Moving to Singapore - Budget Question

[celtic]

I'm doing my best not to have my first post be a "rate my expat package" one, but I've been trying to estimate a rough monthly budget for Singapore and would greatly appreciate any feedback - have I left anything out or is it even realistic?

Anyways, I'm mid 20's - would be on my own (no kids), taking home SGD pre-tax 7500/month - excluding all housing, utilities, relocation, etc. which would be taken care of by the company. My goal would be to save approx. SGD 3,500 month, so here goes:


Food/Going out 2-3x a week: 1200
Cable: 100
Transport - MRT, a few cabs: 175
Travel/Misc.: 500
Expenses back home: 300

Total: 2275

I'm not a huge spender and have been pretty liberal with these amounts, can any of you with experience comment on whether this is realistic? Many thanks!

[JR8]

I'm doing my best not to have my first post be a "rate my expat package" one, but I've been trying to estimate a rough monthly budget for Singapore and would greatly appreciate any feedback - have I left anything out or is it even realistic?

Anyways, I'm mid 20's - would be on my own (no kids), taking home SGD pre-tax 7500/month - excluding all housing, utilities, relocation, etc. which would be taken care of by the company. My goal would be to save approx. SGD 3,500 month, so here goes:


Hi Celtic, welcome to the forum!
Having noted carefully what you say above, my 2c is (this is off the top of my head, others will throw in their varying 2c's as well I expect...)


Food/Going out 2-3x a week: 1200

Daily food (brekko at home $2?, say $7 lunch in the CBD, $6 dinner from hawker centre) = 450
Going out (hard to guage given personal tastes (and how you weegies are fond of getting well lashed lol)). Your remaining budget on this line is $75 a pop @ 2.5x a week. Easily doable if blending quiter nights out eating and having a beer at say $30, and longer ones at $100+. Alcohol is v expensive, so if you lash it up, it will add up!


Cable: 100

Don't remember, sounds in the ballpark though.

Transport - MRT, a few cabs: 175

Depending on where you live, work day MRTs/buses say $60? A 'few cabs'? Yes it will go within the budget. But start doing late night taxis home from nights out, 2-3 times a week and expect that figure to rise.

Travel/Misc.: 500

Laundry $150? Taxis to fro airport say an average $20-30 a time. Doesn't leave much for travel (as in breaks/holidays).

Expenses back home: 300

Total: 2275

I'm not a huge spender and have been pretty liberal with these amounts, can any of you with experience comment on whether this is realistic? Many thanks!

You're in the ballpark for the circumstances you describe. Your package is very very livable. It is really going to come down to how hard you're going to party, and what kind of budget you're happy with travelling (and let's face it, one major incentive of moving to SG is to be able to explore the region).

You can also use the search button under the profile button, and try relevant searches (terms: cost of living, expenses, package, etc).

[Normally people would suggest such an OP start with the search function, but you've done your homework, and described your expectations, so that just makes replying easy. Oh and you're a Brit too, albeit a Sweaty

[durain]

housing is one of the biggest drain on your income and if you are exlcuding that, you are saving a lot.

[facibus]

I'm doing my best not to have my first post be a "rate my expat package" one, but I've been trying to estimate a rough monthly budget for Singapore and would greatly appreciate any feedback - have I left anything out or is it even realistic?

Anyways, I'm mid 20's - would be on my own (no kids), taking home SGD pre-tax 7500/month - excluding all housing, utilities, relocation, etc. which would be taken care of by the company. My goal would be to save approx. SGD 3,500 month, so here goes:


Food/Going out 2-3x a week: 1200
Cable: 100
Transport - MRT, a few cabs: 175
Travel/Misc.: 500
Expenses back home: 300

Total: 2275

I'm not a huge spender and have been pretty liberal with these amounts, can any of you with experience comment on whether this is realistic? Many thanks!

Hey,

a couple of clarifying questions:
- does "utilities" include mobile phone? Once you've got your EP/local address and so on then you can get a postpaid plan (SGD40-60/month is reasonable)
- does "utilities" include home internet? SGD100/month should be plenty for 100 cable channels AND a decent chunk of high speed broadband even at the expat limited length contract rate.

SGD300/week seems a little light on for going out - if it is three beers and a chickenburger in an Irish pub three times a week then that is plenty - if it is a decent night out drinking with dinner then late night snacks you may need to allocate more. I grant you may not drink as much as I do

Cheers, Andrew