Boon Lay or Bukit Batok?

[Marlipal]

Dear All,

Moving to Singapore soon, I would like some advices concerning my location choice. I will work in Tuas, and to avoid too long commute time, I am thinking to Boon Lay, Bukit Batok or Clementi.
What is the best town (activities, aspect, facilities, shopping malls, etc.)?
Do you think it will be possible to find an apartment (non shared) below 2500SGD in these areas?
If you think about other convenient location to commute to Tuas, please tell me!

Thanks!

[the lynx]

Dear All,

Moving to Singapore soon, I would like some advices concerning my location choice. I will work in Tuas, and to avoid too long commute time, I am thinking to Boon Lay, Bukit Batok or Clementi.
What is the best town (activities, aspect, facilities, shopping malls, etc.)?
Do you think it will be possible to find an apartment (non shared) below 2500SGD in these areas?
If you think about other convenient location to commute to Tuas, please tell me!

Thanks!

Tuas is a very very big place. It can make or break your commute depending where it is (and where you are coming from).

Boon Lay/Jurong West/Jurong East is industrial area so there's nothing interesting. Rental over there is more focused on foreign workers who work around that area so it tends to be cheaper than Clementi. Only one decent shopping mall with cinema, one International School (CIS) and that's all. Jurong Bird Park and Discovery Centre may be your saviour for sight-seeing and entertainment. Drinking? Would drinking Tiger beer at coffee shops at HDB area count?

Clementi is the most expensive between the three, probably because it is closer to the city and the uppity areas (Bukit Timah, Holland Village etc). But there is where one get to experience more 'life' in terms of choices of dining, malls and watering holes.

Bukit Batok is somewhere in between when it comes to overall balance. Not too expensive, not too cheap either (and probably won't be for long because it is close to Upper Bukit Timah and Hillview area and these areas are landmarked for the new Downtown Line. Taking MRT from there may be a hassle as you need to change the train at Jurong East to get to Tuas area (unless you are lucky to stay at a spot where you can get a direct bus to your destination).

That's all I can think of now. Good night!

[x9200]

Dear All,

Moving to Singapore soon, I would like some advices concerning my location choice. I will work in Tuas, and to avoid too long commute time, I am thinking to Boon Lay, Bukit Batok or Clementi.

What is the best town (activities, aspect, facilities, shopping malls, etc.)?
Do you think it will be possible to find an apartment (non shared) below 2500SGD in these areas?
If you think about other convenient location to commute to Tuas, please tell me!

Thanks!

If you mean like in vicinity of the respective MRT stations....

Boon Lay: there is one huge shopping mall over there and it's a good one. You should probably be able to find something reasonable within your budget. Eating out in Jurong Point (many options) or in some rather isolated spots within the HDB estates. A bit further South there is Jurong Birds (and Reptiles) Park. It is pretty relaxed and relatively new neighborhood. Not much is going on over there.

Clementi: You may have problems with your budget but who knows. It is more downtown so more attraction but in the direct surrounding not too much of anything including shopping places (Holland Village and Queenstown probably the closest). Some smaller clusters of shops and coffee shops are there too. Probably the only advantage of this place is that it is more central so if you are into inns and pubs you travel less for a better choice.

Bukit Batok: you should manage with your budget, one average quality shopping mall (West Mall); in some areas big clusters of small shops and eating places; there are some really nice parks (Bukit Batok, Timah and Gombak) in the surrounding. It is an older and surprisingly busy area. Lots of people etc. If you plan to travel to work by MRT you will need to transit in Jurong East Interchange.

From these 3 location personally I would chose Boon Lay.

[Marlipal]

Hi!
Clementi seems better in a lifestyle point of view, I will however avoid as it is the most expensive location (don't want to rent common room or other shared flats, but I also don't want to trash my salary in a costly rental).
So remain Bukit Batok and Boon Lay... Being cheap, Boon Lay is interesting, and there is a direct bus line to my company, only 30min commute if SBS website's time simulation is accurate. In another hand, Bukit Batok seems more funny to live in, so I will also consider this town, provided that rental fee remain within my budget.
Thanks to Lynx and x9200 for your useful advices!

[x9200]

Depends what do you mean by or require for your life style. Clementi has not a iote of lifestyle as per my understanding of this term. BTW, what I described above as Clementi was actually a vicinity of Buona Vista / Commonwealth MRT. Clementi is further West and even less attractive.

[Marlipal]

Depends what do you mean by or require for your life style. Clementi has not a iote of lifestyle as per my understanding of this term. BTW, what I described above as Clementi was actually a vicinity of Buona Vista / Commonwealth MRT. Clementi is further West and even less attractive.

By lifestyle, I mean town's aspect, shopping malls, walks, facilities, night life, etc. I guess that Buona Vista is much more expensive than Clementi, being more central....

[x9200]

Yes, more expensive. For all you mentioned Boon Lay still wins IMO over Clementi. For all the 3 location not really any night life. Not sure where you could walk for pleasure in Clementi - probably alongside of the Ulu Pandan Sungei. In Boon Lay pretty close by there are Chinese and Japanese Gardens. Nice places to walk. Bukit Batok with all the parks is the best in IMO in that respect. Clement still loses and only wins IMO if you have a need to go to the center more frequently.

[Marlipal]

So Boon Lay or Bukit Batok, definitely!
I already take a look with google maps's street view, but it is difficult to choose... So I'll visit both these towns when I'll be there!
Thanks for your support!

[x9200]

Consider also buses - they are good if not better in terms of service quality to MRT. I would start with checking what buses go to/from your working place and then just took a ride to see what's inhabitable on their way. You may also check with your employer/colleagues if they have any other option for transportation - typically there are a lot of private buses/companies bringing people in and out to Tuas.

[Nailah]

BOON LAY of course. Bukit Batok is considered far-flung from Tuas by Singapore standard.

I live in Jurong (where Boon Lay and Tuas are). We're talking about a country when a drive from the city centre to Jurong takes about 20-odd mins - without traffic jam.

[x9200]

BOON LAY of course. Bukit Batok is considered far-flung from Tuas by Singapore standard.

I live in Jurong (where Boon Lay and Tuas are). We're talking about a country when a drive from the city centre to Jurong takes about 20-odd mins - without traffic jam.

Let me be advocatus diaboli but this VERY depends on your location within the districts, your means of travel and time you go to work. If you live in Bukit Batok areas adjacent to PIE you will likely be faster in Tuas than starting from Boon Lay being located around i.e. Jurong Point (JP). All what it takes is a few mins difference along AYE. This few minutes it is what it will cost you to get to AYE from JP via Jln BL or Pioneer Rd N.

[Nailah]

Oh ya, forgot to ask if the OP is actually driving.

If not driving, then its still Boon Lay over Bt Batok...

Let me be advocatus diaboli but this VERY depends on your location within the districts, your means of travel and time you go to work. If you live in Bukit Batok areas adjacent to PIE you will likely be faster in Tuas than starting from Boon Lay being located around i.e. Jurong Point (JP). All what it takes is a few mins difference along AYE. This few minutes it is what it will cost you to get to AYE from JP via Jln BL or Pioneer Rd N.

[Marlipal]

I will not drive in SG, for the fisrt years at least... And I think choosing Bukit Batok and hiring a taxi two time a day + highway would be very expensive. A fare simulator indicated around 20S$, excluding peak hours charges, toll way...

[the lynx]

If you are not driving, Jurong area (Boon Lay) would be the best option. That way you can just rely on MRTs or buses and only come up with less than $2 of fares per way.

[Marlipal]

I will focus on Boon Lay so.. Even if from posts Bukit seems more funny to live in.
By the way, is it easy to find taxis in Tuas at 5-7.00PM?