Start-up costs

[Laxidasical]

We're moving to Singapore in the next 6 weeks and I'm curious of what startup costs we should expect to incur. Utilities, maid fees for a transfer maid, internet, cable, cell phone? Do you have to put a minimum down for the MRT and bus pass? Can you even get a buss pass or is it by use?

Thanks in advance!

[Mad Scientist]

We're moving to Singapore in the next 6 weeks and I'm curious of what startup costs we should expect to incur. Utilities, maid fees for a transfer maid, internet, cable, cell phone? Do you have to put a minimum down for the MRT and bus pass? Can you even get a buss pass or is it by use?

Thanks in advance!

OP

It seems that you are not helping yourself and expects us to provide you with the answer. This topic has been discussed at length. You can find it by using the search button at the top hand corner under the profile link
Not trying to be mean to you and leaving you in the lurch, here are some of the threads you can read up
Make sure you look it up yourself before posting . Chances are the question that you are looking for has been discussed before. Please do not be lazy. Help us to help you by helping yourself. Capisce ?


http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... t=expenses
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... t=expenses
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... t=expenses
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... t=expenses
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... ight=maids
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... light=maid

[Laxidasical]

Yeah, I figured I'd get that response from you. What I'm searching for are not monthly costs, but cash deposits. Many utilities require deposits when opening accounts and I'd like to know how much to budget for those costs.

[Mad Scientist]

www.singtel.com

www.m1.com.sg

http://www.spservices.com.sg/

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... highlight=

www.smrt.com.sg/trains/fares.asp

http://services.spservices.sg/cs_servic ... u-bill.htm

So you figured I would answer you they way you think I would. All the above I just google and came up for you. Don't you think you are being lazy ?
If you can post it here for sure you can use your google friend ?

[BillyB]

We're moving to Singapore in the next 6 weeks and I'm curious of what startup costs we should expect to incur. Utilities, maid fees for a transfer maid, internet, cable, cell phone? Do you have to put a minimum down for the MRT and bus pass? Can you even get a buss pass or is it by use?

Thanks in advance!

Utilities S$500 deposit paid in advance or added to your first bill.

Maid - not sure

Internet/cable - Nothing required from Starhub and Singtel

Mobile phone - If on contract, you pay the price of the phone up front. The amount depends on the model you choose. Then billed monthly.

MRT & Bus - you use the same card for both services. You can get it from 7/11 and I think, but don't quote me on that as I can't remember, it costs S$10 and then you load credit onto it. S$75-100 will easily be enough for the month

[Laxidasical]

Thanks! $500 for utilities, huh? Do a lot of people skip out of town without paying their bills?

[Laxidasical]

I've been stalking this board for almost 6 months now. I've read just about every forum post for the past couple of years on things that pertain to me. I also notice that prices in Singapore inflate quite regularly as I've seen rents go up $800 on certain properties in the last 6 weeks.

I spent 2 hours looking at Singtel and Starhub's packages. I couldn't find information that specifically stated if there was a deposit. I didn't know M1 existed. Thanks for the info.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but when emigrating to a new country without having never been there and trying to get the lay of the land (virtually), there is a lot to try to keep track of. Many of the singapore company websites have less than stellar usability, so oftentimes finding information is time consuming. I just find Mad Scientist to be a bit snarky at times. Sometimes it is warranted, but often it is not.

[BillyB]

Thanks! $500 for utilities, huh? Do a lot of people skip out of town without paying their bills?

Ha ha. I'm not sure why they need that but for a mobile you can rack up quite big bills before you need to pay an advance. Strange really isn't it!!

[BillyB]

I've been stalking this board for almost 6 months now. I've read just about every forum post for the past couple of years on things that pertain to me. I also notice that prices in Singapore inflate quite regularly as I've seen rents go up $800 on certain properties in the last 6 weeks.

I spent 2 hours looking at Singtel and Starhub's packages. I couldn't find information that specifically stated if there was a deposit. I didn't know M1 existed. Thanks for the info.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but when emigrating to a new country without having never been there and trying to get the lay of the land (virtually), there is a lot to try to keep track of. Many of the singapore company websites have less than stellar usability, so oftentimes finding information is time consuming. I just find Mad Scientist to be a bit snarky at times. Sometimes it is warranted, but often it is not.

Rental can be a bit hit and miss. You'll find the prices can be much higher than those advertised. Sometimes it's a natural increase due to demand. sometimes it's a case of agents trying it on with Foreigners. Sometimes a bit of both. We're in the process of renewing, well probably moving out now because our landlady sold the property and the new owners want to increase the rental 25%. Just because you're new doesn't mean you are the only ones to get ripped off!!

I agree with your sentiment about information on websites and small print etc. You'll find that in general, Asia isn't as transparent or as clear with the details and T&C's than in other Continents. You have to make sure you dig around and ask plenty of questions - often asking the same question 2/3 times to get a definitive answer.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I just find Mad Scientist to be a bit snarky at times. Sometimes it is warranted, but often it is not.

And I am most of the times.

But you have to put yourself in our shoes. We devote endless hours "daily" on this forum and on other forums as well. All trying to help others who try to help themselves. As most of us still work for a living as well, we are usually multi-tasking and having to take the time to go digging up the exact same information every other day for other who are too lazy to use the search facility and a little bit of reasoning power (or my links page in my signature below). As we are only human, eventually, the fuses overload and sparks fly. Because of the volume of data on this board, we have to search through it the same way as the noob does. This translates to aggravation as, had they used a wee bit of initiative, they would have arrived at the same information. Foreign Talent? The word is greatly overused considering what we are seeing nowadays. And, they all want all cheat sheets on how to write a letter or answer all the questions in all the tests.

So yeah, we tend to get snarky at times. But for those who really need help MS usually pulls through. You gotta take the good with the bad, just like we do.

[sminority]

We're moving to Singapore in the next 6 weeks and I'm curious of what startup costs we should expect to incur. Utilities, maid fees for a transfer maid, internet, cable, cell phone? Do you have to put a minimum down for the MRT and bus pass? Can you even get a buss pass or is it by use?

start up cost
Public transport : purchase a ez-link card. it cost S$7, which is a unrefundable deposit. top up whatever amount you require. a simple bus trip from one end of singapore to the other, would cost you less than S$3.
same as for the trains. Both the trains and buses uses the same card. purchase the card from transit link offices found at major bus interchange or train stations. A bus pass would cost you something around $80 a month. entirely depends on your usuage.

Utilities, internet, cable and cell phone : all require non-citizens to put a deposit ranging from $200-$500 depending on provider, subsequently, your monthly bills will be mailed to you. there are various providers for internet, cable and cellphone. m1, starhub, singtel are the large and reputable ones in singapore. utilities wise, there aint much for you to choose from. check with your landlord on utilities billing.

Maid : there is a levy and cost. you can find it out when you relocate to singapore as you'll have to look for an agency and go down personally to select your choice of helper. the counter staff will provide you with all the information.

[BillyB]

We're moving to Singapore in the next 6 weeks and I'm curious of what startup costs we should expect to incur. Utilities, maid fees for a transfer maid, internet, cable, cell phone? Do you have to put a minimum down for the MRT and bus pass? Can you even get a buss pass or is it by use?

start up cost
Public transport : purchase a ez-link card. it cost S$7, which is a unrefundable deposit. top up whatever amount you require. a simple bus trip from one end of singapore to the other, would cost you less than S$3.
same as for the trains. Both the trains and buses uses the same card. purchase the card from transit link offices found at major bus interchange or train stations. A bus pass would cost you something around $80 a month. entirely depends on your usuage.

Utilities, internet, cable and cell phone : all require non-citizens to put a deposit ranging from $200-$500 depending on provider, subsequently, your monthly bills will be mailed to you. there are various providers for internet, cable and cellphone. m1, starhub, singtel are the large and reputable ones in singapore. utilities wise, there aint much for you to choose from. check with your landlord on utilities billing.

Maid : there is a levy and cost. you can find it out when you relocate to singapore as you'll have to look for an agency and go down personally to select your choice of helper. the counter staff will provide you with all the information.

Your situation is in complete contrast to mine. I have Starhub and Singtel for internet, phoneline and TV, Starhub for my mobile, my Girlfriend is on M1 for mobile and we didn't have to pay any deposit at all for any of the services.

And with utilities, you almost always have to take it out in your name as its seldom included in the overall rent. Therefore you are responsible for the $500 dollar deposit. And I didn't know there were any other suppliers other than SP services who look after the gas, electric and water in one combined account.

Be interesting to see what other people have had to pay upfront for services.

[Mad Scientist]

[quote="Laxidasical I just find Mad Scientist to be a bit snarky at times. Sometimes it is warranted, but often it is not.[/quote]

ME SNARKY !!! Well thanks a bunch after all the help I have provided. The problem with you is you think your questions cannot be found in this forum and yours is a special case which is IN FACT a daily occurence here. All I said is search first and read up as this is a common question there is nothing special to it. You would have to do the same with or without this forum and do the legwork wouldn't you?
If you are coming from overseas and joining here as FT for sure your future employer sees you as having high grade intelligence which the locals does not have?
Hundreds for sure , came for help and advise here in this forum were I tried my upmost best to provide the information that I have accumulated over many years, Be it in the open or via PM, hands in the hats. Some disgruntled because of issues which is illegal and I refuse to provide. most of them once they got what they need , they do not even bother to say thank you. Just disappear into oblivion. Only a few did manage to say "thanks"
The ones that gets me are those that blamed me for their predicaments after taking my advise which they claimed are much worse than before or curse me for not wanting to help them in dodgy ways. I am not a mind reader and if those that seek help refuse to reveal their actual situation,it will be hard to provide exact info
So you can understand why sometimes I am snarky.The advise I have is free and I am not one who will provide wrong info. If I did, I will apologise for my error. But yet again those noobs and newbies must have not able to find anything that can alleviate their woes hence they come here. This forum is so great with its wealth of info. You should be able to help yourself as it is all up there. Of course there are many a times question raised is not available and yes the regulars here will try their best to point you the right direction
You should try sgforum or expatsingapore and see how you can retrieve infos yourself and even if you manage to get the regulars there to reply to you, the infos they have are very limited and sometimes the foul language they use is incredible. So laxadiscal, thank you for your comments but I have been called worse than that just for refusing to render my help

[JR8]

I've been stalking this board for almost 6 months now. I've read just about every forum post for the past couple of years on things that pertain to me. I also notice that prices in Singapore inflate quite regularly as I've seen rents go up $800 on certain properties in the last 6 weeks.

I spent 2 hours looking at Singtel and Starhub's packages. I couldn't find information that specifically stated if there was a deposit. I didn't know M1 existed. Thanks for the info.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but when emigrating to a new country without having never been there and trying to get the lay of the land (virtually), there is a lot to try to keep track of. Many of the singapore company websites have less than stellar usability, so oftentimes finding information is time consuming. I just find Mad Scientist to be a bit snarky at times. Sometimes it is warranted, but often it is not.

You better watch it with your snarky comments son, they won't go down well at all. 50/50 you've just dug your own grave.

If you need answers get on the phone rather than expecting free custom advice handed out here on demand.

[BillyB]

For once I agree with the OP. Yes, they could have helped themselves and there is no need for ars*y comments, but it took me 30 seconds to write the reply and it would have taken MS longer than that to dig out the threads and write his paragraph.

This isn't directed at either of you - JR8 and MS - as you actively contribute both light hearted and informative stuff and I like the banter. But some people on this forum think they are on a pedestal and are arrogant beyond belief. They don't contribute freely and certainly won't help people out, and only seem to contribute in a negative fashion or to belittle someone, or to prove their 'so-called' intelligence.

It's a forum, not a Harvard debating society.