Hi Hulusi! [sounds like an Ethiopian Emporer-King]Hulusi wrote:Hello all,
I am quite new for forums. But I really need some help;
So, I got a job offer for 200S$ in Singapore.
I am married and have a 2 year old kid. We want to send the kid to an International School / kindergarten. So the question is can I live a luxurious life with this income?
Right now I live in St Petersburg / Russia, earning aprx same and financially speaking, I am quite relax, I even say I live a luxurious life.
I have 120 m2 flat in the center looking at the river bank, I drive and Audi A7, me & wife usually wear designers & we go out once or twice a week and spend money like crazy when we do. However, I still can save up to 60 - 80 k USD / year.
What about Singapore? I know its expensive but how expensive?
I can make compromises, like no car, less "fine dining"... But will that be enough?
I really need some help about this cause it kinda is a life changing event.
Thank you
Thank you very muchJR8 wrote:Hi Hulusi! [sounds like an Ethiopian Emporer-King]Hulusi wrote:Hello all,
I am quite new for forums. But I really need some help;
So, I got a job offer for 200S$ in Singapore.
I am married and have a 2 year old kid. We want to send the kid to an International School / kindergarten. So the question is can I live a luxurious life with this income?
Right now I live in St Petersburg / Russia, earning aprx same and financially speaking, I am quite relax, I even say I live a luxurious life.
I have 120 m2 flat in the center looking at the river bank, I drive and Audi A7, me & wife usually wear designers & we go out once or twice a week and spend money like crazy when we do. However, I still can save up to 60 - 80 k USD / year.
What about Singapore? I know its expensive but how expensive?
I can make compromises, like no car, less "fine dining"... But will that be enough?
I really need some help about this cause it kinda is a life changing event.
Thank you
The income/wealth/spending disparity here is huge, so it's not straight-forward to 'translate'. You can live here very cheaply, but also the sky=limit is quite possible too. Also St Petersburg, I reckon most of us here won't be familiar with the typical costs there...
Have a look through a couple of topics:
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/viewtopic.php?t=101985
'GUIDE: Where should I/we consider living?'
and
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/viewto ... 6&start=15
'Cost of Living Comparison'
Let's just say that by most measures, an income of $200k, for most people, should equate to a very good standard of living. You can use the above to gauge core costs, if you start with the big ones you'll get an idea. Where might you wish to live, and what will it cost. What will schooling cost? Being willing to do without a car will be a very big saver here. Designer clothing etc.... don't know, but if needs be you can buy that on trips home so probably doesn't figure much.
Like everyone you'll find some of the major adjustments easier to make. Friday's down at the club popping bottles of vintage Krug over each other is one vice that might have to be shelved here though
Read through the above linked topics. That'll give you an idea on housing, schooling, taxes, and travel. That should form a solid foundation to further consideration.
Yes, it is expensive. You will not be able to live that lifestyle on 200k, let alone also save 60-80k USD. That savings would be half of your salary or more. International School will be 3-4k per month. An Audi A7 will be 3-4k per month for 5 (after ~160k down). Comparable condo rent would be 5-7k/month in Singapore, depending on area. See where I'm going?Hulusi wrote: I have 120 m2 flat in the center looking at the river bank, I drive and Audi A7, me & wife usually wear designers & we go out once or twice a week and spend money like crazy when we do. However, I still can save up to 60 - 80 k USD / year.
What about Singapore? I know its expensive but how expensive?
Closer to 400 is probably what I need, I agreezzm9980 wrote:Based on the "rockstar" life you describe (since everyone has a different definition), I'm guessing you'd need at least 300k, probably closer to 400k per year.
Yes, it is expensive. You will not be able to live that lifestyle on 200k, let alone also save 60-80k USD. That savings would be half of your salary or more. International School will be 3-4k per month. An Audi A7 will be 3-4k per month for 5 (after ~160k down). Comparable condo rent would be 5-7k/month in Singapore, depending on area. See where I'm going?Hulusi wrote: I have 120 m2 flat in the center looking at the river bank, I drive and Audi A7, me & wife usually wear designers & we go out once or twice a week and spend money like crazy when we do. However, I still can save up to 60 - 80 k USD / year.
What about Singapore? I know its expensive but how expensive?
Now, you can give up the car. Live in a nice (but smaller) condo in a nice area for 3-4.5k/month. Kid can go to the International school, and live better than most of the people here. Also be OK with saving a bit less.
It's really hard to answer this because a lot of the factors we're now talking about are subjective and can't be quantified.Hulusi wrote: Closer to 400 is probably what I need, I agree
However, I am trying to draw a red line for me before starting negotiations with the company. 300? 250? The first offer was 200 but I am sure they would go up to 250. 300, not so sure..
So, I made an excel table yesterday with the information / prices I found on web - I can share it... I filled it with our spending habits.
I calculated our cost would be 250 S$ / year - w/o saving. That didn't include a car though . Another 75 aside for bad days; I believe I would need draw the line for 300S$, ballpark. Its before income tax; therefore ~350 S$ is the number I search for. Exactly what you have told me.
I want to accept the offer, I want to try SG, but I am not so sure if it would be a viable financial decision..
Anyways, one last question; my wife doesnt work here but she wants to. Can she find a decent job in SG? Or lets say what is the possibility? Lets assume she doesnt have any connection / help and will look for a job on internet or smth.
She doesnt have a great working experience though because of the kid; only 3 years of total experience. Yet she has MSc engineering and knows 4 languages (none of them is any Asian language).. I dont know 5000$ / month maybe? What do you say??
Reminds me of thiszzm9980 wrote: That said, most of them didn't come from a pseudo-russian mafioso lifestyle previously
Wd40 wrote:Reminds me of thiszzm9980 wrote: That said, most of them didn't come from a pseudo-russian mafioso lifestyle previously
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzh0J2MmvOY
I recall a long time ago being offered a job in Moscow, and the hirer in a casual way trying to outline the social life there, in many ways I recall it as sounding like a Soviet version of the 'Wild West', a champagne-soaked Klondike. That was back in the 90s...Hulusi wrote:There really is a Russian luxurious lifestyle exists here. Fast cars, champagne, nightclubs & girls are real But anyway, there are quite a lot of negative things here too; and I am not Russian so & I am married, so..
Regarding the hot / humid vs. freezing St Petersburg. It is one of the main reasons we want to move from here. It really is cold in St Petersburg, it was snowing 3 days ago!
Originally I am from Turkey, a relatively hot & humid part of the world. Therefore, I believe, we will manage.. On the other hand it is not like Dubai or smth, right?
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests