7800 SGD in Singapore- Good enough?

sgheou · Post by **sgheou** » Sat, 11 Oct 2014 7:35 pm

Hi,

I have been offered a job in Singapore with 7500 SGD + Insurance ( only for me)..
All other expenses are to be beared by me. I am planning to move with my wife (non working) and 2.5 years old kid ( will need playgroup schooling ).. I will also have to add insurance for them..

I am currently in India where cost of living is much lower than Singapore and i am able to save around 75k INR per month ( roughly 1500 SGD)..

My lifestyle is pretty simple. I prefer to eat at home. Non-drinker.. I workout so I prefer an accomodation with Gymnasium..
My work location in Singapore will be Changi Business Park.. I am ok to commute for 30 minutes (one way) if i get better and cheaper accomodation far fro my workplace..

Considering all this, is 7500 SGD good enough for me to save atleast 2500 SGD per month?

Thanks and Regards..

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sat, 11 Oct 2014 8:07 pm

Yes if you rent HDB and not condo and use public facilities for exercise rather than gym membership/condo facilities. Will be tight but it is do-able.

Wd40 · Post by **Wd40** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 1:17 am

I think you will easily save 3-3.5k. Forget the gym in condo. There is a fitness first in UE Biz hub. Hire a 2 bedroom HDB in Tampines east you will get it for 2-2.2k.Take bus number 12/38/20 and you will reach office in 30 mins.

If you really need a condo you can get 1 bedroom in Loyang area for 2.2-2.4k. You may get 2 bedroom as well in Pasir Ris/Loyang at 2.5k onwards.

Come over man, the salary is good

sgheou · Post by **sgheou** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 2:15 am

thank you very much ..Special thanks to Wd40 for the detailed suggestions.. I am a bit worried of my child's education.. From my limited research i find that education is costly affair in Singapore.. Any inputs on that? I want my kid to be enrolled in playgroup.. How much approx will that cost me?

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 6:30 am

sgheou wrote:thank you very much ..Special thanks to Wd40 for the detailed suggestions.. I am a bit worried of my child's education.. From my limited research i find that education is costly affair in Singapore.. Any inputs on that? I want my kid to be enrolled in playgroup.. How much approx will that cost me?

Generally I've seen $600-1000/month as the range, but since this is Singapore the sky is the limit. There are lots of options, but here are two common ones:

http://www.myfirstskool.com/
http://www.pcf.org.sg/

The later may even help on the PR application I'm sure you'll want to eventually submit

(tongue half in cheek, for multiple reasons)

Wd40 · Post by **Wd40** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 9:22 am

Until Kindergarten you have cheaper options. Both PCF and some of the Church kindergarten are in the $200-250 per month. There are a couple of very popular and decent church kindergartens here in Tampines. Hope kindergarten and St Hilda's. PCF is also good.

There are more expensive options also that cost upto $1000 per month.

Basically, it only from 1st Std(primary 1) that its starts getting both expensive as well difficult to find decent education options, here in Singapore, for foreigners.

For playgroup there are quite a few in this area, Apple Tree, Star Tots, Cherie Hearts etc and they all cost in the ~$200 per month ballpark.

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 10:49 am

zzm9980 wrote: The later may even help on the PR application I'm sure you'll want to eventually submit (tongue half in cheek, for multiple reasons)

that's right

.

beppi · Post by **beppi** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 5:49 pm

The playgroup costs mentioned by WD40 above are probably including government subsidies, which the OP as a foreigner (non-PR) is not entitled to.
The usual cost for full-day care without subsidies is S$1000-1500/month (less for half-day).

Wd40 · Post by **Wd40** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 7:30 pm

beppi wrote:The playgroup costs mentioned by WD40 above are probably including government subsidies, which the OP as a foreigner (non-PR) is not entitled to.
The usual cost for full-day care without subsidies is S$1000-1500/month (less for half-day).

Beppi, OP and I are not talking about full-day care. We are talking about playgroup that is 1 yr preceding nursery. Its just 2 hrs a day.

http://www.appletree.com.sg/playgroup/r ... e=Tampines

Address :Blk 232, Tampines St 21 RC Ctr
Mon-Fri :9:00-11:00am/11.15am-1.15pm
Fees :S$165 per month
Material Fees :S$140 per half year

He mentioned his wife is "non-working" so I don't see why he would need full day care.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 7:50 pm

I don't see why Indians need tiffin carriers delivered to your door daily, but they do that as well.

Wd40 · Post by **Wd40** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 8:21 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:I don't see why Indians need tiffin carriers delivered to your door daily, but they do that as well.

Maybe its something to do with the notion of "home cooked food". In India restaurants are perceived as unhealthy. I don't know, but I never needed. I always like to go to food court/restaurant and eat rather than someone deliver to me.

sgheou · Post by **sgheou** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 10:54 pm

Thanks all.. Yes.. I dont need full day care.. I just want my kid to start learning new things.. He is 2 years old now.. My wife is currenly non-working .. If she starts work in future that will give me more leverage to go for full day care.. But right now i just need him to start interacting with other kids and start the learning process which i feel is best provided by a playgroup... Thanks Wd40, i guess i need to start looking for accomodation in tampines

.. zzm9980 yes i think i would definitely need to apply for PR

.. If i am not wrong i have to wait for a year to apply for PR right?

sgheou · Post by **sgheou** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 11:15 pm

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/ ... 534786.cms

This article surprised me

.. I understand Singapore is much more accommodative to foreigners than other countries (I dont really believe this newspaper though and we also do not cook smelly curries

)

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 11:40 pm

You better believe it. It is true of some landlords. And their reasoning behind is is somewhat true as well as there is little or no venting in kitchens in Singapore. Aromas are different for different races. Old saying, one man's meat is another man's poison.

My 30,000th post!

Wd40 · Post by **Wd40** » Sun, 12 Oct 2014 11:49 pm

You wont have a lot of problems renting in Tampines, there are plenty of Indians here and there are plenty of flats available right now and in June when I was looking for a flat, I came across some ads(about 2-3 ads, out of may be 20) when the agent said owner prefers non-Indians. I just messaged them back "Good luck, with your tenant search, in this market". Those ads remained in the site for a long long time

That times of india article is an exaggeration when it says "no houses on rent for Indians in Singapore". Just check out the number of Indians living in Singapore. They have to be living somewhere.

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