80 dollars a day to live from, possible?

[guido1976]

Hello Everybody,

This is my first post here. From january my company sends me to singapore
for about a year(as a start).

The company will pay for my house and transportation. They also pay for
my phone and internet.

They give me 80 sing dollars a day as living allowance.

My question is if that is reasonable for daily live. I will cook my own food
a few days a week. I dont go out every night. Like to join a fitness/sports club etc. When eating out it will not be a fancy restaurant but just a healthy, normal daily food thing.

So will 80 dollars a day do this?

thanx!

Guido
Netherlands

there are a few points you have to clarify:

by paying for your house (how much ?) does this mean inclusive electricity/water ?
is it your own apartment or do you have to share with others ?
or is it just a room ?

transportation: local transportation or just your return air ticket ? is it a fixed allowance or can you claim ? whats the limit ?

your phone: is it your hand phone bill inclusive overseas calls ?
calling back home is expensive !

Cable TV can cost you about S$ 100.- a month. inclusive ?

If all the above is covered by your company, then S$ 80.- a day will keep you alive nicely but you will not go back home as a rich man.

I get a furnished housing with a maximum of 2000 us dollars.
tv, internet, water and electricity is included.

I get all transportation paid. Flight tickets(several times a year back for holiday), taxis and possible a car.

I have a company phone and laptop.

[guido1976]

Guido,

I noticed you are Dutch and moving for work. The S$80 a day per diem seems very familiar

I was based in Singapore for 7 months by a Dutch employer in the past as well, more or less with the same terms I expect you will be getting:

Work pays for a Serviced Apartment including all perks
Travel allowance on reimbursement
about 42,50 euro a day to spend as per diem (which is about S$86)

As mentioned before, it really depends on your lifestyle. Basic cost of living should pretty well be covered, but take into consideration a beer will knock you back about S$15. Most other things (clothes, books etc) will not be a lot cheaper then you would expect in the Netherlands, depending on what you need.

The way I looked at it: What do you have to spend on a daily basis in the Netherlands? If that is 40 euro or less, you can have the same standard of living (unless you are a chain smoking alcoholic ) . The thing that makes Singapore considerably more expensive then even Amsterdam is housing (and a car) but that is taken care of by work.

I wouldn't worry to much about the allowance if I were you, and having a salary back at home you might only touch once in a while, you'll be good to go.

Make sure though your employer arranges an Employment Pass!

I'll be relocating to Singapore around christmas, you can give me a holler when you're over.

Pepijn

Hello Pepijn,

yes I'm Dutch.

Things went faster than planned. Tonight I arrive in Singapore(coming from Vietnam).

what company do you work for? I work for Damen Shipyards Gorinchem.

I'm sure the company arranges all neccesary passes/visa. We have a 100% owned shipyard in Singapore as well. Although I get an office there
working on that shipyard will not be my main job.

I can't send PM yet. the site says i have to do more postings first.

[sundaymorningstaple]

You now have 5 posts so you should be good to go with PM's. It activates automatically after you have made 5 posts.

sms/mod

[Pepijn]

Guido,

I will be working for ING in Singapore from January onwards, but previously I was there as a consultant to NXP Semiconductors. I will be arriving december 27th, and no plans on leaving as of yet.

[Grumpy77]

Guido,

One other thing that will make a big difference. If you don't spend the whole $80 in one day, do you pocket the difference, or do you lose it?

If you get the whole $80 then you should have no problems as during the week you should be able to bank some by not spending the entire amount, and that will allow you to have a few adult beverages on the weekend.

Have fun!

[guido1976]

Guido,

One other thing that will make a big difference. If you don't spend the whole $80 in one day, do you pocket the difference, or do you lose it?

If you get the whole $80 then you should have no problems as during the week you should be able to bank some by not spending the entire amount, and that will allow you to have a few adult beverages on the weekend.

Have fun!

I get the 80 dollar, whether I spend it or not. I also don't need to keep all the cashier tickets.

So yes, If I save one day, I can spend more on another day.

[Tainak]

I've been living in Singapore since Feb this year and I can say it's not cheap here. I cook at home on average 4-5 times a week and the groceries cost me about $100- 120. Eating out for lunch is relatively cheap if you go the food courts or hawkers; $2-7 per meal. On I night out I normally spend around $200- 300. A quick calculation shows my weekly expenses are $400.

Based on this the $80/ day should be sufficient. However shopping for clothes and shoes will add up a lot more as those are expensive here. And you wouldn't have much money for traveling which is definitely something you should do when coming all the way from Netherlands.

I hope this helps!

[nakatago]

I've been living in Singapore since Feb this year and I can say it's not cheap here. I cook at home on average 4-5 times a week and the groceries cost me about $100- 120. Eating out for lunch is relatively cheap if you go the food courts or hawkers; $2-7 per meal. On I night out I normally spend around $200- 300. A quick calculation shows my weekly expenses are $400.

Based on this the $80/ day should be sufficient. However shopping for clothes and shoes will add up a lot more as those are expensive here. And you wouldn't have much money for traveling which is definitely something you should do when coming all the way from Netherlands.

I hope this helps!

dude, 100-120 a week for home-cooked meals for one person is expensive!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Let's put it into perspective.

$80/day per deim x 30 days/month = $2,400/mo. This is the average wage for a local Batchelor's degree graduate. And you haven't even touched your actual salary! You're skating. Don't sweat it!

[klitz]

I've been living in Singapore since Feb this year and I can say it's not cheap here. I cook at home on average 4-5 times a week and the groceries cost me about $100- 120. Eating out for lunch is relatively cheap if you go the food courts or hawkers; $2-7 per meal. On I night out I normally spend around $200- 300. A quick calculation shows my weekly expenses are $400.

Based on this the $80/ day should be sufficient. However shopping for clothes and shoes will add up a lot more as those are expensive here. And you wouldn't have much money for traveling which is definitely something you should do when coming all the way from Netherlands.

I hope this helps!

groceries at $100 is ex... mayb u could try the neighbourhood provision stores and markets for your daily groceries... its much cheaper...

[durain]

Let's put it into perspective.

$80/day per deim x 30 days/month = $2,400/mo. This is the average wage for a local Batchelor's degree graduate. And you haven't even touched your actual salary! You're skating. Don't sweat it!

well said sms.

sometimes i wonder why people are so TIGHT. is per diem their only source of income they have to live off it?

[guido1976]

I've been living in Singapore since Feb this year and I can say it's not cheap here. I cook at home on average 4-5 times a week and the groceries cost me about $100- 120. Eating out for lunch is relatively cheap if you go the food courts or hawkers; $2-7 per meal. On I night out I normally spend around $200- 300. A quick calculation shows my weekly expenses are $400.

Based on this the $80/ day should be sufficient. However shopping for clothes and shoes will add up a lot more as those are expensive here. And you wouldn't have much money for traveling which is definitely something you should do when coming all the way from Netherlands.

I hope this helps!

It helps a lot. But I don't need to travel a lot. I have been traveling non-stop for the last 14 years.

actually, thursday i have to go to Malaysia. Return on Friday evening.

Okay, I understand now I can live from 80 dollars a day.

Next question is where to live. My budget is around 2800 dollars a month.

Need something between the city and Tuas.

Will look into some area's this weekend.

[local2009]

Need something between the city and Tuas.

Will look into some area's this weekend.

Perhaps Clementi area will be good for you. Towards west of Clementi -> 1 MRT station you will hit Jurong East and 2 MRT station east of Clementi -> Buona Vista (Holland Village).

Clementi will be cheaper than Holland Village area ....but your decision will also depends if you are getting a studio unit or a 2 bedder.