Singapore v Sydney

[clie78]

I'm Indonesian currently working in Sydney. I like my job and theres no doubt it's the best place to work (for my field) but I find the life here a bit boring. I need a change and want to meet new people. My questions are:

1. Is Singapore a good place to work and live? My job will require me to have 3 yrs commitment, is that too risky??? in case i don't like it.

2. Hows the lifestyle there compared to Sydney?

3. Can I support myself with $2500/mth?

Thanks....

[abbby]

Is your pay $2,500? If yes, then it's probably not enough for you to live by..housing, even room rental costs abt $500-1,000. Then your food, your transport, your leisure..will easily cost you $1.8k-2k a month which leaves you with $500 a month?

Best to consider your current option.

[wardest]

To start..I am from Sydney so I am biased.

I know Sydney is a cold place when it comes to meeting people and it takes a little time to crack the local crowd but I personally cannot wait to get back.
Asia loves to brand australians as racist but wait and see where an indonesian sits on the pecking order here in singapore
Singapore is a clean safe place to live if you enjoy teedium. It is ground hog day...

Abby makes a good point, you want to be sure of your renumeration package before you sign on. To put it this way $2500SGD per month is not going to get you far and leave very little for a plane ticket out if you wish to leave..

Other than that its great

[clie78]

Thanks for the replies!

I just need to make my own decision then....more $$ but boring life in Sydney, or less $$ but more interesting life in Singapore (at least for 2 yrs).

[Quasimodo]

I'm also from Sydney and find life here more satisfying and pleasant, however - Wardest is correct, see how society looks at Indonesians here.

2.5k is not a lot, but how much are you earning in Sydney, where the living costs are much higher?

[wardest]

I have done some looking around.
I can walk onto a building site no skills except eperience and willing to work hard, manual labour etc and earn $2400 K per month. I am not sure what your employer plans on sending you here to do but sure as hell hey aren't paying you for any skill/qualification you may have.
$576 dollars per week is not going to get you anywhere in Singapore. I am sure you are being better paid in Sydney

[clie78]

Fyi, I am a music tutor. Not many schools for me to choose in Singapore and I just found out from one employer that the salary is $2200, not even $2500!!!!...sucks hey? I've been teaching a few years in Sydney..earn abt $50K/year and get 12wks holiday/year. I know, it'll be a stupid move to take but on the other hand, i need a change. Where else can I go then ??? Is life in singapore as good as I imagine? I always stop over in Sg for a few days and it's always fun...but i am not sure if I am there to work.

Thanks wardest for the research

Quasimodo....no doubt sydney is a good place to live. I enjoyed it very much before but I now I feel kind of lonely here as everyone is heading back to Asia, I guess there's more opportunities there.

[earthfriendly]

I think there are a few routes for music tutors (depending on what kind of music, choral, playing a specific instrument).

Every government school offers music as part of its curriculum and I would imagine each school needs at least one music instructor. If you play a particular instrument, you can give private lesson to students and run it as your own buisiness or you can be work out of a music center like Yamaha. You will probably earn more on the former option since for the latter, the music school will take a cut due to their high overhead but at least you are assured of a consistent stream of income.

Since you mention you are an Indonesian, you may carve a niche for yourself by targeting that market (not saying you should not take in students of other nationalities) as the Indonesian community may prefer to use an instructor of their native language. I know of an SGean lady who makes a good living (don't know her well but draw my conclusion based on the size of her house) giving piano lessons to Japanese kids. She got her music degree from Japan and speaks the language and have the Japanese expatriate market cornered.

[ringo100]

Although not great money especially if you have experience, you can easily survive on that money. Many of the new graduates at my company start on $2,000 and come from Malaysia, Indonesia and PI i.e. don't live at home.

You can get a shared room in an HDB for about $300-$500. Food should cost $400 - $500 and transport will be $100-$150. This means you can survive with some spare cash for going out.

I am interested in why you think Singapore seems more fun than Sydney; Sydney is far bigger and has a lot more going on.

[qt]

Hi, this message is about 3 years later after your posting...but in case you get it... I was wondering, did you ever end up moving to Singapore?

I am also a music teacher and have seen recent ads for music teachers needed in Singapore. I thought it may be a good experience, although it would need to be good pay to stil be able to live & save.

If you didn't go to Singapore, what did you end up doing?

[vbelle]

I think you better stay in Sydney..what singapore has to offer is that its shopping centers open till late..people are outside till late at night..its more lively but sydney has a lot of things going on..good coffee..good scenery...

people here seems to work so hard...most of them doing overtime..sydney is more relaxing..

well..i only live in sydney for 2.5 years..then i guess i havent got to the "broed" point...

[irvine]

I would exchange my place in Singapore for yours in Sydney! Haha... ANY DAY!

<rant>

Simply because... as much as a niche professional I am, I feel my work more like in a production line rather than creating a good product (which I'm paid to do). I can't explain it. I try to change the situation, but nobody seems to wanna 1) offend the boss, 2) step on anybody's tail, 3) loose a job without having a new one in hand.

And 1) the boss is usually easily offended, at least in my encounters, 2) for fear of further turnarounds to get stabbed yourself, 3) yeah, you could always find a new job, but somehow in times of desperation it's usually harder to get one.

And as for life here, I take a short trip to Malaysia twice a month to breathe some fresh air and see greenery in a big space. Simply bcoz I can't stand the daily robotic commute of home-work-foodcourt-home thing. Yes, I could make friends, it is harder than I thought. Yes, I could go out, but I'm also saving money to buy a HDB flat which cost 300k and up for a decent place. Can't afford a condo, or rather don't want to afford a condo.

</rant>

Go explore life in Sydney, you'll find something fun everyday. There's plenty of places to go within short driving distances. Make some new friends, join a class in the university or a community center, go skiing, go NZ, go Tasmania, do something fun, enjoy the sunshine!

[ksl]

2.500 a month is tight but you can manage if you eat the local food in hawker centre or cook your own. You will have to share accommodation, transport is reasonable at about 50 to 100 a month.. Cook your own food, you can live on less than 60 $ a week.

It's when you try to live like a westerner, that you would have problems, because of the prices charged in western type shops and restaurants, you must remember some housholds with families are managing on the same amount, although they may well be subsidised a little, many expats are on less than 1500 a month from some Countries.

I would imagine Australia has much more to offer, than Singapore anyway of the week.

[gev_sar]

Collegial greetings!
I am musician too, and have been working in Singapore for about a year. Used to work in Sydney too, but for limited period of time and I would still prefer Singapore... Regarding a sallary, do you mean 2500$ + accomodation allowance? If so, you should be fine with that.

[annihilator]

I think if you can teach music privately. you will get more money for your worth. At least I know my parents paid big bucks for me to learn the piano so you could have some side pocket money if you can get a visa to live in Singapore while working at Yamaha music school etc.

Personally, I think it's a different experience. I love change as well and I am also looking to live in another country for a while. I have been in Sydney for over 8 years and I'm itching for a new environment even if it's just for a year or two.

In Singapore, people will tend to have a one track mind but that's only because they are not really exposed to other nationalities due to limited travel opportunities for many, but I can imagine that's increasing in this day and age.

I'd say if you love asia and chinese, go for it! Otherwise, try another country you are drawn to as well.