US Salary vs Singapore Salary

[houston66]

Company in Houston, TX is offering me to work in Singapore with potential management growth.

Current Salary - US $ 120,000 / year with US benefits.

Family Size: Spouse and 18 months old son; All US citizen.

Company Offer to Singapore Job:

- Relocation from Houston to Singapore
- Temp. Housing/Accommodations
- First 3 months in Expat status (US Payroll + Intl Premium)
- Convert to Local Singapore payroll with S$ 130,000/ year with singapore benefits.

I understand living expense and lifestyle varies based on individual preference and needs. Is this a good salary to live comfortably in Singapore and save?

Any advice on this would be appreciated. Thank you.

Houston66

[Hedgie]

Hi, fellow expat from the States here.

I'm a bit confused by your post. You're getting $120k in the States but are going to get paid SGD 130K (or about USD $86K) here? And they are only giving you a housing allowance and international premium for 3 months? So you are getting an overall pay decrease to move? I just want to know if I'm understanding it wrong because I thought expats were usually given a decent monetary incentive to move here.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hedgie, I'd have to agree with you!

I read his post the same way. Considering the Exchange rate is somewhere around 1.52 and a US$30K car would cost around $150K SGD (Price for a new Chrysler 300C) I would say he has to have some figures wrong there or that they take him for a complete idiot. You don't give somebody a 35% paycut and tell they it's for management training.

On the other hand, if you factor in the tax differential between US taxes and local taxes that might bring him into the same ballbark when looking at net after taxes. Especially in view of the new US tax laws regarding housing allowances and the Income Earned Abroad Exclusion of $84+K and the fact the all income over that amount will be taxed at a rate that is equal to the tax rate for that income if no exclusion were given. Guess he will have to do some figuring. He can start here:

http://www.iras.gov.sg/ESVPortal/iit/ii ... gapore.asp

http://www.iras.gov.sg/ESVPortal/iit/ii ... iduals.asp

[jpatokal]

First rule of expat relocation: Never take a paycut. They can (and they will) try to sell you on lower cost of living, less taxes blah blah blah, but at the end of the day, what's going to happen when you move back to the United States -- do you think they'll be willing to give you a 50% pay rise then?

[sundaymorningstaple]

JP,

At least we agree there!