Where to live?

[loveday]

Hi All,

I'm 23, single and making the move to Singapore in Jan.

My new employer has kindly left me the task of sorting out my own accommodation. I am hoping to find a two bedroom place for around SGD1000-1500 a month. I have two questions:

1. Is that even achievable, it doesn't need to be flashy?

2. Where is an awesome place to live where I can meet and party with other expats. I will be working in the City Centre.

And I was also wondering about health insurance? Do I need it? If so do you know a good provider?

Thanks

E

[durain]

1. possible with that budget but it wont be near the city.

2. awesome place to live? one man's mud hut is another man's mansion. where you gonna be living depends on your budget. expats are everywhere. you dont have to goto a specify place to meet them. i dont think most of them are party animal either, but i am sure you get a few.

[Flyjet1]

Your budget should be comfortable for a little further away from town. No worries, MRT, buses and taxi are conveniently available

[durain]

where I can meet and party with other expats

the "single" expat i worked with usually head off to orchard towers to party.

[natalyakir]

Hi All,

I'm 23, single and making the move to Singapore in Jan.

My new employer has kindly left me the task of sorting out my own accommodation. I am hoping to find a two bedroom place for around SGD1000-1500 a month. I have two questions:

1. Is that even achievable, it doesn't need to be flashy?

2. Where is an awesome place to live where I can meet and party with other expats. I will be working in the City Centre.

And I was also wondering about health insurance? Do I need it? If so do you know a good provider?

Thanks

E

For that budget you can only expect renting an hdb flat somewhere you'll need to travel for at least 30-40 min on public transport to get to the city with no expats around your place. The cheapest hdbs are like 1400SGD per month, though most of them are closer to 2000SGD. Only locals and foreign workers mostly from India and Bangladesh would live there.

[durain]

Only locals and foreign workers mostly from India and Bangladesh would live there.

correction. all sorts of people live in HDB, may they be poor or rich, local, expat or illegal immigrant, white, black, banana, mangosteen, zebra, etc.

[natalyakir]

Only locals and foreign workers mostly from India and Bangladesh would live there.

correction. all sorts of people live in HDB, may they be poor or rich, local, expat or illegal immigrant, white, black, banana, mangosteen, zebra, etc.

It strongly depends on location. We've lived in hdb for a year in Singapore's outskirts and I never seeawn any white people in our hdb flats or the other nearby. De facto.

[durain]

Only locals and foreign workers mostly from India and Bangladesh would live there.

correction. all sorts of people live in HDB, may they be poor or rich, local, expat or illegal immigrant, white, black, banana, mangosteen, zebra, etc.

It strongly depends on location. We've lived in hdb for a year in Singapore's outskirts and I never seeawn any white people in our hdb flats or the other nearby. De facto.

but expat dont have to be white! do they???

[Saint]

Only locals and foreign workers mostly from India and Bangladesh would live there.

correction. all sorts of people live in HDB, may they be poor or rich, local, expat or illegal immigrant, white, black, banana, mangosteen, zebra, etc.

It strongly depends on location. We've lived in hdb for a year in Singapore's outskirts and I never seeawn any white people in our hdb flats or the other nearby. De facto.

Your original statement beside being rather rude (I wont post what I actually wanted to but most of you will probably guess it would be slightly stronger!) is totally unfounded and full of crap (opps sorry)

Thinks you've got a bit of an issue with locals

[sundaymorningstaple]

It strongly depends on location. We've lived in hdb for a year in Singapore's outskirts and I never seeawn any white people in our hdb flats or the other nearby. De facto.

Then I would suggest that you actually open up your eyes and have a good look around. In my HDB estate I know of 3 alone not including myself (we are all WHITE as if that makes a differenct). I've lived in my HDB Flat for 10 years now. Oh, not only am I WHITE and live in an HDB flat, I'm also a member of the Neighbour Residents Committee. Can't believe you have lived here a year and have never ventured outside of your flat. What's the matter? Afraid one of the locals may look at you funny?



Saint,

I think she got more of a problem than with just locals. I actually feel sorry for her. She's rather pathetic if one stops to think about it. Glad there are not too many like her. She would get along with another on this board famously except that one would have never deigned to step foot in an HDB flat I don't think.

[pinetartsg]

Hi Loveday,

Base on your budget, you should be able to get a 2 to 3-room HDB (public housing) in slightly out of Central location.

Public housing in Spore is ok. They are pretty neat and tidy and are generally near to amenities.

Good luck !

[loveday]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your replies, got a bit feisty there!

I want to be around expats so I can use pop culture references from home and not have to explain myself, I lived in Europe for several years I missed being about to joke around with aussies. It's as simple as that!

Does anyone know of anyone looking for a room mate? I have given up on living alone for now and I just want to be comfortable at least for the first six months or so. I will be arriving in mid jan and I don't want to live with a family.

[pinetartsg]

hi lovebird,

Expat here has deep budget and the places they stay are generally expensive and are usually in district 9, 10, 11. $1000 to $1500, I would say it is extremely difficult to get one. (Sorry, no offence).
Btw,you can still go to Pubs, Shopping malls or some of the great parks eg. bontanica garden if u want to mingle with Expat.

[sundaymorningstaple]

loveday, your eyes want expat but your employer wants local. It's pretty simple. Your budget will only allow for local housing and not upmarket expat housing. As far as wanting to be around expats, with that kind of budget you might find it a bit uncomfortable and embarrassing. You might want to look at your relocation here as a learning opportunity and try to assimilate with the local population so you will actually learn something and have something to remember worthwhile. You may also make some valuable contacts for the future as well. You, at 23, have a good opportunity. It would be a shame to see you waste it. Watch the local English channel here, you will find that most here speak the same brand of terrible English that you hear on MTV which is a staple diet of the young here as well as the reality shows from the west. This is not Outer Mongolia, Singapore is a bit more up market than most European cities.

[pinetartsg]

Hi Sundaymorningstaple,

agree with you.