Fair enough. Let's talk numbers rather than hearsay. According to the Prices & Earnings guide by UBS, KL vs SG earnings are (nett) 21.0% and 41.7% of NYC respectively. Taking the FX rates of myrusd 3.021 and sgdusd 1.258 as used in the report, we end up with a figure of about sgd0.827 : myr1.000. Which means that if the average KL worker earned RM10k a month, his average SG counterparty would earn SGD8.27k a month.

So I conclude that by coming here and taking a SGD figure lower than 0.827 : 1.000, you are actually earning less than when you were in KL compared to your peers.

This post has been edited by deodorant: Jan 9 2013, 04:29 PM


Attached File(s)
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Now, the above is just an AVERAGE figure for all industries. So you could still be right that maybe Banking has sky high salaries, and engineers get the shaft in Singapore.

Let's then compare (outdated ... but I couldn't find anything newer on short notice) Kelly Services' guides in Malaysia and Singapore.

http://eprise6.kellyglobal.net/eprise/main...de2010final.pdf
http://www.lithanhall.com/sapcareers/salar...%20Services.pdf

I don't know Engineering fields that well, and definitely this isn't a perfect apples to apples comparison, but feel free to browse those two links and decide for yourself.

All I'm pointing out is that if you come to SG on a (roughly) sgd0.83 : myr1.0 scale, then you will be equally compensated (in comparison to your peers). If someone is willing to come over on lower than that because he thinks the lower pay is compensated by being safer, having better prospects, whatever, then sure he is free to do so. The important thing is that he is making a conscious, informed decision to do so.

Without this sort of knowledge, it could be very possible for that someone to come over on a lower compensation, but still think that he is getting an increase in salary because of the conversion rate. Example someone earning rm3000, come over on sgd2000 because "sgd2k is rm5k mah, big increase!" would actually be getting the shaft here without even knowing it.

Source? Statistics? Proof? Or is this all just assumption and hearsay?


I don't know what you're disagreeing about anyway. I already said I was just pointing out that 0.83:1.00 is the "equivalent" spot on the pay scale. If someone wants to willingly come over on a lower pay because his aim is to retire in Malaysia on the extra savings, then nobody's stopping him. But at least with the figures, he will know that he is getting lower and hence makes a properly informed decision accordingly.

The problem is that for us so-called "sandwich class" who can't afford the jump to private housing (I was just browsing through a new condo launch at tanah merah mrt which was $850k for a 440sq ft condo), still got no choice but to eat the ABSD if you want to own your own place (rather than paying $2.5k indefinitely to rich singaporean landlords).

What are our alternatives? Buy and live in JB? Not as safe, big trade off with regards to travel time to and from work.
Continue renting in SG and buy rental properties for investments in KL/JB/PG/wherever instead?

:hnn:


It's 20% downpayment (can wipe out all your ordinary account in CPF for this)
+ COV (10-40k)
+ ABSD (5%?)
+ Lawyer fees, miscellaneous fees, etc etc.

Yeah, I sort of glossed over the details there. I was posting on the assumption that many PR's would have low amounts in CPF OA (relative to the 80-100k downpayment needed), so you would only be able to offset part of the downpayment by wiping out all your OA and the rest in cash.

http://www.wowmanhattan.com.sg/ ... Manhattan Card is great for the 5% cashback but ONLY IF you are able to swipe $3k/month on it every quarter. If you have that kind of spending behavior then It's up to $800 cashback per year on $16k spending.

Otherwise just go for those cards with good dining discounts lor. DBS, OCBC, Citibank.

Define "well paid." Different people have different definitions of "well paid" so we'd easily end up giving you totally incorrect advice.

It's actually fairly reasonable to stay around Orchard area. Example: http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/listing/130...hire-apartments ... $900 and up, 300m walk to your workplace.

Since you already found your new room and not using your old room, just curious why do you need to be so difficult to the owner / tenant? Let them open the room to paint it no loss to you also mah.

Since you were renting from the main tenant, then the main tenant effectively IS your landlord. So this argument here is a little odd. Personally while I can understand that you wanna be difficult to get back at them for whatever perceived injustices they've done to you in the past, I don't see the point in getting so worked up about it when you've already moved out.

How much are you currently earning in KL? If you're earning rm2k then of course it's an excellent move. If you're earning rm10k then it's a stupid move.

Assuming rm8500 --> sgd5000, you're actually taking a pretty significant salary reduction. At rm8.5k you're able to easily own a car and a pretty decent condo (and maybe even landed property). At sgd5000, renting a 1000sqft HDB will already wipe half your pay.

Even if you say "OK I don't mind taking a downgrade as there are better prospects in SG, I can grow my career faster, I can save more thanks to FX rate," I still wouldn't bother coming over for anything under $6k. $5k is too big a downgrade to make it worthwhile IMO.

This post has been edited by deodorant: Jan 17 2013, 06:22 PM

I opened a DBS account no need initial deposit to open the account. But there is a $2 charge for each month if balance (can't remember if it's average or month-end balance. probably the former) drops below $1000.

http://www.carclub.com.sg/

Price ends up to be (on average) slightly higher than taxi. Slight extra for the convenience of "having your own car" without needing to plonk down 4 digits every month for installments, maintenance, road tax, insurance, etc.

PM your h/p number to Mackiddo or Lester1987, they are the taikor's who arrange all the meet ups.

Going in and out of Singapore at the causeway/2nd link, the customs officer will not check the ownership of the vehicle. Note however that the rules are rules and you break them at your own risk.


BBQ is ON this Saturday evening. Anyone interested to join us pls PM me with your FaceBook profile link and/or mobile number and I'll add you to the FB planning page and/or whatsapp discussion group. Location is Pasir Ris Park, budget is $30 for guys, $20 for girls.

Females eat less and so it's only fair that they pay less too.

This 'subsidy' is totally and completely unrelated to the current guest list being more male than female therefore it would be nice to have more girls join us this time

Hehe there will be variance kua but in general and on average ladies eat less than guys so on average they pay less for bbq lor

Do you see this guy as solid future husband material or a "wait and see how lah" guy? If the former, then it makes sense to uproot yourself from KL, rent a room (or live with him) in SG/JB while job hunting in SG. If the latter and you're still not sure, then just apply from KL first and see how things go.