SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore
Freshly baked Uni graduate (UK) moving to Singapore
Without wanting to start a discussion about the quality or nutritional/health value of cheap local food options - it is difficult to cook a meal by yourself cheaper than buying one at a hawker stall (where you can get something that fills your stomach for S$5-8).
But given the incredible variety of good food available in Singapore, you don't want to eat only hawker food during your entire stay!
Since you are obviously both naive and on an improbably low budget: Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world and, especially as a foreigner, it isn't possible to live here on the cheap.
I personally wouldn't recommend coming with less than S$2000/month, even as a student.
But given the incredible variety of good food available in Singapore, you don't want to eat only hawker food during your entire stay!
Since you are obviously both naive and on an improbably low budget: Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world and, especially as a foreigner, it isn't possible to live here on the cheap.
I personally wouldn't recommend coming with less than S$2000/month, even as a student.
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 5:26 am
- Location: United Kingdom
if it's something you can cook in a tiny shared dorm on an electric stove, it will probably be allowed. if we're talking about a chinese restaurant kitchen with chilli and rice wine and oil... no dice.lloydosaurus wrote:What's the lowest budget I have to commit to if I want to be able to cook? Having some hobs should be enough...
Aut viam ad caelum inveniam aut faciam
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 5:26 am
- Location: United Kingdom
some landlords consider using a pot (even to boil an egg) cooking, and thus prohibited. if you want to be safeguard your rights, it's best to specify the types of cooking acceptable - because at some point down the road you will be told what you're doing/cooking is not allowed.lloydosaurus wrote:Yeah that'll do, two pots/pans. Veg, pasta, some meats etc. Nothing extravagant.
From the previous comments it sounds like what is and what isn't allowed to be cooked should be clearly defined with the landlord before moving in?
if the LL doesn't live there or rarely visits, then i assume (rightly or wrongly) anything goes...!
the "reason" behind this is (to my understanding anyway) because of the way most flats are designed (no real exhaust) means the oils/smoke from cooking will waft and settle all over the common areas and result in a generally dirty flat as most tenants do not clean up thoroughly when in a rental.
this in turn means, "wear and tear" beyond what the LL takes to be acceptable (there may be some staining that might never come off some furniture or areas) or additional cleaning when the tenants move out...
and to avoid that, because some tenants can be very creative in what's defined as "light cooking" or not, it is common for LL (especially those that live in the same flat as the tenant) to just do a blanket ban.
Aut viam ad caelum inveniam aut faciam
- Strong Eagle
- Moderator
- Posts: 11504
- Joined: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 12:13 am
- Location: Off The Red Dot
- Contact:
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 5:26 am
- Location: United Kingdom
Thanks for all the words of wisdom so far everyone. I've taken on board everything that's been mentioned and have upped my budget to $800/month, to the delight of my family!
I have found a few places, whose interior seems respectable. Have you guys got any clues on the locations? One apartment is in Simei, D15-18 East. Another is Bukit Panjang (bangkit road?)
Once again thanks for all the input, taking it all on and making the jump a lot easier.
Once I've got housing sorted we'll move on to football 6/11 a side, swimming pools and fitness centres
I have found a few places, whose interior seems respectable. Have you guys got any clues on the locations? One apartment is in Simei, D15-18 East. Another is Bukit Panjang (bangkit road?)
Once again thanks for all the input, taking it all on and making the jump a lot easier.
Once I've got housing sorted we'll move on to football 6/11 a side, swimming pools and fitness centres

- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 40007
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
Damn! Now I know how Rodney Dangerfield felt! Can't get no respect!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FPv2toi5og


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FPv2toi5og
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
it need not be expensive or difficult to keep fit:lloydosaurus wrote:...Once I've got housing sorted we'll move on to football 6/11 a side, swimming pools and fitness centres
http://www.sportsingapore.gov.sg/about-us/facilities
Aut viam ad caelum inveniam aut faciam
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 5:26 am
- Location: United Kingdom
There is no government insurance for foreigners but it is mandatory for employers to provide hospitalization insurance for some people on work permits (construction and FDW). Many expats here are covered by their company's insurance scheme. If your employer does not provide any, then you have to get private health insurance as the medical cost in singapore is very expensive. Look at NTUC, Prudential, AIG, Great Eastern, for some local private health insurance schemes. They mostly cover only hospitalization and hospitalization related expenses. The premiums may range from 400SGD/year onwards.
- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 40007
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
If you are looking for full coverage and not the minimal that local health insurance policies provide, I would check out BUPA, albeit expensive, it is comprehensive. Do a search of the forum using BUPA. Expat health insurance has been discussed numerous time here. There are a couple others that aren't too bad either. You will have to juggle your pocketbook vrs your requirements.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
-
- Chatter
- Posts: 190
- Joined: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 9:57 pm
If the OP is looking to rent a shared room in an HDB flat, I'm not sure his budget is going to stretch to BUPA!
If you don't have cover through work, you can pick up a basic insurance package for S$100 to S$200 through the local insurance companies. This will cover you for hospital care (although note that you will need to co-pay a proportion of your bill).
Edit: just checked and the annual premium at my insurer for a foreigner aged 19-30 is S$135. You have to pay the first S$1,500 of the hospital bill yourself, plus 10% of anything above this amount. If you top up another S$83, the insurer will cap the co-payment at S$2,000.
If you don't have cover through work, you can pick up a basic insurance package for S$100 to S$200 through the local insurance companies. This will cover you for hospital care (although note that you will need to co-pay a proportion of your bill).
Edit: just checked and the annual premium at my insurer for a foreigner aged 19-30 is S$135. You have to pay the first S$1,500 of the hospital bill yourself, plus 10% of anything above this amount. If you top up another S$83, the insurer will cap the co-payment at S$2,000.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 3 Replies
- 3368 Views
-
Last post by rl3384
Sun, 06 Jan 2019 7:09 pm
-
-
Planning for an 18 year old heading offshore for Uni
by The Ref » Mon, 18 Mar 2019 5:26 pm » in Parenting, Family & Schools - 0 Replies
- 1559 Views
-
Last post by The Ref
Mon, 18 Mar 2019 5:26 pm
-
-
-
Forgot to include my pre-uni education in application
by charmanderr » Wed, 18 Nov 2020 12:23 pm » in PR, Citizenship, Passes & Visas for Foreigners - 1 Replies
- 1331 Views
-
Last post by singaporeflyer
Thu, 19 Nov 2020 11:17 pm
-
-
-
Applying for PMLA after graduating degree from uni in SG
by SherleneKusuma » Wed, 09 Mar 2022 10:23 am » in PR, Citizenship, Passes & Visas for Foreigners - 5 Replies
- 1172 Views
-
Last post by MOCHS
Wed, 09 Mar 2022 11:46 am
-
-
-
Indian + Local Uni + PR; Citizenship Chances?
by goonsofnewyork » Tue, 31 May 2022 12:05 am » in PR, Citizenship, Passes & Visas for Foreigners - 3 Replies
- 882 Views
-
Last post by sundaymorningstaple
Tue, 31 May 2022 4:38 pm
-
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests