Moving to Singapore from Dubai

ajmani · Post by **ajmani** » Sun, 23 Dec 2007 8:06 pm

Hi,

I have gone through a lot of posts and have been pondering if i should move to Singapore from Dubai. I have got an offer of 8kSGD with mediclaim. However, keeping the taxes and other hidden charges in mind, is it a good salary to move in? I am married with no kids. Not interested in going for a condo. What would be the cost of living (not lavishly, but comfortably)? My current salary is 6700SGD (17000AED) in Dubai, excluding medical, annual tickets and ofcourse it is tax free. Will be it a right decision to move? All replies are welcome and will definitely have an effect on my decision. Appreciate your time.

Bafana · Post by **Bafana** » Mon, 24 Dec 2007 10:17 am

The Singapore Package sounds like a good deal.

Is housing and annual flights included?

ajmani · Post by **ajmani** » Mon, 24 Dec 2007 12:57 pm

No, no annual tickets, or housing is included in this deal. Infact, 8k SGD is taxable as per the law, and i have to manage everything. It sounds quite strange, but as i understood, this is the standard in Singapore. Is this true?

Bafana · Post by **Bafana** » Tue, 25 Dec 2007 10:48 am

Tax is pretty cheap - Prob around 7.5% for your 8K a month.

You should make sure flights to/from your home country once a year for you and your family are included. This is standard for expats. If they don't give move on to another company as work (especially construction) here is easy to find right now. You should also get a separate relocation allowance for your personal belongs to Singapore.

The issue of housing is a good one - Like Dubai, housing in Singapore is expensive (but not as bad). Rent could be anywhere between 1k HDB to 3K prime apartment plus Singapore lease very tough, 2-3months bond in advance plus first month rent. You will need to have some start up money.

My suggestion is that you gte them to lease a place for you therefore they take the bond risk/expense and then see if they will pay rent (even part of).

ScoobyDoes · Post by **ScoobyDoes** » Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:45 am

Bafana wrote: You should make sure flights to/from your home country once a year for you and your family are included. This is standard for expats.

Um, no it aint.

If the deal comes down to this one and only term, consider that it is not "standard" at all! It maybe used to be but those days are gone.

ajmani · Post by **ajmani** » Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:59 pm

Thanks for all the replies. It is serving the purpose of cooking my decision

. The stake has gone up to 9kSGD/month. Annual tickets + medical+ visa for family is included. Is this a better offer now, or just not upto the "standard". I would appreciate if someone can let me know the standards

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Wed, 26 Dec 2007 1:06 pm

Sorry, there are no "standards". It is basically what you are willing to accept and what they are willing to pay. These two are getting further and further apart as the costs of living here get higher and higher. Only you can determine what is sufficient for you. If you listen to some on here, the figures they give are only limited by their imaginations. Other's like myself lowball the figures because we have been here for donkey's years and have different priorities now. The majority here try to keep it real as possible but this isn't possible at the moment due to the rapidly escalating costs here. Another big article in the morning paper as well today.

ajmani · Post by **ajmani** » Wed, 26 Dec 2007 1:16 pm

I understand the priorities have to be set up for being there, but then we also need to set the expectations right. Now, i have read a lot about salary median in singapore, and the average salary is about 6000SGD for IT Manager. Again, its not about being in lavish zone but in comfort. In Dubai, the rentals are quite high, the weather goes to extremes, traffic is bad, malls are crowded, but i still love this place. I am trying to evaluate what it would cost me to leave this lovely country and relocate to another lovely place. Is 9k enough?

Bafana · Post by **Bafana** » Wed, 26 Dec 2007 2:06 pm

ScoobyDoes wrote: Um, no it aint.

Um - Yes it is...

NVM Lah. Like our more intelligent Moderator says there is no such thing as a Standard.

BTW the package lookign better now. Just try and tie down the housing issue as the start up can be a killer unless your bank got bling.

ajmani · Post by **ajmani** » Wed, 26 Dec 2007 2:43 pm

I am overwhelmed with the intelligent responses i have received. If there is anything else that i need to know, please do mention in the post. Thanks a lot to everyone. I would try to tie down the housing issue, though startup would not be a big problem. Merry Christmas to everyone and wishing all a happy new year

span · Post by **span** » Sun, 20 Jan 2008 6:34 pm

Hi Almani,

have you relocated to Singapore from Dubai? How do you find? I am also planning to move to Singapore. However I am in dilemma: move to Dubai or Singapore. I lived in Dubai for some time and now in India. Please send me a mail on napomanyu at yahoo dot com.

Thanks

batgirl_cdn · Post by **batgirl_cdn** » Sun, 20 Jan 2008 7:04 pm

We're headed for Singapore from Dubai in a few weeks. I am sooooo looking forward to Singapore because it will be better in many ways. Organised, clean, friendly, green...

knickers · Post by **knickers** » Wed, 23 Jan 2008 5:21 pm

We made the move from Dubai to Singapore a month ago and although I miss a few things about Dubai, I personally feel Singapore has a lot more going for it. And there seems to be lots of people making the same move.

keepitreal · Post by **keepitreal** » Thu, 24 Jan 2008 8:32 am

Maybe, but give it another 5-10 yrs once they slow down construction in Dubai and that'll be the place to be.

I've already sounded out a new role there for some time next year as this place is starting to bore me after only 6 months. But it's ok if your a boring person i guess, right?

batgirl_cdn · Post by **batgirl_cdn** » Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:02 am

We've been here almost 2 weeks now and Singapore is infinitely better than Dubai in my opinion.

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