Singapore questions thread

[slimboyfat]

Yes, sorry about that old chap.

[kingwilly]

Quote: Originally Posted by slimboyfat Thinking about a visit? Yes, but you're never there!

Yes, sorry about that old chap.

and he doesnt bother coming out for a beer when he is there anyway...

[Marmite the Dog]

and he doesnt bother coming out for a beer when he is there anyway...

What a rotter. I shall think of somewhere else to visit in August.

[kingwilly]

Quote: Originally Posted by slimboyfat Thinking about a visit? Yes, but you're never there!

Yes, sorry about that old chap.

and he doesnt bother coming out for a beer when he is there anyway...

Hey SBF, looks like you'll get a couple more chances to stand me up for a beer...

Asian (Aussie) Football Champs are on in Singapore this year, September 7-9th.

and MrsKW wants us to visit also, later that month...

[panama hat]

^
I agree with BF (there is no train station in Phuket anyway) but driving in Malaysia is easy and fuel is cheap.

Alas, no more . . . Petrol/Gas is now at RM2.70/litre after the government decided it was going to slash subsidies (how can an oil-exporting country be subsidising the stuff when the pump-cost was RM1.70?)

Still cheap compared to some other countries of course . . . Hi LoS!

[plorf]

I know some of my questions have already been answered in this thread, but it might be outdated so I'll just ask again:
1. Rent: has the situation improved somewhat or how much should you be prepared to pay for a 1 bedroom apt with good access to public transportation ?
2. General cost of living compared to Europe: Do you have any information on general expat salaries there ? My friend's planning to go there this summer, he's got a few offers already and will visit the place & companies this spring, but of course he'll have to discuss his salary as well.
I might have the chance next year, but still just looking around a bit.
I think he roughly earns about 100k USD in Switzerland, a very good salary if you're single, do you have any websites, info about salaries for young engineers ?
Appreciate your infos !

[plorf]

I've just partially answered my question about average salaries:
http://www.kellyservices.com.sg/res/...aryguide06.pdf
It's from 2006 with more better economic prospects but still useful to get an idea I think.

[Butterfly]

1. Rent: has the situation improved somewhat or how much should you be prepared to pay for a 1 bedroom apt with good access to public transportation ?

The speculation seems to have ended, not sure if there are any good deals. A lot of people are leaving so maybe more space for rent.

2. General cost of living compared to Europe: Do you have any information on general expat salaries there ? My friend's planning to go there this summer, he's got a few offers already and will visit the place & companies this spring, but of course he'll have to discuss his salary as well.

They are laying off a lot of expats apparently. It's pretty brutal from what I have heard. The "Brains" are leaving as they say. Not the best time to look for a job there. Moral is also pretty low.

I think he roughly earns about 100k USD in Switzerland, a very good salary if you're single, do you have any websites, info about salaries for young engineers ?

Engineer are 30% cheaper in Singapore than they are overseas, so he will have to compete with this in mind, unless he has special skills not found elsewhere.

[plorf]

Thanks for the answer, he is quite specialised, a swiss company would hire him there, he told me that in his specific field the Swiss and English completely dominate the market. Despite still being young he doesn't have to apply for jobs, he gets offers and could work anywhere else too. But of course he still has to be realistic with his expectations, just wants to have a rough assessment of what he'll have to spend as well.
But what would you expect to pay for a normal appartment near the business district or metro station etc. ? Just to get an idea.

[Butterfly]

near the business district, a nice apartment would start at 6,000 SGD

you could find better deals outside the "prime" location which are only for rich expats,

[plorf]

Ouch that is extremely expensive. So finding a more simple appartment in a good location should prove difficult then ?

[Butterfly]

^ it was cheap before, maybe 3,000 or 4,000 SGD, but after the boom, don't count on it

might take a while for price to re-adjust, most landlords there (greedy chinese) do not offer lease of more than 1 year, so they can double the rent at their will

Rent used to be regulated, but that was gone in 2005 I believe, hence the silly speculation

[TizMe]

I live and work out on the east side of Singapore. I pay $1,900 per month for a nice 1 bedroom apartment.

Check out https://teakdoor.com/singapore-travel-forum/35824-walking-in-my-neighbour-hood.html

There's also lots of reasonable HDB flats that can be rented for less if you don't require the tennis and squash courts or the gymnasium and swimming pool.

When I renewed my lease in September it was at the same rate as the previous 12 months.

Rumour is that rents will decline in the next year as vacancy rates rise due to expat layoffs resulting in many non-Singaporians leaving.

[plorf]

I don't need any facilities really, just a nice appartment with a kitchen, as I like to cook from times to times. I'll be going to Singapore for 2 days in march before flying to Bangkok and Bali, so I'll check out a few areas that appeal to me.
Thanks for the answers !

[panama hat]

I lived in Singapore for close to six years, until 2006.

Our home was in Bukit Timah, a nice, hilly and green area about 20 minutes from the centre of town and paid SGD3000/month. The condo has a very nice pool, squash and tennis courts, 3+1 bedrooms (One tiny cubbyhole meant for a maid, ours had one of the real bedrooms.

The landlord (one of these greedy Chinese) increased the rent the first year by SGD200, lowered it the next two years by SGD500 per year and left it the same for the remaining years we were there.

Our contract was a one plus one with diplomatic clause.

Never one problem with the apartment nor the landlord

[slimboyfat]

i don't think you could get that for your $3000 a month these days

[kingwilly]

what about golf?

[panama hat]

i don't think you could get that for your $3000 a month these days

Probably not, we left just as prices started to skyrocket

what about golf?

Not the one in Singapore, but our place here has a golf course as well as the other stuff . . . and a very good gym (which I can't be arsed usng at the moment) . . .

I don't know of any in Sing that have one.

[bustak]

Hey sbf. In a few weeks I'm going to travel from KL to Singapore on a Friday morning, arriving around noon, & I'll head back to KL the following day around 8:00 pm.

Basically what I want to do is eat a bunch of delicious Indian/Chinese food, see some action packed Chinese/Indian markets and go to a couple of cool clubs later on that night, while not spending a ton of cash.

Is it easy to do that w/ little time/baht?

Thanks a lot for any direction you can provide.

[slimboyfat]

Singapore is only 30 km wide so (once you actually get to Singapore) time is not an issue.

If you're expecting dirty, bustling markets like you get in most other Asian countries you can forget it. My threads around here somewhere on Chinatown and Little India show you pretty much what you can expect. Its interesting enough though and it is unlikely you will get robbed - except on the prices of things.

Money is an issue especially when it comes to buying your drinks in your cool clubs. Actually I dont go to cool clubs and I don't think they would have me. I think Butterfly goes to cool clubs when he is in Singapore so he might be able to help out there

But just to illustrate, a pint of Heineken at a 'reasonable' pub would set you back around $12 - thats around 275 baht. I think it is mostly the under 25s who go to clubs here anyway (and Butterfly). I did go to one once called Double O - because a friend works there - and I felt terribly old (I am 36)and left as soon as it was polite to do so. The drinks were cheap though so maybe it was aimed at the young and skint crowd.

[Butterfly]

Money is an issue especially when it comes to buying your drinks in your cool clubs. Actually I dont go to cool clubs and I don't think they would have me. I think Butterfly goes to cool clubs when he is in Singapore so he might be able to help out there

the club we went to have a drink (I know it was very early) was very reasonable ? big draft was like 12 SGD if I remember correctly ?

clubbing is a lot of fun there, and quite reasonable (12 SGD for a drink) and the girls are quite nice, I like it a lot. However, with the recent downturn, the club mood might not be as enjoyable.

I wouldn't mind moving to Singapore in the long term, maybe now that rents are back to reasonable level, I could investigate that option again.

[plorf]

I've recently visited Singapore twice, and after meeting up with some local girl who showed me around town a bit I have a few main issues with the place: (most not too surprising tho)
- Alcohol&nightlife: way too expensive, I am not much of a clubber, I like dirty pubs with loud music and the occasional drunk. Pubs there seem to be far too civilised, middle-aged gents sipping their beer at a table, absolutely no socialising, no excess or good music to be seen or heard anywhere. Am I wrong here ?
- Private transportation: According to this Sing girl it's extremely expensive to have your own car/motorbike. Can't remember the exact sum but something around 10k Sing Dollar per year just for the license ? I don't mind using private transportation but having my own motorbike is a necessity for me.
- Accomodation: I have the impression that rooms/appartments are generally overpriced and a bit remote. Not much to be found anywhere central for a reasonable price. I like to be surrounded by shops, food stalls, maybe a bar somewhere, just a bit of life without using the MRT. And apart from Little India and the Center most regions seem awfully lifeless in terms of people and facilities.

Care to comment ? I have to add that I do like Singapore but these 3 points really do bother me a bit.

[bustak]

thanks for the info guys!

Money is an issue especially when it comes to buying your drinks in your cool clubs. Actually I dont go to cool clubs and I don't think they would have me. I think Butterfly goes to cool clubs when he is in Singapore so he might be able to help out there

the club we went to have a drink (I know it was very early) was very reasonable ? big draft was like 12 SGD if I remember correctly

wow, 12 SGD (282 THB) is reasonable for a beer?

I think I'll skip the clubs, I don't like them that much. I'll buy a bottle of TIGER & wander the streets & snap some pictures. Wait a minute, is it legal to have an open bottle of beer on the street in SIN?

I found a guesthouse at this address:
3 Jalan Kubor, Singapore

It looks like a good location. What do you think?

Thanks again!

[Raffles]

thanks for the info guys!

Money is an issue especially when it comes to buying your drinks in your cool clubs. Actually I dont go to cool clubs and I don't think they would have me. I think Butterfly goes to cool clubs when he is in Singapore so he might be able to help out there

the club we went to have a drink (I know it was very early) was very reasonable ? big draft was like 12 SGD if I remember correctly

wow, 12 SGD (282 THB) is reasonable for a beer?

I think I'll skip the clubs, I don't like them that much. I'll buy a bottle of TIGER & wander the streets & snap some pictures. Wait a minute, is it legal to have an open bottle of beer on the street in SIN?

I found a guesthouse at this address:
3 Jalan Kubor, Singapore

It looks like a good location. What do you think?

Thanks again!

Waked into Muddy's last Sunday as we were drinking at the bar and asked how much a pint was, 12SGD was the reply as it was happy hour - he replied, "^ bloody pound a pint, dunno how you drink here".

After happy hour I am normally paying 15 a pint in Muddy's or Harry's.

[slimboyfat]

I found a guesthouse at this address:
3 Jalan Kubor, Singapore

It looks like a good location. What do you think?

Thanks again!

Yup. Everywhere on this thread is within walking distance.

https://teakdoor.com/singapore-travel...reet-area.html

Send me a pm when you are on your way over and if I am in town I will buy you a S$12 beer