Offer in singapore

[mboy]

Hi,
I have got an offer to work in singapore with a annual pay package of 90k. Please do help me in understanding if this is a good option to take up and make a move with wife and kid.
Thanks

[Old Mike]

It is not excellent. It will not support an international school for your child, but you would be able to live reasonably comfortably.
Having said that I personally I would not move for 90K , if it was the total package

[mboy]

Thanks for giving your views. I am thinking on those terms as kids are small right now and dont have think about schooling for atleast another 4 yrs.
Can you please give me idea about apartment cost/rentals ??

[Don't B Lazy!]

There are SO MANY recent posts full of information about this!  This question gets asked 2-3 times per week on this board!  Do some damn research, then come back with specific questions (if any).

[Old Mike]

I would budget on a minimum of S$3000 per month for your apartment. No doubt there are cheaper ones but they will not be easy to find at first.

[mboy]

I was under the impression HDB 2bedroom flats come at a cheaper price of ~2000...

[ghtyw]

There are plenty of 2 bedroom condos around for around $2000-$2200.

There are also HDBs available for under $2000.

[Addadude]

Hi,
I have got an offer to work in singapore with a annual pay package of 90k. Please do help me in understanding if this is a good option to take up and make a move with wife and kid.
Thanks

It really all depends on your lifestyle and expectations. If you are from a Western country and want to continue enjoying that kind of lifestyle (in terms of food, entertainment and so on), it probably won't be enough. If you are from another Asian country and have more 'simple' tastes, it may be fine.

You are right, a 2-bedroom HDB flat (officially but confusingly referred to as a 3-room flat in Singapore) will set you back less than $2k a month. When the time comes, local schooling is certainly cheaper than international schools but it depends again on your background. Most Western expats wouldn't want to put their kids through the local school system but Asian expats usually don't have a problem with it.

Local Asian food is cheap. Western food is much more expensive. Wining and dining doesn't come cheap here - particularly the wining part.

Then of course you have to look at your job - what are the expectations of your employer? If they expect you to work 6 12 hour days a week then $90k wouldn't be enough IMO.

For what it's worth, I know of quite a few expat Indian families who are living here on a similar package, and they seem to be doing okay.

[depends]

OP

You need to be a lot more specific.

It will cover int school though you will be skint if you go that way (and only one kid).

If you like the idea of asia and thinking of going off to travel every few months then forget it.

If you are ok with an hdb, not much eating out and generally simple life its fine.

Depends what you are used to and what you expect.

Many expats have large condos, int school, maid, club membership, regular eating out, car and frequent travel.  It won't get near paying for that.  Local housing, public transport, infrequent restaurant visits and once/twice a year holiday then you are fine.  Question then is why would you want to?

[provided]

90k excluding housing, insurance, moving allowance, and annual trips home is doable. 

[how come]

OP you know all about HDB rental prices but know nothing else and expect to be given all the answers here. I lived here for some time before I even knew about HDB's and certainly didn't see them as an option when moving here first (and by that I mean that I thought they were for s'porean residents only). Anyway, as Don't B Lazy said do some more research and then come back with something more specific

[mboy]

Thanks for all the responses which has given me a fair bit of idea about thing in store.
In general am looking at a fairly simple lifestly with once in a year holiday, not much eating out and probably a condo after a while.
Also, I dont intend on getting a car as I would presume public transport is pretty good. Iam not much worried about schooling right now as I have atleast 4 years to go before kids get to that age.

[kitty kat]

90k

You can do it

I know plenty of expats on that kind of deal on local terms.

Its called budgeting  and organisational skills but highyl doable

[HDB Life]

I think there is generally a lack of expertise in HDB living on this forum.  I recently moved to an HDB.  It is 3 bedrooms (+ a sizeable maids room off the kitchen), living room, separate dining room, two bathrooms and a nice balcony.  I pay $1,800 a month. I had aircon installed in the 3 bedrooms.  I moved as a result of a divorce and I can say I am a lot happier here than in my old 5,000 sq/ft duplex in district 10.  The night life around my place is amazing.  I roll out eat in any one of a hundred+ different places.  There are 3 decent grocery stores in and around my complex.  There are badminton courts, baskeball courts, BBQ pits and all sorts of shops.  It's great.

My utilities with aircon running every evening until overnight is running >$200 /mo.  My food bill runs $60 a week.  I eat out a lot and am living on a total budget of less than $5,000 per month.  I live near the MRT and commute to work.

$90k is totally doable.

PS - My experience was that 2 bedroom (3 room) HDBs were absolutely depressing.  I was looking at a budget of <$1500 for rent and in this range I got quite depressed.  The 3 room places tended to be higher density and that means windows on the front and back of the place only. Very dark.  I looked at about 8-10 units before I said, No way. Going up to 3 bedroom (4+ rooms) was magic. Completely different class of place was available.  Rents could probably be even a bit cheaper now.

[mboy]

HI HDB Life,
That was great info. My workplace is going to be Eunos Road so will be probably looking at a place in Eunos, Kallang or other nearby areas near the MRT.
I guess $1800 for a 3 bedroom is a great deal.
Would like to know if sports activities you are talking about are community ones or club memberships ??
Thanks