aren't really trying to help him, they just like discussing their own money issues.

[expat wanne be]

Guess now SG260k is plenty with the upcoming crisis...

[anon]

Just make sure u don't get retrenched. Last in first out.

[hahahha]

The last crisis back in 2008 a couple of expat guys transferred here thinking they could excape it (they replaced a couple of existing staff in the SG office). But came March 2009 they lost their jobs as well - LIFO