Got offer in Spore - but not sure if salary is enough

[jmelisar]

Hi my husband just got offer to work in Singapore , salary SIN$5000 not included tax

is that enough to live in singapore ? we have a baby , and we need to find a place to stay in spore .. saw a few places in Sin , and rent cost around $2000

Anyone here can help ? would that be enough to live there?

thanks

[My advice.]

the answer is - it depends. what kind of living standards are you used to? $5K a month will put you 20% below the median household income level (for locals) in Singapore. It's doable, but don't expect luxuries.

[boo hoo]

Its going to be tough especially if you are looking to save some money at the end of it. Its nuts to pay 40% of your pay in rent - that leaves you with 3k to spend + save so its going to be tight. Not saying it cannot be done but you'll have to be a bit thrifty. How about renting a cheaper place?

[Dr. Phil]

The danger is inflation, which can shift your financial position from pracarious to indebtedness inside a month.

Last year my rent increased from $2.5k to $3.6k pm and property Agents tell us prices are going to rise more and more.

Rent $2k pm does surprise me I have not found such opportunities and what about healthcare especially for baby? You also have to pay income tax here.

Don't work too hard to accommodate your employer. Good luck.

[sporecost]

rental 2k per mth is cheap... tat is, if the rental stays constant.
But noted that cost of living is going north.. So, yr 5k per mth will not go far.  Better to stay put at yr country till things settle down here or you get a much better package.
gd luck

[Just wondering]

Where do you want to move from ?

[jmelisar]

I am moving from Melbourne Australia ...my husband is a chef ..

we are a bit worry too ... the employer say that they will increase the paid in 3 months time (but depends on performance ) but we been tryin to ask them to increase the paid, but they say NO

[Negative]

Hate to sound negative but I think you both will be struggling - a decent apartment here will be north of $2,500 (even for a studio!).  And don't forget taxes as well!  It may be a low-tax jurisdiction but that does not mean no-tax!  I would negotiate for the employer to pick up the tab for accommodation as that seems to be the major component of an expat's spending here.  On the proposed package it may mean that annual trips back to Melbourne will be a stretch as well.

Why would you move from Melbourne the gastronomic epicentre of the world in any case?

[NaNaNaNa]

The packages being discussed make no sense - no point in coming to Singapore with these kind of salaries

[don't do it]

I am moving from Melbourne Australia ...my husband is a chef ..

we are a bit worry too ... the employer say that they will increase the paid in 3 months time (but depends on performance ) but we been tryin to ask them to increase the paid, but they say NO

forget it, stay in Melbourne, you won't enjoy Singapore on that kind of salary. taxes are cheaper here than Oz, but the rentals will blow your mind, you won't find anything comparable in Singapore for the money you are used to paying in Melbourne.

For $2k per month you will live in some dodgy HDB housing estate and be paying a large whack of your salary just on expenses, you'll have no money left over to enjoy Singapore, you will hate it and leave within 3 months.