How much condo or house space?

[xmarcus]

For an 'average' expat (if there is such a thing), how much space can you expect in your condo?

Assuming you are in a 'nice' building with a not too outrageous commute, how much space would the average expat have?

I know this varies with income, etc. What space would you get with a salary of 100K SGD? 150K, 200K?

And would most expats live in condos? Are houses with yards just outrageously expensive?

I'm just looking to get a general feel of what one could expect if moving to SG.

Thanks.

[sundaymorningstaple]

For an 'average' expat (if there is such a thing), how much space can you expect in your condo?

Assuming you are in a 'nice' building with a not too outrageous commute, how much space would the average expat have?

What is your definition of nice? Or outrageous commute? I know people who used to commute from NYC to Washington DC on the train every day. Here you can traverse the widest part of the Island in less than an hour using public transport.

I know this varies with income, etc. What space would you get with a salary of 100K SGD? 150K, 200K?

This has got to be the strangest question I've seen here in a long time. It doesn't vary with income, but with needs. Does a family of DINKS needs a 4 bedroom house? Can a family of 6 live in a 2 bedroom house? Are either dependent on Gross income? One family might baulk at paying 15% of their income for rental, while another might be happy with 35%. Not enough info, I'm afraid. At any rate, it also depends on how close to the city centre, how old the units are (the older they are the larger they are)

And would most expats live in condos? Are houses with yards just outrageously expensive?

Yes & yes, but again, what do you consider outrageously expensive? At at what income level to you consider it so? See the problem, we don't have a crystal ball. Not enough data, and we are not mind readers. Would you baulk at paying 12K/month for rent? how about 3.5K? less than that? 2K will put you into a nice HDB Flat of around 1300 sq/ft.

I'm just looking to get a general feel of what one could expect if moving to SG.

Why don't you have a look at our hosts site here. They have a wide range of available units and prices at different locations. That and Google Maps will do you pretty good.

Thanks.

sms

[xmarcus]

Thanks for the response. Sorry for the vague question.

A door to door commute of 45 min to 1 hour is fine.

In NY, I think a budget guideline is 35% of net income can be spent on housing. Assuming this holds for SG... I'd say the yearly rental budget ranges would be 35K (100K salary) - 70K (200K salary).

We are looking for something for my wife and I, our 1.5 year old daughter, and perhaps another one on the way !

"Nice" is harder to describe I suppose. My standard would be what's considered a "nice" flat for a typical NYC yuppie (like me ).

[x9200]

Again with the "nice" thing being very subjective it makes rather ~40-45% for me.

[zzm9980]

I know "NYC Yuppies"* that love older flats with "character" that need work in Red Hook - they'd get along just fine in that $2k/month HDB - and others who need Restoration Hardware-style furnishings in Upper West Side - they're going to be looking at $5k+ minimum in Orchard/Somerset.

This for a 2 bedroom.

*- (Actually I don't; but I'm a former Chicago and Bay Area 'yuppy' myself, so close enough?)