gome If your wife internal transfer is more or less confirmed might as well straightaway search for full unit and don’t waste time and effort to do a 3 mths room rental (ps by right u can’t even rent HDB room for that short a duration, needs to be 6 mths. 3 mths is minimum for private ppt).

Just like anywhere else in the world, the rates are obviously different by area provided all things equal
Age, size, distance to MRT, distance to amenities all will impact the price
If you take a unit nearer to the CBD that is old, small and far from the nearest MRT and compare one that is further away from CBD but newer, bigger, nearer to an MRT station the price may be equal (or even less)

Here's one for $700 at Yishun https://www.propertyguru.com.sg/listing/hdb...eet-61-24008670
This is $1200 at Tiong Bahru https://www.propertyguru.com.sg/listing/hdb...g-road-19041087

jurong west is too far from cbd. At minimum, you will need 1 & 1/2 hours with multiple bus & mrt transfers to reach office.

Bedok, toa payoh & bukit merah are all considered central locations. about 30-40mins with direct travel to your office.

rental rates have spiked up alot in recent months. Also, don't forget about paying a month deposit for 12 month rental, gas electric & water bill & internet.

The rental market right now is really intense. There too many tenant, agents won't care about you & owners have the freedom to choose who they want to rent to.   

My suggestion? Try to find a studio condo around Geylang area first. Then work it out from there.

In SG, you can forget about living in a "big" sqft condo for the first few years.

Until you convert to PR/citizen and aim for your hdb flat.

Price gauging and also in SG, not everyone works in the CBD.

Ppl who staying Jurong west mostly working near Tuas, Jurong factory, & etc.

Even Jurong East have a blossoming IT sector.

supposed land scarcity & lack of available rental units in SG is pushing rental prices higher.

I think it will take awhile more before the damage from covid settles.

You don't necessarily have to live like a student. Can enjoy life abit la, since part of working in SG is the expat feel and environment of a first class city.

Infact, I would highly recommend living in expat friendly areas like west or east coast, tiong bahru, henderson, orchard, kallang, & etc. It will make alot of difference to your enjoyment of living in SG. Try renting a bedroom here first and see how it goes. 

Once child and wife come over, can consider renting a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment first. IMO, the price for hdb is almost the same as an apartment, without the private facilities. So you might aswell rent private place.

If you live nearby, ya why not cycle to work? However, it's not really common in SG to cycle to work due to the weather. If your workplace has a shower or gym nearby, I guess you can save some cost and cycle. lol. I also cycle to buy my groceries. Having a bike is definitely convenient in SG.

Weekend the roads are always filled with cyclists. SG is nice to explore on a bike. 

gome - At the minimum since ur wife coming over - rent a master bedroom circa 1200
Even if it didn't pan out for your wife its still like 300 over a common room circa 900 and you get a big bed.
Renting separately solo aka 2 single rooms will be more costly.
3.4k a month is overkill.. unless you really earning 20k sing then its a diff story altogether.
No need to waste money, if you're earning good money chances are you won't be staying at home much.. treat the house like hotel only.
Sembawang area not too bad.. cross the mall and cross the street is home. Suitable for red line peeps.

Just curious when you mentioned condo.
In Singapore, HDB and condo are considered different categories, hence price difference.
Generally, renting a HDB would be sufficient.

let me give you a little perspective.

HDB price is around 3200-3750 for 3 room (12xx soft) CCK and Bukit Panjang Area

Condo(2 room 1000sqft) cck- SGD3200, Condo (3 room -1200sqft)-SGD 3800-SGD4100 - all these are old development

currently property market is very very competitive. according to my agent, its because a lot of development was put on hold due to covid and people wanting to escape lockdown are coming to singapore.

in fact i have to pay 5% above advertise price to secure a place. went to view a place, made an offer less than a week - already taken

Yeah, my situation is that I plan to rent a room for about 3 months before my family comes over, after which I'll then rent a whole unit. Seems like I can't rent a room in a HDB for just 3 months, because the minimum is 6 months. So as some has advised, condo is the only way to go for that 3 month room rent.

this careful man... cz normally.. if rent out unit.. landlord normally should have some procedure to follow... cz it is taxable... Unauthorised renting out of flat might be something risk.. esp if kepo neighbours..

some reading can read here.
https://www.hdb.gov.sg/business/estate-agen...nting-out-flats

1. Not a problem. Your relative just have to add u into the list of occupiers.
2. No. why waste time.
3. No problem with EP, just more admin work for you. After you change address and phone number you have to update your company to ask them help you update your address and phone number in the mom portal.

dude.
if you're planning to come to Singapore and start doing funny things like this to save some $$$, please don't come.

Technically. This is a grey area. you can stay with landlord as his for free, and you pay under table money.
He just update you as occupier instead of tenant in hdb portal.

HOWEVER.
You abuse grey area, your landlord risk losing his hdb, you risk getting caught and deported, and other Malaysians have a harder time in the worse case scenario.

If you want short term can look at coliving space from $800 a room a month.

This probably does not happen often, but I did have ppl from MOM knocked on my door before, asking if certain ppl still living here or not. Then they asked me to pass a message to the landlord to update some details on who the current residents are.