Bukit Batok Vs Jurong West

[Jelly Bean]

Hi, I am a newbie here. I will be coming to SG with my daughter (3yrs plus) and husband in June. I have some questions below and would appreciate if anyone can help here:

1) We decided to stay in the west (the budget thing ). Bkt. Batok and Jurong west are our finalised options. I would like to know if there are any differences in accessing into good kinddy, amenities, shopping malls, parks, library etc? Also we are looking to rent a 3 bedroom (whole) HDB with rental range between SG$1400 to $1800. Which of these places are likely to fulfill our need? Is there a big gap in terms of rentals between these two areas?

2) We probably need a place to stay for a week or so when we first arrive during the EP collection and house hunting period. I know there are a lot of Serviced Apartment options here but dh's company does not cover the allowance for this. $$ has to come out from our pocket. Where can we look for a place with affordable cost (say SG$100 per daily)?

3) Has anyone here been using SHiFT(Scheme for Housing of Foreign Talent) for house hunting? Is the application procedure complicated and how long does it take from application to getting a key from them?

Many thanks.

[chixchix]

Hi there Jelly Bean.

1) Rents for 3 room flats are usually $700- $1200 depending on area. Bukit Batok and Jurong West are good places to stay in ,depending on which block you manage to get.

Jurong West - If you get near the Jurong Point Mall area is good,as you have everything under one roof.
Thats Block 680 to Block 685. Bus Depot,Train Station also.. but in Jurong West area, the noise of the Air Force planes,,for me is horrible. The Air Force base is nearby thats why.

Bukit Batok - Good palce will be near the West Mall shopping centre. There is the supermarket, Fast Food Centres, and the Bus depot and Train Station.

As for your SCHEME query ,I dont know much about that

[Jelly Bean]

Thanks Chixchix for your good advice. I can't stand loud noise either. My previous residence was near a local airport and it drove me crazy when the planes take off in 15 to 30 mins interval!! I know what you meant by HORRIBLE. I have been there.

I will commute to NIE mostly on daily basis, that's why I am choosing these two areas. Dh will commute to Raffles Place though. I am wondering if that's big difference in travelling time in either area I choose to live, probably not concerning what's showed on the MRT map? Are there alot of choices for kinddy in those 2 areas? Pls let me know if you know about these. THANKS!

[chixchix]

Jelly Beans... you mentioned that you would be in NIE ,,and DH in Raffles.. ok if I am not wrong..NIE is in the NTU area.

Alright if you take the Jurong area or Bukit Batok area..it will be good for u ..esp Jurong West** but not for DH..if he were to go Raffles,,he will have to change a train at Jurong East ,,if he is coming from Bukit Batok...and apart from local Kindies..there is nothing there for kids..

IMO..I think Clementi will be the best place..Reason being its central,,ur DH will get to work easily and quickly ..cos the MRT and Bus Depot also nearby. Raffles is I think 7-8 stations away. Very Accesible. For you also straight train from Clementi.

Also, there is a lot of Expat kindies in BUkit Timah which is close to Clementi as well. Even Holland Village is near.

You have The Learning Ladder at Bukit Timah ,,Modern Montessori International at Clementi.

Jurong will be better for you but will take travelling time for ur DH.and the plane noise as well.
I think that Clementi is centralised and best to commute with not much overcrowding.Banks ,Clinics,NTUC, fast food is all there.

Hope that helps!!

[Jelly Bean]

Thanks Chix Chix. I have actually thought about dh's travelling time to work but we are very concerned about the rental fee. Some said in this forum, the nearer to the city the higher the rent is. I am sure there is a gap between Jurong west and Clementi but just dunno how big the gap is. A few hundreds different would mean alot to us though. So I guess I may have to check the market price to compare. But I like what you told me about the amenities and schools in Clementi. If there is no more than SG$300 different in rent, I will go with Clementi.

Thanks for your opinion. It's very informative and I appreciate it.

[Jeppo]

Just wanted to point out that OP was asking for 3 BEDROOM, but Chix was writing about 3 ROOM (ie. 2 bedroom). The OPs price of $1400-1800 seems about right to me for either Clementi or Jurong. I don't think the prices vary that much between the 2 areas but I do know the hdb units in Jurong West are bigger than in Clementi.

As far as traveling time goes, I used to work at Raffles and the trip from Clementi took about 20 to 25 minutes by MRT.

[kirstyL]

i am buying a house in sg and i know the price in jurong west is much cheaper then bb. To be near to NTU area best go for 900 + and should be cheap. There are loads of kindergartens and primary/secondary schools there. As well as markets and shops. Quiet near to Jurong Point, you need to take a feeder bus, but there is a MRT(train) and bus interchange at jurong point and its one straight train to raffles city it takes about 30mins, only about 4-5 stops different then clementi. Its also very quiet area, no planes.

[rahulv]

how much will be the rent for 2 BHK condos in these areas.

[Jelly Bean]

Thanks guys for the insights. Very informative indeed.

[Leone and John]

how much will be the rent for 2 BHK condos in these areas.

Three bedroomed condo with large balcony at Bukit Batok is around $3500.00 PM.

A Penthouse would set you back $5000.00 PM

All facilities available inc pool, tennis courts, gym. community room etc.

[jumping_gene]

Hi Jelly Bean,

We will also be relocating in July and would appreciate if you could share notes re: HDB flats in the Clementi/West Coast/Queenstown area, as well as further info on the Shift Scheme.

[humpbackwhale]

HDBs in Queenstown is the best, although a bit old, but there are new ones. Only problem is there are very few of them.

West Coast and Clementi you must be careful as some are really far out from transport and amenities.

[chixchix]

West Coast is a bit inconvenient especially if you want to take the MRT, you have to take a feeder bus.They used to have a mall but also under construction.

[Leone and John]

What is actually considered "West Coast"? no one has ever explained that!

I am told I live on the 'West Coast' by some, others tell me I live in 'The Heartlands' ...... all I know is that I live at Bukit Batok!!

[chixchix]

Lol ahahhahah ok sweety West Coast is not the west coastal area of Singapore ,,its just the name of a road.
Clementi and West Coast are next to each other but Clementi is more centralised with all the amenities that you may need.
Whereas West Coast Road is a bit out of the way if you are looking for access to the Train system, the Food Supermarket or the Local Polyclinics.

Hopefully that helps.