Housing Allowance

[strphcjnb]

Hi Everyone,

my first post. Be nice

Family and I will be moving to Singapore. Have visited SG many times, so do know the areas a bit. What I am very uncertain about is the right level of housing allowance.

Will be working in SG in the Services Industry, Vice President Level, Approx 80 Staff for a multinational company.

Family of 4, Parents + 2 kids under 10.

Package covers all expat benefits (Housing, Car, Medical etc etc)

Can you give me any indications what a reasonable level of housing allowance should be?

Not asking for your individual numbers, but you may have some range by experience from talking to people.

Thanks so much. This would help me big time!

XX

[tigerlily2010]

Hi, we just moved to Singapore so we had the same problem not so long ago and we are still flat hunting!

It really depends what you are looking for and what area you want. The more central the more expensive and do you want a condo with good facilities?

Some people are saying that the market is booming some others are saying the opposite and to be honest i haven't make my own view yet on this but i would say that probably an allowance of 10K+ is good for a family of 4 with kids.

Good Luck!!

[kiwigal]

I have just recently moved and can tell you that condos in the central area seem to go from 7K upwards for a 2500 sq ft 3/4 bed.

An OK semi or terraced are asking from 7-10K - also in Central.

Cheaper in the eastern, northern and western areas.

[snowqueen]

We live on the East Coast in a 3 bed condo apartment. My husband only gets $1500 so the rest of the rent comes out of our own money, however I do have friends who live centrally and their rents range between $6-$11k paid for by their company - very lucky, however our reasons for being here are a bit different to theirs and I mean that in a nice way.

The range of property on the market varies significantly from one extreme to the other, it just depends on how much your company is willing to pay for it to still be a viable option.

[ieden5432]

Say if you were to get 10K for housing allowance, would that be a yearly housing allowance or monthly housing allowance?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Say if you were to get 10K for housing allowance, would that be a yearly housing allowance or monthly housing allowance?

month.

[snowqueen]

Say if you were to get 10K for housing allowance, would that be a yearly housing allowance or monthly housing allowance?

month.

You could get a seriously nice pad for $10k a month. With your salary on top of that you will live a very nice life in Singapore.

[ieden5432]

But what would be the average housing allowance? like if you were getting paid 10K for housing allowance, would the average allowance be 10K a year or month? sorry I'm probably confusing you a bit.

-Eden

[sundaymorningstaple]

Which word didn't you understand in my post? There was only ONE word.

Trying to interpret what you are thinking (and it ain't easy)......
Are you trying to ask us "What is the average housing allowance given by employers in Singapore, either monthly or annually?"

If so......

The answer is: There is no average. A very small percentage of the population gets up to 25K/month, while other do not get any (the bulk of expats today). The middle of the road Asian engineers and IT types will probably see from 2K to 5K a month. But lots are on local packages which does not include any allowance at all. So, it up to you what you can negotiate or how much pain you are willing to bear.

[aargon]

Which word didn't you understand in my post? There was only ONE word.

Trying to interpret what you are thinking (and it ain't easy)......
Are you trying to ask us "What is the average housing allowance given by employers in Singapore, either monthly or annually?"

she must be local j/king

[sundaymorningstaple]

Which word didn't you understand in my post? There was only ONE word.

Trying to interpret what you are thinking (and it ain't easy)......
Are you trying to ask us "What is the average housing allowance given by employers in Singapore, either monthly or annually?"

she must be local j/king

Actually, she's probably a spammer, testing the waters. She's posting from a Calfornia ISP.

[ieden5432]

haha, no actually i didnt see your reply above the one someone else sent me, but I am now relieved to know it is per month.

[snowqueen]

My husband gets $1500 housing allowance however I have friends who have their full rent paid for ranging from $5k-10k per month. One of them lives in a four bed apartment at Paterson Residence which starts at $8.5k.

Out of all my friends I have come to know here, we are on the lowest end of an expat package but we live a very nice life and have no complaints, well apart from the medical insurance which is a huge faff if you want to see a specialist.