Question - Living Expenses

Newbie09 · Post by **Newbie09** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 7:21 pm

Hi All,

I’m being relocated to Singapore with my job (as an engineer) for a number of months, work will cover my accommodation and are offering $60

per day living expenses, what standard of living will this allow for? Do you think its adequate for a nice standard of living in Singapore…e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, socialising etc etc or what would be an adequate allowance!!

All opinions welcome, thank you!

durain · Post by **durain** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 7:39 pm

well, how long is a piece of string?

from the bottom...

breakfast - roti prata S$1.20
lunch - chicken rice S$2.50
dinner - economy rice S$3.00
drinks - tap water FREE

to the top...

breakfast - dim sum S$30+++
lunch - suckling pig rice with shark fin soup S$50+++
dinner - chiili crab and lobster S$100+++
drinks - bollinger S$finite+++

Eltonf · Post by **Eltonf** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 7:40 pm

When I moved over I was given a similar per diem allowance and it was more then adequate but it is all relative, if you drink Champagne and eat Lobster and steak then it will probably seem a little insufficient.

durain · Post by **durain** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 8:15 pm

in my previous job, i too was given per diem allowance. so it was usually a quick cheap meal. then they stopped it and move to receipt. from there onwards, all meals were at hotels and expensive restaurants! the whole team became obese overnight!!!

Newbie09 · Post by **Newbie09** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 9:11 pm

Thanks guys! I suppose I’d be in the middle of those 2 extremes, I do like nice food and drink but I’m not expecting lobster (because I don’t like it ha ha!) and champagne every night! I just want a nice balance; I’d like to be able to eat in a nice-ish restaurant and have a few beers after…I really don’t want to be scrimping on a budget while I’m there… I think there may be some scope for negotiation on the expenses so I’d like to know what a “good”

Newbie09 · Post by **Newbie09** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 9:15 pm

P.S: After re-reading the different scales i really dont want to be on the budget end ha ha ha!!!

durain · Post by **durain** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 9:37 pm

on average, how much do you spend in your home country?

Newbie09 · Post by **Newbie09** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:07 pm

I’ve been trying to think about that, it’s hard to judge though because over here I’m living in an apartment and am totally set up, I’d usually have breakfast and dinner at home and only eat out for lunch! Then obviously weekends would be a lot more expensive with eating out, socialising etc!! Over in Singapore I will be living in a hotel so will therefore have to eat out for all meals – I will be over there on my own so will be trying to pass time in the evenings etc so would prob prefer restaurant than picking up something quick!! I do enjoy a bottle of wine or night out with few beers etc too!!
$60 is only equivalent to â‚¬29 which I know I couldn’t survive on over here, that’s why I’m trying to find out if people with good quality of life can survive on it in Singapore?!!

Sorry about the rambling when you asked a very simple question

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:54 pm

Families survive on those incomes here. Without per diem!

Newbie09 · Post by **Newbie09** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:02 pm

Sorry I don’t mean to sound like I’m above living on the per diem etc, I’m certainly not I just want to be comfortable when I’m over there, work are only seconding me there for the few months so will still have all my bills, mortgage, fees etc back here to pay while I’m away, because of this I need the per diem to cover my stay and would like to know what would be reasonable!! Hope you’re not picking up my question wrongly

durain · Post by **durain** » Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:35 pm

then S$60/day is enuf.

Eltonf · Post by **Eltonf** » Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:18 am

Agree with Durian, $60 is enough.

Your social life will be what you want to make of it, put your self out there and get involved with some of the groups on here.

Plenty to see and do!

AndyD · Post by **AndyD** » Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:28 pm

I agree, $60 is fine per day… It will realistically work along the lines of… A nice cheap day from hawker centres, and stores, then same again the next day – say 25 a day which is a nice amount to eat that way…

Then on day 3 you will have 60 + the saved 35 x 2 = $130 – that’s a really nice day / evening without watching the pennies – could even have Chilli Crab and a fair few beers at a very touristy place… Repeat that process on a 3 day rota and things will tick along nicely…

However, if it’s negotiable and you won’t get frowned on for doing so, then push for 70 or even 80 – as that would change the scheme of things dramatically, but wouldn’t look that much different on paper…

Saint · Post by **Saint** » Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:50 pm

That's 5 pints and a packet of Chicken Rice a day, what more do you want!

Newbie09 · Post by **Newbie09** » Fri, 28 Aug 2009 1:02 am

Thanks a lot for that AndyD, that’s a really good idea

Best of both worlds...

Does 5 beers really cost close to $60 though….

How is an Irish person supposed to survive ha ha ha

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Question - Living Expenses

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