My job is going to Singapore

[Z2H]

Hi all

My current position in the UK will be outsourced to Singapore in the near future. If possible I would like to not lose my job and am considering my employers offer to relocate and carry on over there. I work as an engineer in the semiconductor industry and have 2 years experience. I've been offered 4300SD. Obviously my first questions are is this reasonable, and will I be able to live comfortably (just myself). My work site would be towards the east coast so I'd probably have to live in that area.
Any advice is most welcome.
Thanks.

[zzm9980]

Hi all

My current position in the UK will be outsourced to Singapore in the near future. If possible I would like to not lose my job and am considering my employers offer to relocate and carry on over there. I work as an engineer in the semiconductor industry and have 2 years experience. I've been offered 4300SD. Obviously my first questions are is this reasonable, and will I be able to live comfortably (just myself). My work site would be towards the east coast so I'd probably have to live in that area.
Any advice is most welcome.
Thanks.

It'll be very tight on that amount. The very cheapest you'll be able to rent on your own (without a room mate) would be half your salary. We'll call it at $500 for utilities, mobile phone, internet, and bus/train fare per month also. Taxes at that salary would be minimal, but let's say $150 a month just to be safe (there is no withholding, this is what you'd owe the following year). So you now have S$1500 per month for everything else, including your food. If you eat well, thats all of it right there. Nothing left either for smoking, drinking, or girls (or guys if thats your thing). If you have a roommate, or eat only in hawker centers, you can make the money stretch a bit farther. It's up to your lifestyle. People definitely live on that amount per month, but not middle-class English lifestyles.

I'd suggest asking for more, or seeing if any kind of allowances are included.

[ecureilx]

..

plus on a shared living you may bring down rental

in your line you need to ask other allowances ... benefits

in my line we get 90% subsidized flight tickets, on standby, for example. these maybe added incentives generally not mentioned in salary offer

plus, medical can cost a bit or nothing depending upon your employer

the amount is livable but tight, and forget vacation or travel home during peak season etc

[PNGMK]

Hi all

My current position in the UK will be outsourced to Singapore in the near future. If possible I would like to not lose my job and am considering my employers offer to relocate and carry on over there. I work as an engineer in the semiconductor industry and have 2 years experience. I've been offered 4300SD. Obviously my first questions are is this reasonable, and will I be able to live comfortably (just myself). My work site would be towards the east coast so I'd probably have to live in that area.
Any advice is most welcome.
Thanks.

Pretty low but manageable for a single guy - esp. if you need to keep your resume going...

[nutnut]

The big thing is, can you put up with living in a shared apartment? if so then it's ok, a room alone will be around $1500 in a nice place with electricity/water/etc bills.

[Wd40]

My suggestion would be, look at it from your career point of view. You are just 2 years experienced and very formative stage of your career. Do you see great prospects over here for your kinda role in the semiconductor industry? If yes, then take it. Salarywise it seems right for your experience, for Singapore standards.

Also think about how long you want to stay here and do you see a way to get back into the UK job market after your stint here is over.

[ohmz52]

It's not enough unless you're getting your rent paid.
You could get by but just about.

...but what do I know, I don't even live in SG (yet) nor have I been there.

My advice is to negotiate if possible. Ask for 5-6k

[ecureilx]

It's not enough unless you're getting your rent paid.
You could get by but just about.

...but what do I know, I don't even live in SG (yet) nor have I been there.

My advice is to negotiate if possible. Ask for 5-6k

yeah, I am curious to know for that kind of pay offer Expat benefits apply ..

[Wd40]

It's not enough unless you're getting your rent paid.
You could get by but just about.

...but what do I know, I don't even live in SG (yet) nor have I been there.

My advice is to negotiate if possible. Ask for 5-6k

OP's job has been "outsourced".

[bro75]

Your salary is good for a 2 year engineer in the semicon industry in Singapore but I am not sure if you can be comfortable on that salary based on your current lifestyle. You can rent a room alone in a 3BR condominium for about 800SGD to 1500 SGD. Make sure your employer provides comprehensive health insurance since health costs are expensive here. A car will be unaffordable on that salary.

[Beeroclock]

It's not enough unless you're getting your rent paid.
You could get by but just about.

...but what do I know, I don't even live in SG (yet) nor have I been there.

My advice is to negotiate if possible. Ask for 5-6k

yeah, I am curious to know for that kind of pay offer Expat benefits apply ..

Theoretically I think many companies will say expat benefits are not salary dependent, but depend if hiring manager can convince HR that the specific skills/capability being sought can not be filled in local market. That must be quite rare nowadays unless it's a real niche job. Also in the big MNC's they could justify expat terms for development moves for grooming "future leaders", to give them the overseas experience.

But as a general rule of thumb I'd guess that full expat benefits (housing, schooling etc) would be very rare if salary less than $8-10k/month.

[Barnsley]

It's not enough unless you're getting your rent paid.
You could get by but just about.

...but what do I know, I don't even live in SG (yet) nor have I been there.

My advice is to negotiate if possible. Ask for 5-6k

If he gets a decent room to rent in a flat then he will be fine.

He will be working like hell anyway so he wont have time to piss his money up the wall.

[PNGMK]

Get a motorcycle licence ASAP if you plan to come over. That's the only affordable private tranportation.

[noskich]

Not sure why most ppl here automatically assume that if someone is coming from a Western country, say like in this case the UK, their lifestyle is for sure better than the lifestyle of an average Singaporean and thus costly to replicate in Singapore? This poor chap, if he lives in London god forbid, half of his salary would vanish for a modest accommodation and the rest goes for food, transport and utilities.

[PrimroseHill]

Wrong order -noskich.
If the person works in London, most of his income will be spent on tax, then NI, train into London, unless he/she lives within Zones 1/2. Finally maybe food, accomodation