Anyone with in Singapore but live in Batam?

[Lisafuller]

The $500 would probably look a little more like $1000 in this market, but worth every penny considering the alternative.

I know room rents got inflated during the lockdowns… has it not come back down? I can’t imagine paying $1000/mo for an HDB room with a common toilet, unless it’s in a prime area. For that kind of money, I might look for a place to pitch a tent!

Last I heard, 1000 is the norm, with 1200 for a common room getting snapped up as well.

Yup, a friend of mine lives in a two bedder right between Balestier and Novena, he's renting out the spare bedroom for $1300 a month.

[jalanjalan]

My husband used to daily commute to Batam for work. It was fine when we lived in Commonwealth but impossible when we moved to Woodlands! A few considerations (besides the commute): 1. your workday will be shortened as you'll have to match up to the ferry timings. 2. immigration Batam side can be.. whimsical. It was mostly ok in our case as it was all arranged by the company my spouse worked for. You will burn through passports fast though becos of all the chopping. 3. If your spouse knows Batam and has lived there before she'll know. Our friends who live there had to create some elaborate home security to prevent frequent break-ins. In short, do-able if you really want to and like living in Batam, but yes commute can get gruelling.

[the observer]

I know room rents got inflated during the lockdowns… has it not come back down? I can’t imagine paying $1000/mo for an HDB room with a common toilet, unless it’s in a prime area. For that kind of money, I might look for a place to pitch a tent!

Last I heard, 1000 is the norm, with 1200 for a common room getting snapped up as well.

Yup, a friend of mine lives in a two bedder right between Balestier and Novena, he's renting out the spare bedroom for $1300 a month.

The prices I've mentioned are for HDBs.

[Addadude]

A few years ago I was a member of True Fitness at HarbourFront when it directly overlooked the Ferry Terminal. I used the treadmill there 3 or 4 times a week in the early morning and I noticed that the ferries to and from Batam seemed to run at 10 min intervals. I recall seeing the same Caucasians getting off the ferries every morning around 8.15 carrying laptop bags. So maybe it is possible.

[malcontent]

Our friends who live there had to create some elaborate home security to prevent frequent break-ins.

Did they live in a private gated community?

I was thinking — if I had to live in Batam, I’d probably look at something like Villa Panbil. At least the place appears to be secure enough while I’m away (or drowning my sorrows at Kampung Bule).

[jalanjalan]

Did they live in a private gated community?

Well, there was a gate, but no one watching it, so.. sort of.

Another factor for the commute - ferry prices have gone up a lot.

[Lisafuller]

Last I heard, 1000 is the norm, with 1200 for a common room getting snapped up as well.

Yup, a friend of mine lives in a two bedder right between Balestier and Novena, he's renting out the spare bedroom for $1300 a month.

The prices I've mentioned are for HDBs.

He lives in a HDB.

[Lisafuller]

My husband used to daily commute to Batam for work. It was fine when we lived in Commonwealth but impossible when we moved to Woodlands! A few considerations (besides the commute): 1. your workday will be shortened as you'll have to match up to the ferry timings. 2. immigration Batam side can be.. whimsical. It was mostly ok in our case as it was all arranged by the company my spouse worked for. You will burn through passports fast though becos of all the chopping. 3. If your spouse knows Batam and has lived there before she'll know. Our friends who live there had to create some elaborate home security to prevent frequent break-ins. In short, do-able if you really want to and like living in Batam, but yes commute can get gruelling.

Seriously! I can't believe anybody would ever do that.

[Lisafuller]

Our friends who live there had to create some elaborate home security to prevent frequent break-ins.

Did they live in a private gated community?

I was thinking — if I had to live in Batam, I’d probably look at something like Villa Panbil. At least the place appears to be secure enough while I’m away (or drowning my sorrows at Kampung Bule).

You seem really familiar with Batam... the last time I was there was for a weeklong vacation celebrating a girlfriends birthday. Peaceful, inexpensive, and best of all very empty.

[Lisafuller]

A few years ago I was a member of True Fitness at HarbourFront when it directly overlooked the Ferry Terminal. I used the treadmill there 3 or 4 times a week in the early morning and I noticed that the ferries to and from Batam seemed to run at 10 min intervals. I recall seeing the same Caucasians getting off the ferries every morning around 8.15 carrying laptop bags. So maybe it is possible.

That may be so, but I honestly can't imagine why anybody would bother with the trip, as expensive as singapore may be you save so much in time and energy from living here.

[Lisafuller]

Did they live in a private gated community?

Well, there was a gate, but no one watching it, so.. sort of.

Another factor for the commute - ferry prices have gone up a lot.

Very true, perhaps the company is footing the expense?

[malcontent]

Our friends who live there had to create some elaborate home security to prevent frequent break-ins.

Did they live in a private gated community?

I was thinking — if I had to live in Batam, I’d probably look at something like Villa Panbil. At least the place appears to be secure enough while I’m away (or drowning my sorrows at Kampung Bule).

You seem really familiar with Batam...

Contingency planning is in my DNA, and as a long-time spouse of an Indonesian citizen, I am entitled to PR (KITAP) there - none of this “will I be approved” nonsense.

For Bintan, Villa Panbil seems like the best place to live, in the unlikely event I was forced to. That said, I can never spend more than 183 days in a year there without triggering tax residency, and under the current tax regime, that must be avoided like the plague.

For JB, my pick is Straits View condo - very similar to the condo I’m living in here, but at a tiny fraction of the price. If I lived there I would probably get a motorbike or scooter to putz around on.

[Lisafuller]

I've got a unit in Tropez Residences, it's good passive income and a nice vacation home.

[Wd40]

The $500 would probably look a little more like $1000 in this market, but worth every penny considering the alternative.

I know room rents got inflated during the lockdowns… has it not come back down? I can’t imagine paying $1000/mo for an HDB room with a common toilet, unless it’s in a prime area. For that kind of money, I might look for a place to pitch a tent!

Prices are crazy right now! Apparently they're up to 70% more than they were last year, so I believe that's an understatement.

Indeed, the rent for a whole 3 bedroom HDB house is 4k right now. I think anyone who lives here with their family and currently renting, should start budgeting to pay 4k rent.

My current rent is 2.3k for a 3 bedroom hdb which is a steal. My lease is due for renewal later in the year and although my landlord is reasonable, I am expecting the rent to increase to 3.5k.

Luckily last year I got a 10% salary hike and the year before I got 5% hike. This year I am again hoping for a 10% hike in the best case scenario and worst case I am hoping 5%. So cumulative my salary would have gone up by about 2-2.5k since the pandemic started. This would nullify the rental increase. Although it feels sad that all my hard work and promotion just goes straight into the landlords pockets, I guess it is a case of beggars can't be choosers.

[NYY1]

Indeed, the rent for a whole 3 bedroom HDB house is 4k right now. I think anyone who lives here with their family and currently renting, should start budgeting to pay 4k rent.

My current rent is 2.3k for a 3 bedroom hdb which is a steal. My lease is due for renewal later in the year and although my landlord is reasonable, I am expecting the rent to increase to 3.5k.

Luckily last year I got a 10% salary hike and the year before I got 5% hike. This year I am again hoping for a 10% hike in the best case scenario and worst case I am hoping 5%. So cumulative my salary would have gone up by about 2-2.5k since the pandemic started. This would nullify the rental increase. Although it feels sad that all my hard work and promotion just goes straight into the landlords pockets, I guess it is a case of beggars can't be choosers.

When you say 3 bedroom, do you know if this is the 4 room or 5 room flat per HDB definition? Both are 3 bedrooms, if a (relatively) newer unit should be ~1,000 (4 room) or 1,200 (5 room) square feet.