New in Singapore, some housing tips please

[michaelknight00]

Hi everyone,

I will move in Singapore for work this October after 3 years in Shanghai, so I am looking for a nice place to stay in Singapore

My offices will be around the metro stations EW13/NS25 and CC3 (basically in Downtown), my budget is 1000-1500 SG$ for a flat sharing room (hate living alone)

So few questions I have:
- What are the main differences between the SG districts?
- I would like to be close to a Metro station, but how are the buses in the morning here? (ie trafic jam?)
- Is it easy to ride a bicycle here?
- What is the average budget for a flat sharing room here? I know it is a stupid question, but I just want a rough idea.

Thanks a lot for your feedbacks!!

[beppi]

- What are the main differences between the SG districts?
The distance from downtown.
Other than that, not much.

- I would like to be close to a Metro station, but how are the buses in the morning here? (ie trafic jam?)
Depends on your location.
At the start of a bus line, you might get a seat. In the Metro (MRT) not.

- Is it easy to ride a bicycle here?
It is possible, I did it for years.
But most others think it is insane to do so.

- What is the average budget for a flat sharing room here? I know it is a stupid question, but I just want a rough idea.
Reasonable rooms with AC and bath start at S$800-1000, more near your workplace.

[x9200]

Hi everyone,

I will move in Singapore for work this October after 3 years in Shanghai, so I am looking for a nice place to stay in Singapore

My offices will be around the metro stations EW13/NS25 and CC3 (basically in Downtown), my budget is 1000-1500 SG$ for a flat sharing room (hate living alone)

So few questions I have:
- What are the main differences between the SG districts?


- price of the rental
- expat's density
- a bit of infrastructure

- I would like to be close to a Metro station, but how are the buses in the morning here? (ie trafic jam?)

All public transportation is pretty good and reliable

- Is it easy to ride a bicycle here?

Some people do it. Some say it's even safer than in Europe

- What is the average budget for a flat sharing room here? I know it is a stupid question, but I just want a rough idea.

500-2500. With your budget you should be ok with the 3 persons shared apartment of reasonable quality.

[the lynx]

Hi everyone,

I will move in Singapore for work this October after 3 years in Shanghai, so I am looking for a nice place to stay in Singapore

My offices will be around the metro stations EW13/NS25 and CC3 (basically in Downtown), my budget is 1000-1500 SG$ for a flat sharing room (hate living alone)

So few questions I have:
- What are the main differences between the SG districts?

Distance to the heart of the city.
Types of districts (industrial, residential, restricted, nature etc)
Expat density (like x92 said)

- I would like to be close to a Metro station, but how are the buses in the morning here? (ie trafic jam?)

Depending on where you're staying and where you're intending to go. Some buses can be much better than MRTs during rush hour. So you need to study the network map and try a few rounds.

- Is it easy to ride a bicycle here?

Yeah. Some people do that. But some roads are off-bicycle such as highways and crossing main roads using pedestrian bridges that are not bicycle-friendly can be quite a pain. Study your route.

- What is the average budget for a flat sharing room here? I know it is a stupid question, but I just want a rough idea.

Well it all depends on where you live. A single room in HDB in far flung areas can be as cheap as SGD400 per month (with utilities included but without air con) and a single room in a condo in prime area can go up to SGD1.5K (even without counting in utilities). Your average HDB room in typical locations should be between SGD550 to 750.

Thanks a lot for your feedbacks!!

[michaelknight00]

Thanks a lot guys!
I will post more questions if I have!

[the lynx]

My offices will be around the metro stations EW13/NS25 and CC3 (basically in Downtown), my budget is 1000-1500 SG$ for a flat sharing room (hate living alone).

I just realised I missed this point.

You would mean City Hall station and Esplanade station from the station codes above.

SGD1000 to 1500 can get you a very nice HDB room around Tiong Bahru station, Redhill station (on EW line - west) and Kallang station (on EW line - east). Bishan station and Toa Payoh station (NS line) would be good too.

If you are lucky, you will find landlords who will throw in air-con privileges with that range, flat rate. Otherwise, other landlords in general will want to count the utilities separately each month (even without air-con). Depends on your negotiation.

You can start from there.

[michaelknight00]

Thanks again!

[v4jr4]

My offices will be around the metro stations EW13/NS25 and CC3 (basically in Downtown), my budget is 1000-1500 SG$ for a flat sharing room (hate living alone).

I just realised I missed this point.

You would mean City Hall station and Esplanade station from the station codes above.

SGD1000 to 1500 can get you a very nice HDB room around Tiong Bahru station, Redhill station (on EW line - west) and Kallang station (on EW line - east). Bishan station and Toa Payoh station (NS line) would be good too.

If you are lucky, you will find landlords who will throw in air-con privileges with that range, flat rate. Otherwise, other landlords in general will want to count the utilities separately each month (even without air-con). Depends on your negotiation.

You can start from there.

Since OP hates to live alone, Bedok is pretty lively. Food heaven

[nakatago]

Since OP hates to live alone, Bedok is pretty lively. Food heaven

Since when?!

[v4jr4]

Since OP hates to live alone, Bedok is pretty lively. Food heaven

Since when?!

Since I found 1S$ soto mee around bedok food court

Or Katong is better?

[nakatago]

It's like anecdote told to me.

"They have the best chicken rice in Singapore!"
"What makes them the best?"
"They're cheap."

[zzm9980]

OP will be much better off as a young single male where Lynx suggested (primarily Tiong Bahru/Redhill) than Bedok...

[the lynx]

OP will be much better off as a young single male where Lynx suggested (primarily Tiong Bahru/Redhill) than Bedok...

Did OP said that he's young single and male? I did not know that...

[michaelknight00]

Wait wait wait guys lol

OP didn't say anything about the fact that he is single and male (let's say he is ahah), but OP is interested in knowing what he can find in Tiong Bahru/Redhill for example (ahhh curiosity), as OP doesn't particularly want to live in a dirty place

Thanks

[sundaymorningstaple]

Well, we could be forgiven for thinking so, considering your nick and the fact that you don't like to live alone, therefore thinking of a shared flat. :-/