Good day folks,

I am trying to estimate the cost of living for a typical Malaysian in Singapore.

I have factored in all the expenses that I think might incur. Kindly comment if the calculation is accurate.

Ps. I am looking for a comfortable lifestyle - nothing luxurious, just comfortable.
Meals

SGD 6 x 3 (breakfast, lunch, dinner) x 7 (days per week) x 4 (weeks per month) = SGD 504 per month

Lodging

SGD 600 per month

Entertainment

SGD 100 (per week) x 4 (weeks per month) = SGD 400 per month

Traveling expenses

SGD 200 per month

Cost of living i.e. laundry, toiletries etc

SGD 100 per month

Travel back to KL once a month + Expenses in KL

SGD 200 (to and fro) + SGD 100 (equivalent to RM 200 or so)

Mom's allowance + Utility bills at home

SGD 200 per month
The sum of the above is approximately SGD 2304.

mind to tell what kind of current lifestyle you enjoying in m'sia?..

sgd4k...if you dont spend much on clubbing...or betting..i guess is quite ok for living in SG.

get a room....which around sgd600 and include utils.

like now...i am paying my common room for sgd600 incl. utils. and i pay extra sgd10 for my landlord maid to do laundry for me....the maid sumore iron all my cotton t-shirt..haha...and i dont need to wash the common toilet as the maid will do it as well...the maid will vacuum and mop my room twice a month...

for food..you dont spend much on it here...unless everyday you spend more than sgd20 on your meal...

this is my 1st time posting here, im glad to see that there's an active community of u guys n gals here, no need to post a new topic

This is my 1st time working abroad, what should i b prepared? its not the 1st time i go SG la, but i think u all hav the life experience that i dont hav in SG, i dont want to get into trouble later. btw, wat my employer should provide? so far, they hire me like a local only. help me get employment pass n thats it, i will find own room n place to rent but they can get agent to help.

can share share some of ur personal tips? pm me also can thx alot

hope everything goes smoothly...

Hi, how many years experience required to get about S$6k a month in "finance/accounting"  in Singapore? Anyone knows what the general job scope/position in Singapore that'll get that salary?

The purpose of this question to me, is so that I know the requirements, and can then work towards building a set of skills and experience necessary to demand a S$6k salary

Hi, Anyone working in Chartered Semiconductor before? hows the workstyle there? mind to share?

I'm sure you'll think of something to spend it on. Seriously, a lot of people in Singapore draw that kind of salary. Look out for the Bottega or Hermes bags, Panerai wristwatches, Ferragamo shoes etc... Lots of them.

Hi, what are their complaints about? boss? work condition? salary & benefits? really need to think thoroughly before joining this company

If the arab owners can make money, this is a big slap to the china-man's face that their china-man management is not the way to go if they want 2 have a sustainable business. But then again a china-mans greed is as big as his ego.

sorry if I've confused you all. I was saying IF, it was a presumption.
at the moment they are still processing my work permit. when it is issued, my plan is directly rent a room there, take the permit and waiting for commencement date without going back to msia again.
my concern now is I will be going to singapore without work permit, so at the sgp custom, I am not sure what should write for period of staying, 1 year? (i'll be getting 1 year permit) but will they prevent me from entering?

yes, like you've concluded, thanks. so I just need to go to MOM to give them the white card later my work permit is issued right?    thank you

how does SG gov decide whether or not to approve or reject a PR application?

is it a guessing game or they have a formula?

im guessing some of criterias:
- education level?
- job level?
- income level/cash in bank??
- any relatives in SG has PR?
- been staying in SG for a period of time?

I've always wondered how does "the company" factor in when they help you to get a PR. I wonder how much weight is given for an employers recommendation towards an employee when it comes to PR application.

If im not mistaken, the chances of you getting PR in the mechanical engineering department is more likely since the job usually entails a non-office type of work which most Singaporeans shun, since less singaporeans are willing to go into a respective field, mom would most likely grant pr preference to those in a field where singapore is lacking in skilled manpower.

thats why I inquired about ads by owners...everywhere is agents. there r like 2-3 owners, but none of them bother to answer my messages....everyday online open all renting websites hoping theres new ads....

Looks like a pretty good deal.

What's the rational for the lock room?

white card at airport is it the same with white card at woodlands/tuas check point?

i need to provide information of my short term visit pass for HR to apply working pass. but i am not holding any short term visit pass now only got a blank white card....
information needed are:
Disembarkation/embarkation code, Date of short term visit pass issued, no of days stay, short term visit pass expiry date.
what should i give? i'm not even in singapore....

so how? at this moment i won't be able to provide any 'stamped' white card info. is it ok if i provide scheduled future date?

Great thing is we do not have tenancy agreement. All she want is behave ourself and pay rent punctual. Bugger mana tau she didn't register with HDB.

omg~, i planning to apply this November.

STPM
work 1 year

looks like its a bit hard huh~

It's probably due to the difference in the type of skillset, the results of the background check and their judgement how easily these folks will assimilate into Singapore society.

After so many months not login to this 'Work Life in SG' section, it's time to get update.

Finally i passed my CFA III of which result known on last tuesday. And i oso got the EPEC approved by MOM on last week as well. However, getting EPEC doesn't grant me a right to stay long period in SG and this is not what i understood initially . EPEC only opens a door for me to apply long-term social permit and i oso need a sponsor who is citizen or PR or working in SG.

Now im actively seeking SG's jobs via few job sites such as jobdb, jobstreet, monster, efinancier and recruit.net. So hope i could get reply from the applications tat i did since last few days.

In case the interview call might be keep coming in the next few weeks/months, it's not possible for me to a trip every time from ipoh/KL to SG. So i might need to seek u guys advice/help to rent for a place to stay in SG then.

yah i oso dun think wif CFA can do anything, indeed working experience does count.

btw, i think wat cks2k2 mentioned abut the EPEC is not correct or the conditions apply to EPEC holder might have changed from time to time. In the EPEC letter tat i receive stated:"...The holder may, after arrival in Singapore, apply to the Visitor Service Centre, Immigration & checkpoints Authority for a longer term Social Visit Pass, valid for up to 12 months to enable him/her to seek employment...". Based on the said statement, i think EPEC holder needs to apply the long term social visit permit to stay in SG for 12 months. Whereby normal entry to SG, Malaysians is eligible to stay in SG no more than 14 days, not 30 days as mentioned by cks2k2, unless the visitor would like to extend to stay more than 14 days n needs to apply to immigration for the approval of short term social visit pass.

in addition, at the back of the EPEC letter, there r qualifying notes as stated below:-
(1) The applicant named overleaf is eligible for an Employment Pass if he/she:
(a) secures full-time employment in a company of good standing in Singapore:
(b) is not engaged in a low-value added occupation (e.g. manual worker);
© submits an application for Employment Pass together with original or certified copies of educational certificates;
(d) is not on Government agencies' adverse record.

so based on the abovementioned notes, i think the EPEC holder can get EP easier than those without an EPEC (of course it's still not guarantee). And there is no such note indicates EPEC holder can 'automatically' upgraded to PR status after securing a job, even in the MOM website i cant find any such statement mentioned abut EPEC holders can convert to b PR automatically wif a job being secured.

for those who r interested to know more abut EPEC, u can visit the MOM websites as stated below:-
https://epec.mom.gov.sg/epec/index.do
https://epec.mom.gov.sg/epec/terms.jsp?target=blank