Comment by mallipeddi | Hacker News Reader

Comment by mallipeddi | Hacker News Reader

Singapore

Monthly expenses - S$1600

  * Rent - S$900 (this will get you a room in a nice high-rise condominium with swimming pool/gym but you've to share the flat with 2 other flatmates).

  * Broadband - S$70

  * Mobile + Unlimited 3G plan - S$40-50

  * Food - S$400-500 (this will get you good tasty meals at hawker food stalls; not swanky restaurant dinners w/ alcohol).

  * Transportation - S$100-150 for public transport (forget about owning a car in Singapore, it's too expensive and unnecessary).

Monthly wages for programmers - S$3000-S$9000 (this range is wide because it heavily depends on your work exp and your employer).

Misc facts about SG

* Taxes are lower compared to other developed nations.

* Singapore is generally pro-immigration although they're trying to slow it down now.

* English-speaking country so makes things easier compared to Taiwan/HK/etc.

USD 1 = SGD 1.30 (as of today)

Another data point for Singapore, values in Singapore Dollar:

My Monthly Expenses will run average S$1.5k

Rent: S$600 (one room in 3-room apartment)

Broadband: Around S$40 - 70

Mobile + 12GB data plan: S$50 (depends on usage on mobile)

Beer: S$2.50 for Tiger beer 323ml can (expensive!!)

Food: S$250 - 300. For lunch, I go for the so called 'economical rice' or 'mixed rice' which will cost you S$2.50 - 3.00 per plate. Dinner I usually cook at home. Average restaurants will cost you S$30 per pax per meal. Posh ones S$90++ and above.

Transportation: S$20 (I live within walking distance to my office)

Movie: S$10 a pop

Big-Mac meal: S$6.50

A mug of Coffee at local store (we call it kopi-tiam): S$0.80 - 1.00

There are single, air-conditioned rooms in Singapore that go for S$400, even near the town (yes, hunt them down). You won't need S$400-500 for food if you cook every other meal. I spend less than S$100 on food. I would revise the figure to less than S$1,000 a month, or less than US$800 per month.

Also, if you sleep where you work, you can shave about S$50-100 off of your transportation costs.

Thanks for info. I've talked to a few people that worked in Singapore and they loved it.

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