You're absolutely right aboht Grab. Only found this out recently when I was watching my god daughter.pragueexpat wrote: ↑Sat, 28 Oct 2023 8:53 amHello,
We relocated from Prague to Singapore in May 2023. Family of 3, lifestyle back in Prague similair to yours, except we did not live downtown and did not pay a rent, but a mortgage which I guess is comparable anyway.
This is how our current monthly budgeting looks like in Singapore:
SGD 6000 - housing, this is 2 bedroom 1100 sqft condo around CBD. I am sure you can find bigger and cheaper, depending on location. Be prepared to pay security deposit before you move in, usually 1 month rent for 1 year contract and 2 month rent for 2 years contract. Plus first month rent upon signing LOI which is usually signed before the contract itself.
SGD 350 - utilities, which is electricity and water. If you need gas, there is usually a tank which costs about SGD 50 to replace once it runs out. But that of course does not happen every month. You also need to factor in aircon servicing fee every 3 months, unless it is covered by the landlord as a part of your contract (which is our case so not sure how much they are).
SGD 50 - Internet
SGD 50 - Mobile
SGD 2100 - Kindergarden for our 4yo, but will be moving to pre school as of Jan 2024. That could cost anywhere from SGD 3000 to 5000 and more in case of international / global schools. Plus tons of different "fees for the fees" as I like to call them - enrollment, transportation, uniform etc. Some schools charge by semester or trimester, so be prepared to pay relatively large lumpsum just to get your kids in. There are lots of school holidays too, so you probably will need a nanny to entertain the kids while you work so your wife gets a break too.
SGD 400 - Medical insurance for the whole family. I also have company provided one, but that would not be good enough in case of any serious issues. So we pay extra. Do study the one your company provides in detail and make sure it is good enough. Insurance works way differently here comparing to Czech Republic. It usually covers only hospitalization and associated charges leading to it and post hospitalization follow up treatment. Your usual doctor visits will be paid out of your pocket unless you have company benefits covering it. Healthcare is great, but very expensive in SG. Emergency room and 2 nights in private hospital cost us SGD 5500.
SGD 2000 - Groceries, may fluctuate depending where and how frequently you shop. Had quite bad experience with groceries delivery from local chains, far from the level of Rohlik or Kosik back in Prague. Amazon Fresh works OK though.
SGD 1600 - Dining, including delivery. Delivery adds up quite a bit. Minimum you would pay is about SGD 30 per order I would say. So relying on it solely is not sustainable. It would be better to combine it with hawker centers and local restaurants and cafes.
SGD 900 - Transportation, mostly taxis as the public transport is really cheap. So would recommend to use it as much as you can. Be aware that local Just Grab (analog of Uber) drivers are not allowed to pick up little kids without child sits. So the options you have is to either carry around portable sits or using Grab Family, Grab Premium or Standard Taxi services instead (more expensive and not always in the area when you need them).
Hope this helps and gives you some idea and also pointers on what to watch out for. Obviously each case is different and you may end up spending less or more depending on how you adjust. Assume though that you will be spending more in a first few months before you work out your local financial dynamics. There is always something unexpected that could take you outside of your budget.