When you work in Sg and earn SGD, you should not convert the costs of living to ringgit and compare that way. Especially if you are earning the same salary dollar for dollar i.e. RM3K and S$3K

So, if you spend $3 for a chap fun and 0.80 for a cup of tea, your costs are lower than rm5 for the chap fun and 1.40 for the tea.

Only if you are visiting Sg, then it is more meaningful to convert and compare to see how much more you have to spend visiting Sg.

wan compare SGD earn + living there.. saving probably start for 3rd or 4th months after work.. so, wondering can survive or not

To be honest My expenses each month is just 1k +- inclusive of rental, mobile, transport, meals (no self-cooked meals), groceries. I stay alone and work at everywhere (where my project will be). Still ok to spend huge on food once in a while like 10~20/meal and stay within my budget.

Of course, very much depend on how you eat and spend.

But still it takes few weeks to months to adapt to that currency. Especially the beginning part.

Now after 3 months I also close 1 eye d. Last time control under $8 a day now sometimes colleague bring go japanese one meal already $20. Jia lat

but at least the sushi is more fresher instead of more rubberish in jb ...

yup.. i last time work in ampang, selangor.. with 2k salary.. still can save 500 per month.. jz hard for few first month la.. after dat ok... and rarely go out hv some fun unless meet friends

Work in SG just beginning need a significant amount of money like 2~2.5k. After first and second month salary come in then savings start coming in also.

But savings coming in... Expenditures start to grow also

Buy phone, buy laptop, buy camera, buy prada, buy gucci, etc etc etc

it's pretty hard to keep a budget for meal. I never did that before, ever. On a normal day I won't bust $10, but it varies, at times when feels like eating something different can easily chalked up like $50 per meal.

i think it could be different for everyone... some willing to spend more on food, some on gadgets, investment or vacations...

so as long as u enjoy the way u spend ur hard earn money

haha.. 2k u think enuf? O_O

I personally brought 2.6 here la. Lasted me two months expenses + 3 months rental (2 months rental + 1 month deposit) + etc etc etc

usd 2.6k? erm.. looks ok

Nah I brought 2.6k GBP.


I can't stop you from bringing 2.6k USD also right? Enjoy your life in SG

ahh.. quite far... well, good idea too.. thx for sharing

If you have a personal culture/habit of spending more than you earn, then earning $4K will also not be enough.

Some Singaporeans actually raise a family and pay for their flat on a $2.5K salary. Of course it must be tough, but it can be done. My guess is that the majority of you guys here in the forum are single right? It all boils down to self-control and prudence.

The only additional and sizeable expenditure is your accommodation, and if you are from smaller towns in Malaysia working in the Klang Valley, you would have spend on rental too anyway.

For your information, we have to fork out more than rm20 a person just to have a Chinese meal at a non-aircond restaurant here in KL. Utilities providers are poor and the quality of utilities provided (internet connectivity, handphone lines etc..) are still so low.

So, you get higher quality of life working in Sg, not to mention the better exposure and opportunities - intangibles but important.

So, press on, stay positive, save the strong currency and enjoy the environment there!

Can't agree more!

Infact people might tend to spend more in SG, as they will think 'even save a bit oso better than in Msia', and end up very tight in end of the month..

personally spent less than 250sgd for foods last month..quite tough though..haha

But those singaporeans are there since they're young. They more or less inherit some from their parents, not start from scratch. Of course I'm referring to some of them. I know still a large number of people that starts their own business and earning hugeee.

RM20/pax for chinese meal? What kind of chinese meal? Whole table? Which area? Bukit Bintang area?

My goodness... 250???


Btw... Today lunch 10SGD. Not good not good

The average Singaporean doesn't inherit that much from their parents. In fact their parents should still be alive if they are below 50 years old. Probably the younger ones have the advantage of not having to pay rent.

Sorry I should have made it clearer about the costs of food.

Let's say you and 2 friends go to Chinese restaurant (non-aircond type) in setapak or puchong or ampang etc.. and order 3 or 4 dishes for a simple dinner, nothing extravagant. The bill could end up around rm80+. If you order seafood, it will be rm100+. If you have the simple dinner at an aircond restaurant or one in a mall, it will set you back around rm120! If you eat around Bukit Bintang, you will be 'slaughtered'!

Another example : one piece of yong tau foo here in KL is now rm1.20 per piece while it is 0.60 cents per piece in Sg!

The point I am making is that our inflation here in Malaysia is worse than that in Sg. So, our cost of living is higher (not counting housing and cars), and our standard of living is much lower than that in Sg. It is a sad situation. Yes, one can move to a smaller town where food is probably cheaper, but there will not be any jobs there for you.

If you earn $5000 a month, spending $10 for lunch is ok. If you earn half that and spend $10 for lunch regularly, then you need to review your lifestyle.

Go out with colleague cannot choose la.


yeah... Yong tau fu here is quite cheap. But KL also got cheaper ones, depends on where you go.

Very much depends on the restaurant. Normally I go with my friends, end up around RM15 if order dishes.


I baru start, you think got $5000?

Half of that is about there la. But not everyday will eat $10. Still bearable



But even if everyday $10 for one meal, another meal takes $5 breakfast takes $3, that's $18/day

One month 540, +90 for transport +70 for phones = $700. +600 for rental = 1300, +150 for grocery = $1450.

If earn 2000 still got $550. Based on current sky high rate, that's RM14XX. Even if you get RM2800 in KL, the savings is already half of that salary.



Yeah... M'sia inflation too jia lat.

haha, yea..actually 210 for last month..but I can go back JB during weekend, so maybe a bit unfair..
Ok la, once in a while no problem..today lunch I ask people dabao..too hot lazy go out XD
10 bucks..my 1 day food budget haha


Actually, it depend on your financial game plan la..for me eat just for survive.
if I really crave for specific food I can go bk JB eat..that's why I never bother to spend much on food in sg..

My 1 day also $10 one. But now back to office don't know where to eat follow colleagues lo. Expensive also must go lo. Need face mah