Coming Soon - Please Help

[Sultan of Swing]

I will soon be arriving in Singapore, hopefully. I have read how expensive it is and am slightly worried, even though I should have a pretty reasonable salary. I would really appreciate some help/guidance/reassurance from the old hands here.

I am a single guy from the UK, with no family, so no school fees to worry about. Although my salary has still to be confirmed, I am going on the basis that it will be around SGD 15K per month gross, and as far as I know that is all in. I don't plan on getting a car, at least initially, and would prefer to live either close to Orchard, near the CBD, or generally in one of the traditional expat areas.I may branch out later but for the time being would prefer to be somewhere with everything on my doorstep. A one bed apartment is all I need, at least part furnished. I was looking at serviced apartments but these are really really expensive.

Can anybody give me an idea of the type of condos I could be looking at, and how my budget will be. I enjoy eating and drinking out at the weekend and the rest of the time will just pick up fast food or street food.

Don't reply if you are only going to slag me off for my ignorance. I really don't know what sort of living costs I will have, and would very much appreciate some help.

[can you read ?]

Have a look just down the list of topics in this forum there are several asking similar qeustions, the JohnSIN one is good, go look there

[Sultan]

Thank you for your helpful reply.

Yes I can read, and was able to see that the post you directed me to referred to a complete different set of circumstances, involving somebody who had school fees to consider, and a need for a completely different accommodation to the one I am looking for. Other posts on the subject of living expenses also seemed to be from people with families.

I also spent plenty of time looking at the section on property listings but they all seemed to be fairly old and I am assuming no longer represent the current rates.

I will continue to look through the other threads but in the meantime if anybody has any information or answers which they are kind enough to share it would be much appreciated.

[Old Mike]

As a single person you will do just fine on $15K. See if you can negotiate amonth or two in a serviced apartment so that you can see what suits you. Unless you have children to transport there is absolutely no need to ever own a car.

[Totally agree]

As a single person you will do just fine on $15K. See if you can negotiate amonth or two in a serviced apartment so that you can see what suits you. Unless you have children to transport there is absolutely no need to ever own a car.

With this - I am a single guy on this and have a great time. Plenty of travel around the region and farther afield. Go out socialising even if it is 7 quid a pint. Food - I eat what I like

Pay just over 3k for a 2 bed Condo east coast - public transport is buttons - 1.20 SGD on bus to work and back and get a seat all the way there and most of the way back for the 25 minute ride.

I still save around 3K a month

[kishtar]

I'm not sure how far off I am on the rent (as far as neighborhood/amenities are concerned), but some Sg friends of mine said you can find tons of 1br apts for $600 and it's $200 for public transportation, so let's say $1k/month to be safe. So with my limited knowledge -- literally only 2 cents' worth -- I would guess $15k/mo is more than enough for a young, single guy.  

[To be clear...]

You can get rooms for 600/mth, maybe.  You cannot get 1BR apartments.

[jalanperak]

I'm not sure how far off I am on the rent

Way off. I doubt the OP wants to rent a bedroom in an HDB flat.

There are a number of property rental websites, including this one. Have a look at them. OM's suggestion to stay in a serviced apartment for a month or two if at all possible is also a good one.

Where will you be working?

[Guy Next Door]

I'd say that the minimum rental you will be looking at is 4k per month. Anything less than that will be far away from any kind of amenities or gross. My neighbour is a 26 year old American and his company is paying 22k a month in rent. Just to put things into perspective.

[Comp Questions]

Basic rule of thumb if you are coming from the UK do a straight conversion on your UK compensation, if it equals your Singapore compensation then you are earning a fair salary.

Singapore is not much more expensive than if you lived in a nice part of London.

And obviusly your saving a lot on tax. Though you will get stung on nights out. A pint of beer in Singapore costs roughly GBP 8 pounds a pint on average, even more in some places.

Renting is rougly similar if you compare prestigious areas (for example Chelsea or Kennsington Vs. Orchard or Holland). Though there is less opportunity for flatsharing compared to London.

As for is $180k 'enough', not for me, but hey, i'm not you!

[P.O.D.]

Today S$15k will help you survive but if you want a social life, unless you are Scottish, you will not save much.
Best advice is to l;I've out of CBD, perhaps East Coast where you can enjoy the beach and fresh air. Public transport is far superior to anything you have experienced and cheaper.
As OM advised get a services apartment to allow you to develop an armor and response to the property Agents here, who will dispossess you of your income.
Do I have to say this, perhaps not, but if an Agent asks you what is your budget, do ensure your answer is indirect, liberally peppered with four letter expletives.

[How much needed]

You can get a decent Condo in the East Coast for 3000 - 3500 K with full facilities.

Public transport to city easy and cheap but lets include 400 for Taxis after nights. - total 500

Drinks at say 15 SGD a go - how much can the OP drink and how many nights out a week? - lets say 500 a week going out so 2000 a month

Food - lets average out at 20 a meal  = 600 plus another 400 for sweets, juice and things at home.

Utilities for a single guy just using air con at night - 200 max

TV and internet - 150

Tax on 15k a month - 1300??? a month

9k a month expenses - still got 6 left over to save, buy clothes and travel

[Sultan of Swing]

Thanks all for these replies. They are very reassuring. I am figuring 4k a month for rent, based on the property websites I have been able to review. Might be more, might be less, but it's a ball park, and with the remainder I should be OK because I agree that I won't need a car. I will be working in the CBD and for me I would rather keep my commuting time to a minimum. This might mean paying a little more to stay closer to the office, so be it. And in response to another poster, I am Scottish! But doesn't mean I count every penny. I have been to Singapore quite a few times on holiday so know how much food and drink costs, but if I am living and working there I won't be eating and drinking quite so frequently.

Look forward to it. Thanks again.

[befa_92]

Great and very clear answer "how much needed"
Thx for those information...

[Re Bills]

Two comments -

1) Taxi from Katong (East Coast) to Clarke Quay (one way) cost me $27 the other night;

2) Electricity and water will more likely be 300 to 350 per month if your apartment has no more than two toilets (you are charged for each "sanitary appliance") and you are only running one aircon unit at night. No dishwasher, no oven use and washing machine and dryer only twice a week. Skip the dryer and save another 50 bucks.