Once again, Singapore No.2 in Global survey

[JR8]

So i think that the survey is comparing apples with oranges.  Sure, it's great for expats here if you want to shell out $20k + for Year 1 / Grade 1 whatever you call it, but in the UK you could easily find a nice little primary school that's free.  True they're over subscribed but my son was on the waitlist at Tanglin for two years???

Free? I don't think anything is free really. Surely you mean funded by the tax-payer.

(The top rate of UK tax will rise to 50% in under a month, a VAT/GST is odds on to increase to 20%)

[$Pripps]

Well its free in the sense that you can send your children even when you are unemployed

[JR8]

Well its free in the sense that you can send your children even when you are unemployed

Ah ok, I concur with you in that sense...

[pickypicky!!]

Do note that the survey only covered people earning over US$ 200,000 per year. And that countries only had to have 13+ respondents to be included.
Almost as good as an ST survey!

[born free taxed to death]

Australia's taxes have come down a long way and gst has helped. At one time working in Singapore was a big deal due to any tax gains but not anymore.

[Aussie Singapore]

It's true the taxes have come down in Australia, but they're still much higher than SG or HK. Many expats will notice the difference because of the 6 figure salaries they have in SG. Once you make more than AUD$150,000, you are on 45% (or is it 40% now? )in Australia. That's a hell of a lot higher than 18 or 20%, which only kicks in much higher pay.

[Curious Indian]

What's the effective tax rate for someone making US$200K and US$400K for Singapore and Australia? 

[How Come ?]

How come uh, Singapore is the 2nd best place for raising kids,and yet the locals are the least willing to "bring" new kids into this world ?

Why are they so like that ?

[Aussie Singapore]

I think they don't have more kids because both husband and wife both have to work, and most people live in units, which are small, so you can't easily have 2 or 3 kids in, unlike a 2 storey house that many westerners have.

Most new parents in Singapore I talk to simply say 1 is enough. Maybe children are also a lifestyle choice.

[Expattoo]

To How Come?:  It's because Singapore is the 2nd best place for raising kids for the expats...not for the locals.  As you know, being an expat in a country is usually a completely different thing from being a local.

I am not sure I would even agree with this study.  We are living as expats in a European country (after many years in Asia of which 6 i Singapore, also 3 in Australia) and I have to say that this is also very good for our children.  They have a lot of freedom, fresh air, great schooling etc.  No complaints.

[HK4ME]

I think they don't have more kids because both husband and wife both have to work

Why do they both have to work?

[Costs and education]

I think they don't have more kids because both husband and wife both have to work

Why do they both have to work?

Partly because the ladies under 30 are as educated as the men, so are loath to stop work, partly because housing costs are much higher.

As a previous thread said- a 3 br hdb in Bishan in 1980 cost $60,000, and average monthly wage was $1500. Today, a new 3 br HDB in Bishan costs $600,000, but monthly wage is only $2,500.

[ApplesandOranges]

Re:  The childcare comment from PP. As a working mum who's done the UK childcare and Singapore I can say the Singapore childcare wins handsdown if you can find a good maid.  In the UK I paid a fortune for a childminder who was very good, but I had to pick up before a set time, fit in with her schedule and my children had to eat whatever was on her menu for the day.
In Singapore I have a maid so can stay later if I have extra meetings, I can plan a menu for my children, get the maid to pick up the kids from school if they are doing activities and she costs about half what a UK childminder charges.

I was never a fan of 'nursery' type setting for babies but can see why other people might prefer them.  I just prefer a home environment.  I couldn't afford a Nanny in the UK so  a childminder was the next best option for me.  Here in Singapore I've found a maid who provides just the type of care I'm looking for. 

Before people start flaming me with"How could you leave your child with  a maid" - my oldest child is now 17 and was left with a maid from the age of 2. (The same maid we have now)  He's off to Cambridge University next year so I guess either the stimulating activities she did with him as a baby paid off - or sitting in front of the TV for hours on end didn't do any harm in the long run.  Either way, he did ok.

The difference between and childminder and a maid is like apples and oranges.  A childminder is QUALIFIED in childmining, a maid has hands-on experience of looking after kids - two very different things.  If I was working, I would choose a qualified childminder over a maid.

Your son is on his way to Cambridge cos he is clever, nothing to do with the maid providing a stimulating environment.

[HK4ME]

As a previous thread said- a 3 br hdb in Bishan in 1980 cost $60,000, and average monthly wage was $1500. Today, a new 3 br HDB in Bishan costs $600,000, but monthly wage is only $2,500.

That will explain why everyone here is so damn miserable then. Work like a dog and cant even afford a government subsidised concrete box.

Singapore No1? Dont make me laugh!

[disagree]

The difference between and childminder and a maid is like apples and oranges.  A childminder is QUALIFIED in childmining, a maid has hands-on experience of looking after kids - two very different things.  If I was working, I would choose a qualified childminder over a maid.

Each to their own. I'd choose the one with the experience.