Anyone with in Singapore but live in Batam?

[tahutek]

Hi all, I am a new user here, but I have been following this thread and other thread since a decade ago, way before my 2 kids became singapore PR.

I am Indo-Chinese, got my PR through LPR application in 2007.
My 1st kid - daughter - born in sg 6 years ago, few days later, we move to Batam and live there. The cost of getting someone to look after newborn and house work is cheaper.
As for me, I did daily trip 3x per week for about 5 years before we had a 2nd kid - boy - also born in sg. Similarly, we brought them back to Batam, since cost of living is cheaper.
We have 2 SUV cars, the total cost are still half the price of current sg COE.

I have applied PR for wife and 2kids few years back, all are successful.

I know some expats that stay in Batam and do daily trip as well. The trend stopped during Covid, but now starting to go back to normal.
The cost of ferry is 63 dollar for local indon and 70 dollar for other national.
Nowdays, If do daily trip is 70x20days = 1400 sgd as compare before covid times <500sgd. This is still considered okay if you have family with kids.

I can answer some questions about living in Batam / daily commune. Feel free.

[malcontent]

Hi all, I am a new user here, but I have been following this thread and other thread since a decade ago, way before my 2 kids became singapore PR.

I am Indo-Chinese, got my PR through LPR application in 2007.
My 1st kid - daughter - born in sg 6 years ago, few days later, we move to Batam and live there. The cost of getting someone to look after newborn and house work is cheaper.
As for me, I did daily trip 3x per week for about 5 years before we had a 2nd kid - boy - also born in sg. Similarly, we brought them back to Batam, since cost of living is cheaper.
We have 2 SUV cars, the total cost are still half the price of current sg COE.

I have applied PR for wife and 2kids few years back, all are successful.

I know some expats that stay in Batam and do daily trip as well. The trend stopped during Covid, but now starting to go back to normal.
The cost of ferry is 63 dollar for local indon and 70 dollar for other national.
Nowdays, If do daily trip is 70x20days = 1400 sgd as compare before covid times <500sgd. This is still considered okay if you have family with kids.

I can answer some questions about living in Batam / daily commune. Feel free.

What kind of housing did you live in there?
How much was the rental or purchase price? What size was the unit?
Any facilities?
Was it in a gated community?
Detached, terrace?
What did you do for fun on the weekends?
How is the safety there?
How is the social scene?
How is the pollution there?
How many drivers and nannies did you have

Since you are Indo Chinese, you might not have gone to Kampung Bule but feel free to comment if you have any experiences

[PNGMK]

I would like to know the area you lived in Tahutek. It sounds interesting.

[tahutek]

What kind of housing did you live in there?
How much was the rental or purchase price? What size was the unit?
Any facilities?
Was it in a gated community?
Detached, terrace?
What did you do for fun on the weekends?
How is the safety there?
How is the social scene?
How is the pollution there?
How many drivers and nannies did you have

Since you are Indo Chinese, you might not have gone to Kampung Bule but feel free to comment if you have any experiences

I bought landed house in 2011, that time the housing price still consider cheap. Batam property was booming in 2012-2015, where all big developers players came in play the property prices.
Now the price is stagnant.

2011 price for 320m2 land, 120m2 house building is 1.6Bil rupiah, the exchange was 6000rupiah / 1sgd.
It is gated community, so far, no serious crime/burglar.
Swimming pool and fitness facility, need to pay 40dollar/month. condo in singapore has better facilites, and cleaner pool, but MCST fee is about 400dollar for studio. Cant compare.
There are many gated /safe housing community here.

We established a local business here, while I also maintainted a job in Singapore.
2 nanies , 1 nany is 300sgd/month.

Some locals jog on the street, but please dont do it, the air is polluted. Jog in housing community, or in harbourbay better.

[tahutek]

I would like to know the area you lived in Tahutek. It sounds interesting.

I live in batam center, there is a gated community housing complex near sahid hotel or in front of love seafood area.

[malcontent]

What kind of housing did you live in there?
How much was the rental or purchase price? What size was the unit?
Any facilities?
Was it in a gated community?
Detached, terrace?
What did you do for fun on the weekends?
How is the safety there?
How is the social scene?
How is the pollution there?
How many drivers and nannies did you have

Since you are Indo Chinese, you might not have gone to Kampung Bule but feel free to comment if you have any experiences

I bought landed house in 2011, that time the housing price still consider cheap. Batam property was booming in 2012-2015, where all big developers players came in play the property prices.
Now the price is stagnant.

2011 price for 320m2 land, 120m2 house building is 1.6Bil rupiah, the exchange was 6000rupiah / 1sgd.
It is gated community, so far, no serious crime/burglar.
Swimming pool and fitness facility, need to pay 40dollar/month. condo in singapore has better facilites, and cleaner pool, but MCST fee is about 400dollar for studio. Cant compare.
There are many gated /safe housing community here.

We established a local business here, while I also maintainted a job in Singapore.
2 nanies , 1 nany is 300sgd/month.

Some locals jog on the street, but please dont do it, the air is polluted. Jog in housing community, or in harbourbay better.

The exchange rate in 2011 was in the 6800-7000 range, putting the price at around S$235k? For 1300sqft it seems high for Indo, but I guess Batam property prices carry a premium.

By comparison, I think it is possible to get a bigger place in JB for a similar price, but foreigners are restricted to min. RM1m and that is only for high rise, currently S$303k.

[tahutek]

The exchange rate in 2011 was in the 6800-7000 range, putting the price at around S$235k? For 1300sqft it seems high for Indo, but I guess Batam property prices carry a premium.

By comparison, I think it is possible to get a bigger place in JB for a similar price, but foreigners are restricted to min. RM1m and that is only for high rise, currently S$303k.

The 120m2 building on 320m2 land space. I have renovated my house few times and building size has multiplied. Just for rough calculation, 120m2 2-story building is probably worth 1bil rupiah, the remaining 600mil rupiah is for remaining land 320-120 = 200m2. 600mil/200m2 = 3mil rupiah. Thats a rough land cost price in housing complex at that time.

Nowdays, a land cost / kavling at batam center, cost around 5-6mil rupiah / m2. Price has been stagnant since 2018

I am able to bought house since i am indon. My neighbour is bule american (guy) and wife is local indo, hence can buy landed. Must have this combination, otherwise only can buy apartment as hak pakai (right to use).

[LondonCab]

Hi I'm interested to purchase a property there but notice that the annual ferry pass is no longer available.

If we commute daily wil bring the cost to say 2100 per month

[Lisafuller]

Hi all, I am a new user here, but I have been following this thread and other thread since a decade ago, way before my 2 kids became singapore PR.

I am Indo-Chinese, got my PR through LPR application in 2007.
My 1st kid - daughter - born in sg 6 years ago, few days later, we move to Batam and live there. The cost of getting someone to look after newborn and house work is cheaper.
As for me, I did daily trip 3x per week for about 5 years before we had a 2nd kid - boy - also born in sg. Similarly, we brought them back to Batam, since cost of living is cheaper.
We have 2 SUV cars, the total cost are still half the price of current sg COE.

I have applied PR for wife and 2kids few years back, all are successful.

I know some expats that stay in Batam and do daily trip as well. The trend stopped during Covid, but now starting to go back to normal.
The cost of ferry is 63 dollar for local indon and 70 dollar for other national.
Nowdays, If do daily trip is 70x20days = 1400 sgd as compare before covid times <500sgd. This is still considered okay if you have family with kids.

I can answer some questions about living in Batam / daily commune. Feel free.

Do you prefer life in SG or Batam?

[Lisafuller]

What kind of housing did you live in there?
How much was the rental or purchase price? What size was the unit?
Any facilities?
Was it in a gated community?
Detached, terrace?
What did you do for fun on the weekends?
How is the safety there?
How is the social scene?
How is the pollution there?
How many drivers and nannies did you have

Since you are Indo Chinese, you might not have gone to Kampung Bule but feel free to comment if you have any experiences

I bought landed house in 2011, that time the housing price still consider cheap. Batam property was booming in 2012-2015, where all big developers players came in play the property prices.
Now the price is stagnant.

2011 price for 320m2 land, 120m2 house building is 1.6Bil rupiah, the exchange was 6000rupiah / 1sgd.
It is gated community, so far, no serious crime/burglar.
Swimming pool and fitness facility, need to pay 40dollar/month. condo in singapore has better facilites, and cleaner pool, but MCST fee is about 400dollar for studio. Cant compare.
There are many gated /safe housing community here.

We established a local business here, while I also maintainted a job in Singapore.
2 nanies , 1 nany is 300sgd/month.

Some locals jog on the street, but please dont do it, the air is polluted. Jog in housing community, or in harbourbay better.

The exchange rate in 2011 was in the 6800-7000 range, putting the price at around S$235k? For 1300sqft it seems high for Indo, but I guess Batam property prices carry a premium.

By comparison, I think it is possible to get a bigger place in JB for a similar price, but foreigners are restricted to min. RM1m and that is only for high rise, currently S$303k.

Foreigners aren't allowed to get landed homes in JB?

[Lisafuller]

What kind of housing did you live in there?
How much was the rental or purchase price? What size was the unit?
Any facilities?
Was it in a gated community?
Detached, terrace?
What did you do for fun on the weekends?
How is the safety there?
How is the social scene?
How is the pollution there?
How many drivers and nannies did you have

Since you are Indo Chinese, you might not have gone to Kampung Bule but feel free to comment if you have any experiences

I bought landed house in 2011, that time the housing price still consider cheap. Batam property was booming in 2012-2015, where all big developers players came in play the property prices.
Now the price is stagnant.

2011 price for 320m2 land, 120m2 house building is 1.6Bil rupiah, the exchange was 6000rupiah / 1sgd.
It is gated community, so far, no serious crime/burglar.
Swimming pool and fitness facility, need to pay 40dollar/month. condo in singapore has better facilites, and cleaner pool, but MCST fee is about 400dollar for studio. Cant compare.
There are many gated /safe housing community here.

We established a local business here, while I also maintainted a job in Singapore.
2 nanies , 1 nany is 300sgd/month.

Some locals jog on the street, but please dont do it, the air is polluted. Jog in housing community, or in harbourbay better.

How safe is it outside of the gated community?

[Lisafuller]

The exchange rate in 2011 was in the 6800-7000 range, putting the price at around S$235k? For 1300sqft it seems high for Indo, but I guess Batam property prices carry a premium.

By comparison, I think it is possible to get a bigger place in JB for a similar price, but foreigners are restricted to min. RM1m and that is only for high rise, currently S$303k.

The 120m2 building on 320m2 land space. I have renovated my house few times and building size has multiplied. Just for rough calculation, 120m2 2-story building is probably worth 1bil rupiah, the remaining 600mil rupiah is for remaining land 320-120 = 200m2. 600mil/200m2 = 3mil rupiah. Thats a rough land cost price in housing complex at that time.

Nowdays, a land cost / kavling at batam center, cost around 5-6mil rupiah / m2. Price has been stagnant since 2018

I am able to bought house since i am indon. My neighbour is bule american (guy) and wife is local indo, hence can buy landed. Must have this combination, otherwise only can buy apartment as hak pakai (right to use).

So interesting, similar to the bumi putera concept.

[M.DA.R.O.M]

Hi all, I am a new user here, but I have been following this thread and other thread since a decade ago, way before my 2 kids became singapore PR.

I am Indo-Chinese, got my PR through LPR application in 2007.
My 1st kid - daughter - born in sg 6 years ago, few days later, we move to Batam and live there. The cost of getting someone to look after newborn and house work is cheaper.
As for me, I did daily trip 3x per week for about 5 years before we had a 2nd kid - boy - also born in sg. Similarly, we brought them back to Batam, since cost of living is cheaper.
We have 2 SUV cars, the total cost are still half the price of current sg COE.

I have applied PR for wife and 2kids few years back, all are successful.

I know some expats that stay in Batam and do daily trip as well. The trend stopped during Covid, but now starting to go back to normal.
The cost of ferry is 63 dollar for local indon and 70 dollar for other national.
Nowdays, If do daily trip is 70x20days = 1400 sgd as compare before covid times <500sgd. This is still considered okay if you have family with kids.

I can answer some questions about living in Batam / daily commune. Feel free.

Hi there... We are also planning to move to batam next month. Do you have contacts for singapore to batam movers?

[Lisafuller]

Hi all, I am a new user here, but I have been following this thread and other thread since a decade ago, way before my 2 kids became singapore PR.

I am Indo-Chinese, got my PR through LPR application in 2007.
My 1st kid - daughter - born in sg 6 years ago, few days later, we move to Batam and live there. The cost of getting someone to look after newborn and house work is cheaper.
As for me, I did daily trip 3x per week for about 5 years before we had a 2nd kid - boy - also born in sg. Similarly, we brought them back to Batam, since cost of living is cheaper.
We have 2 SUV cars, the total cost are still half the price of current sg COE.

I have applied PR for wife and 2kids few years back, all are successful.

I know some expats that stay in Batam and do daily trip as well. The trend stopped during Covid, but now starting to go back to normal.
The cost of ferry is 63 dollar for local indon and 70 dollar for other national.
Nowdays, If do daily trip is 70x20days = 1400 sgd as compare before covid times <500sgd. This is still considered okay if you have family with kids.

I can answer some questions about living in Batam / daily commune. Feel free.

Hi there... We are also planning to move to batam next month. Do you have contacts for singapore to batam movers?

You might want to PM the poster so that they can share contact information more easily.

[TVworkshop]

Hi,

Emile here, dutch and living in Batam! I'm the owner of TVworkshop Singapore and we are based in Singapore/Indonesia/Malaysia. I chose to move out of Singapore 4 years ago. My wife is Indonesian and my kids are born in Indonesia.

Living in Batam and working in Singapore. Can lah, I know a few friends of mine (Singaporean), who have been doing it already for many years (all have kitas). Earning the Singapore Dollar and living in Indonesia. What a blessing:) They all do it 3 days of commuting to Singapore and 2 days working from home in Batam. All are business owners. All with a lot of freedom in their work. which is important.

Doing it 5 days a week is too exhausting, they all tell me, and not recommended.

Myself ==> My line of business (events), no need to be present in Singapore so many times. We run the whole business online and are present for executing events. So your decision will also be made a bit in which business you act. Some lines of business you not required to be present in Singapore and some are.

More importantly, when you start living in Indonesia, follow the visa rules and get a Kitas. I have one under my Indonesian company PT. TVworkshop Indonesia Jakarta. Working in Singapore and going back on a tourist visa each day is not an option. Immigration will stop you after a while. Besides that, you have to pay a visa on arrival each day you enter Indonesia of S$50. A 5-day working week going to cost you S$250 a week and around S$1000 a month. Including the ticketing 4 weeks to 5 days is 20 days x S$75 is another S$1500. Makes it a total of S$2500. Can better live in Singapore then...wink:!

In conclusion, working under a salary for a company is not a good option. If you are an entrepreneur, remote worker, own boss, or business owner ==> Plus can control your own time. Batam is a very good option. You will be amazed at what you can do with the Singapore bucks earned in Singapore, to spend it in Indonesia, Batam.

Above is my personal opinion:):)

Greets from Batam,
Emile Leus