Batam-Singapore commute

Moving to Singapore? Ask our regular expats in Singapore questions on relocation and their experience here. Ask about banking, employment pass, insurance, visa, work permit, citizenship or immigration issues.
Post Reply
Michael_V

Batam-Singapore commute

Post by Michael_V » Tue, 01 Feb 2005 4:53 pm

I am considering an offer that will see me working in Batam. I have read some things on the web that lead me to believe it would be possible to set my wife, kids and dog up in Singapore (maybe Dist 15 or 16?), and commute to/from via ferry if not every day then at least for the weekends.

Is this realistic?

User avatar
Strong Eagle
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 11504
Joined: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 12:13 am
Location: Off The Red Dot
Contact:

Post by Strong Eagle » Tue, 01 Feb 2005 6:58 pm

Actually, there are people who do it the other way around... live on Batam with family because it is much cheaper, then commute to Singapore for their job. Ferry is about a 30 minute ride.

User avatar
Bafana
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1375
Joined: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 9:14 am
Location: Singapore

Re: Batam-Singapore commute

Post by Bafana » Wed, 02 Feb 2005 1:46 pm

Michael_V wrote:I am considering an offer that will see me working in Batam. I have read some things on the web that lead me to believe it would be possible to set my wife, kids and dog up in Singapore (maybe Dist 15 or 16?), and commute to/from via ferry if not every day then at least for the weekends.

Is this realistic?
LOL I like your style and will your wife and kids ever come and visit you in Batam :wink:

Michael_V

Batam-Singapore commute

Post by Michael_V » Wed, 02 Feb 2005 11:23 pm

Hmmmm.....I'm looking for a subtext relative to your wink. I have indeed read that Batam is pretty wild and wide-open. Is this so? I wanted my wife and kids to be safe and secure, with proximity to all the mod cons, schools, hospitals, etc, if Batam is in fact more, er,.....more. I understand it is, in addition to an oilfield support center, a more or less free trade and industrial zone.

I confess absolute ignorance on all things Singapore as well as Batam. I was entertaining the notion that I could find a nice 2- or 3-bdrm bungalow or semi-d in Sg for maybe US$2000/month? Two boys in elementary school (British or Aussie; cannot afford the American School) at US$5000/year each? Groceries, public transport, utilities and misc. for another US$1K/month?

Plus a small bungalow in Batam for a fraction of the foregoing?

Am I wildly off-base here?

Michael_V

Batam-Singapore commute

Post by Michael_V » Wed, 02 Feb 2005 11:25 pm

Upon further thought, I doubt my wife would come visit me in Batam.

User avatar
Bafana
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1375
Joined: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 9:14 am
Location: Singapore

Post by Bafana » Sat, 05 Feb 2005 7:14 pm

All I will say is that Batam is not a family oriented tonw for expats.

I don't think you will find many full families in Batam but will find more single, divorced or living apart men there.

faithful

Testing ground for lust

Post by faithful » Tue, 06 Jun 2006 6:16 pm

Batam is a place for stressful men, looking to break free...
Beware of cewek2 / shoplifters along the way...
Good place to test our faith to God.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Relocating, Moving to Singapore”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests