$100k per annum enough to rent a condo ?

[Live For the thrill]

Hi there,

Moving to Singapore in a month from south Africa. Salary Is around $100k per annum. It's just my wife and I moving. We are a young couple.

I have 2 questions:

1. Is this salary enough to rent a condo for about $3000 - $3500 and still live decent ? Decent implies eat out 1ce or twice a week, save enough for a bit of travel etc around Asia.

2. My wife is coming on a dependants pass - she has app. 2 years h.r. Experience at a good company in S.A.m - how hard is it for a foreigner arriving with a dependants pass to get a job in Singapore ?

Thanks a lot.

[BillyB]

For question 1.)

8.3k per month - 3.5k (Rent) - 600pm ish (Tax allocation) = 4.3k remaining.

I don't know about other liabilities you have, but assuming none you'll be ok on 4k disposable to cover living expenses.

[dragon27]

As long as you don't buy a new car you should be fine.

[Live For the thrill]

Thank you for the replies and apologies for the delayed response.

From doing research, below are my forseen expenses from month to month. Please can someone let me know me if I am being realistic or not:

rent: s$ 3300
utilities: s$ 200
transport: s$ 400 (public transport, MRT)
groceries / food: s$ 1000
going out: s$ 500 (( We like to socialise and go out)

miscellaneous (gym/cable): s$ 300

i dont think I am leaving anything out. This leaves me with disposable income. I dont plan on getting a car this year.

I would appreciate any comments.

Thanks kind people

[zzm9980]

Sounds OK. Maybe a bit more for cable and gym, depending on how nice of a gym you choose. This being based off my Singtel bill of just under S$200 a month for home internet, the most basic TV package, and two mobile lines (second lowers/$50 package on each)

[Live For the thrill]

Thanks for the advice! It really helps to ease the uncertainty of a big move.

s$200 for home internet seems alot

I have one more thing that I would like to find out...

My wife and I are aggressively looking for jobs for her,at the moment, remotely from SA. She is qualified in H.R. but we are looking in all fields, purely so that she is not bored. She has a DP.

From doing research and looking at info online - it seems that it is quite hard for a foreigner with a dependants pass to get a job. True/ False

can you provide any info, tips, advice, (jobs ) that would help on this??

[nakatago]

From doing research and looking at info online - it seems that it is quite hard for a foreigner with a dependants pass to get a job. True/ False

can you provide any info, tips, advice, (jobs ) that would help on this??

Partly because most companies don't understand how it works. You can try searching for intellectualmuse's posts about her adventures on job hunting on a DP.

[Live For the thrill]

Excellent... Thanx. Will do!

[zzm9980]

s$200 for home internet seems alot

It's Internet, TV, and two mobile phone lines. Individually it would be ~$65, ~$60, ~59x2

[sundaymorningstaple]

I'm currently paying around 218~220/mo with Starhub. TV with 5 groups & 2 extra single channels w/2 set top boxes, MaxInfinity fibre 200 Mbps Broadband, one mobile with 12 GB data & one land line (both ported over from Singtel).

[AjitS]

Im currently looking for a condo and 3300 seems doable if you want a studio or small 1 bed but may not get a great deal more than that, obviously dependig on the standard and area of condo... If you get condo with a decent gym you wont need to pay anything for gym membership so you me be able to take that out of you budget.

Travel costs seems about right if your place of work is central and you live slightly outside of central. But if you work outside of central area you may be able to get a condo near by and possible half transport costs.

Still very new and learning the ropes so dont put to much weight against my advice.

[Live For the thrill]

@nakatgo - went through intellectualmuse's posts - quite helpful, thanks for the direction.

@ajits - yes. I will be working in raffles place / central area. Looking for something in the east coast or district 4 or 5. Orchard and the central business district are way too expensive. I've seen decent 2 bed condos on the east coast for around 3500 sgd. not sure what the mrt situation is like in the areas. Keep me posted...

- I plan to arrive, stay in a hotel for a week ( already booked) and use this time to find a place near a mrt, good area, within my budget. I'm holding thumbs anyway.

[zzm9980]

I've seen decent 2 bed condos on the east coast for around 3500 sgd. not sure what the mrt situation is like in the areas.

Depends where the condo is, but not too great overall. You'll probably be better with a bus, but again depends where. In my experiences, EW MRT (Green line) is packed too tight east of Paya Lebar in the morning, you'll struggle to get on. It's still tight west of Paya Lebar, but enough people get off there that you can usually fight your way on.

The busses (196/196e) can get tight too, unless you get on east of Marine Parade/Siglap.

[carteki]

Don't forget tax! You'll probably work out at around 9% / so - but it is only payable at the end of the year (its not deducted from your salary) so worth putting that aside each month so you're not caught short at year end.

I was in SA earlier this year. I think you'll find food costs (incl Hawker Centres) on a par (although lesser quality here). Eating out (other than Hawker centres) is expensive. A coffee in Starbucks in SG will set you back S$6 / so - which is R36. The BIG thing you'll find is the increase in alcohol prices - so bring over your full allowance with you. Wine starts at $15 - $20 a bottle in the supermarkets.

Remember you'll also need (at least) 1 month rent for your deposit along with $500 for a electricity deposit.

[Live For the thrill]

Thanks for the advice. I didnt know that the tax was only payable at the end of the year.

To get me settled in singapore my company is providing me s$ 8000 upfront to cover some hotel accom and the deposit for the first months rental etc.

Definately going to bring along my maximum alcohol allowance

In response to zzm9980's post:
Are there any areas that can be receommended for condo rental with good transportation, that is not overcrowded?