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Cost Of Living in Singapore For Indians
- By Bobby Castro
- Published 12/6/2011
- Destinations
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Bobby Castro
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Cost Of Living in Singapore For Indians
According to Mercer's Cost of Living Survey, Singapore has been ranked to be the eighth most expensive city in the world. Amongst Asian countries, Singapore runs third after Tokyo and Osaka. This is just one recognition of the Singaporean economy and its cost of maintenance especially for foreigners in the country.
For an Indian living in the city-state, the biggest costs would be rent, transportation fare and food. If the family is along for the residence, then schooling as well as other costs come in. The following are the costs broken down to their basics in Singapore:
1. Housing. For single room outside the city would set an Indian back a few hundred dollars a month. For a four bedroom property in the heart of the city can cost a tens of thousands a month. The location and accommodations determine the cost of the rent to be paid.
2. Household Needs. Because of the high cost of importing many household needs, from food, water and other shopping items, the cost of these are quite steep. These include supermarket items, phone requirements and other items.
3. Transport Fares. The public transportation fare in the city is relatively cheap because of the great infrastructure in the city. This is definitely much lower compared to owning a car in Singapore, where one has to deal with exorbitant parking rates around.
One Indian blogger computed the possible costs for an individual living in the city and reached a figure of SGD78,000 a year to be able to live comfortably. Comfortable though is quite relative but the figure is near the figures that can make one live above water. This though is quite far from the computed wages of the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore. The following are the monthly wages on the average depending on the position:
a. Managers earn about SG$6,400;
b. Professionals such as doctors and nurses, SG$4,405;
c. Associate Professionals and Technicians, SG$3,000;
d. Clerical, SG$1,960;
e. Sales and Service Workers, SG$1,849;
f. Blue Collar workers, namely craftsmen (SG$2,137), plant and machine operators (SG$2,009) and unskilled workers (SG$975);
This cost of living is greatly influenced too by currency fluctuations, especially when one is employed in India and then moved to Singapore. The pay in Indian Rupiah is very different from its value in Singaporean Dollars.
Another factor would be tax rates in Singapore. When calculating incomes, taxes need to be paid when earned in Singapore but this may just be a small percentage because tax rates are quite low in the country.
For an Indian living in the city-state, the biggest costs would be rent, transportation fare and food. If the family is along for the residence, then schooling as well as other costs come in. The following are the costs broken down to their basics in Singapore:
1. Housing. For single room outside the city would set an Indian back a few hundred dollars a month. For a four bedroom property in the heart of the city can cost a tens of thousands a month. The location and accommodations determine the cost of the rent to be paid.
2. Household Needs. Because of the high cost of importing many household needs, from food, water and other shopping items, the cost of these are quite steep. These include supermarket items, phone requirements and other items.
3. Transport Fares. The public transportation fare in the city is relatively cheap because of the great infrastructure in the city. This is definitely much lower compared to owning a car in Singapore, where one has to deal with exorbitant parking rates around.
One Indian blogger computed the possible costs for an individual living in the city and reached a figure of SGD78,000 a year to be able to live comfortably. Comfortable though is quite relative but the figure is near the figures that can make one live above water. This though is quite far from the computed wages of the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore. The following are the monthly wages on the average depending on the position:
a. Managers earn about SG$6,400;
b. Professionals such as doctors and nurses, SG$4,405;
c. Associate Professionals and Technicians, SG$3,000;
d. Clerical, SG$1,960;
e. Sales and Service Workers, SG$1,849;
f. Blue Collar workers, namely craftsmen (SG$2,137), plant and machine operators (SG$2,009) and unskilled workers (SG$975);
This cost of living is greatly influenced too by currency fluctuations, especially when one is employed in India and then moved to Singapore. The pay in Indian Rupiah is very different from its value in Singaporean Dollars.
Another factor would be tax rates in Singapore. When calculating incomes, taxes need to be paid when earned in Singapore but this may just be a small percentage because tax rates are quite low in the country.