Moving to Singapore from Tokyo

[becoo]

Hello,

I am getting very close to make a final decision to move Singapore from Tokyo in the same company. I am a big city person and obviously Tokyo is one of my favoriate locations in terms of food, culture and shopping.

As I review the package, I became hesitant as they provide S$5,000 for housing and one third of COLA of what I have in Tokyo. I know S$5,000 is not a small budget but this is one fourth of the housing budget the company pays for my Tokyo place. Also, I am not sure if I can get decent 2+1 or 3 bed room in the prime location with this.

My HR insists their COLA survey data provides one third of Tokyo is comparable to Singapore. They use 3rd party called "AIRINC" not Mercer. However, as I travel and spend some time in Singapore, I do not believe that. Singapore seems to be quite expensive as well.

I do not have any friend in Singapore, getting father away from home country. If I run into worse financial situation by moving to Singapore from Tokyo, I would rather say No or even do something else.

Does anyone have similar experience moving from Tokyo to Singapore and share your thought and advice?

Thanks.

Donghee

[Nath21]

Hello,

I am getting very close to make a final decision to move Singapore from Tokyo in the same company. I am a big city person and obviously Tokyo is one of my favoriate locations in terms of food, culture and shopping.

As I review the package, I became hesitant as they provide S$5,000 for housing and one third of COLA of what I have in Tokyo. I know S$5,000 is not a small budget but this is one fourth of the housing budget the company pays for my Tokyo place. Also, I am not sure if I can get decent 2+1 or 3 bed room in the prime location with this.

My HR insists their COLA survey data provides one third of Tokyo is comparable to Singapore. They use 3rd party called "AIRINC" not Mercer. However, as I travel and spend some time in Singapore, I do not believe that. Singapore seems to be quite expensive as well.

I do not have any friend in Singapore, getting father away from home country. If I run into worse financial situation by moving to Singapore from Tokyo, I would rather say No or even do something else.

Does anyone have similar experience moving from Tokyo to Singapore and share your thought and advice?

Thanks.

Donghee

I got a 2+1 for just under $5k per month in a prime location (caribbean which is on the website here). I would suggest slightly further out which would still be prime you could probably get a 3 bedroom no problems. As to be worse of than in Tokyo I have no clue but your budget should be enough to give you a good standard of living. The condo we are in has about 8 pools, gym, 2 tennis courts, basketball and soccer court, its own 7-11, underground carpark, running track, security, business centre etc and its 200m from the MRT and two major shopping centres, its 1-2 train stops to the cbd or 10-15 minutes by bus and there is a private shuttle also for $2 per ride with a number of stops in and around the city. Its on the water next to a marina and near sentosa, parks and golf courses. 3 bedrooms were going for around 5.5-7k but vary widely depending on how much sun they get, the location as its a big complex and the further away from the shopping centre the longer walk, whether its by the pool which is more noisy, what floor level and sometimes just dependent on the landlord. But as I say it just an example, there seem to be lots of places on the east coast where that would easily get 3 bedrooms for that price at a very good quality and im sure if you read enough posts here or other people give some more advice it will be pretty positive regarding that price and some other good locations like river valley, novena, newton etc.

[pm1901]

I think Nath you have given good advice - however I would like to put a word of caution - rental prices are low now ...this may not be the case...once the economy picks up.

Cheers...

[Nath21]

Yeah I would be locking in a two year contract for sure but it is always a hard one to pick.

[Usman_DC]

It seems that the rental market is somehow starting to pick up... but i guess with a budget of $5k, you'll still be able to get a decent 3 or 2+1 bedroom condo near Holland V, Valley Park, Symphony Heights...

Depending on where you will be working Donghee...

[ironandwine]

I moved from Tokyo to Singapore 6months ago for work. Rentals are much much cheaper here. A decent 2BR in Hiroo / Azabu would be about 1/3 of the rental price in an equally convenient area of Singapore, and would already include the expensive stuff that you normally have to buy yourself in Tokyo (fridge, washing machine, etc).