Cost of Living “Killing” Ang Moh Expats in Singapore!
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- Опубликовано: 28 июл 2024
- Cost of living in Singapore has gone up, and its not only for the Singaporeans; the Expats are also feeling it.
Singapore is an indeed good place to stay for foreigners; if they have enough finances to support it. Today, Mr Loo dives deeper into the cost of living for a small minority of Singaporeans; and how indeed they are benefiting us with their mere presence
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Mr Loo, my condo here at upper Thomson area the ang moh expats stay in penthouse which costs $7500-$8000 per month which they can rent a normal typical 3 bedder at a comfortable size from 1200sqft to 1500sqft from $4-$5.5k.
They can also choose a 3 bedroom hdb from $3.5-$5k depending on location. They chose to live an extravagant lifestyles.
They also lease new bmw x3 luxury cars costing 4-5k monthly which they have a choice of buying a Honda vezel for transportation.
How do they justify all these?
I have no comments on their child education costs.
Read these articles with some pinches of salt. We don’t have to pity them.
It is a mindset behavioral issue, not cost of living issue.
I lived in Singapore with my family for 17 plus years. Yes, Singapore is expensive, very expensive. One kilo of minced beef from Australia is $40, while it costs only $4 in my own country. One car, a lousy Corolla, is more than $200k. One condo, in the suburb, is more than $2 million. We left in 2013, and has since lived in heaven. Singapore is a cost of living hell.
They want to have the cake and eat it, so it is going to be difficult. Times have changed and dramatically in Singapore and if they wan to live ‘well & comfortably’ in Singapore, they will just have to be like one of us and do away with the condos and int’l schools. Somehow, they just want live it up with their own kind. An observation is the crazy expensive parties that they throw for occasions, which goes into something like 10k for a kid’s birthday party and approximately 50 guests (mostly from their own community).
Expats from developed countries work and live hard in SG to upgrade SG economy.When working in SG surely you cant expect them to downgrade their lifestyle and live frugally like ordinary Singaporeans.It is not easy for them to adapt to local standards of living.Migrant workers from poor countries are forced to adapt but expats thought they are well paid in USD to survive in SG.But they forget SGD is catching up with USD.A lot of luxuries are more expensive than back home.
A piece of advice for any ‘EXPATS’, the fake ones, whose salary (especially those who are coming from a much larger country but with depreciating currency) better think a lot harder before getting themselves wet and even drowning in Singapore in trying to live it up as an ‘EXPAT’. Singapore, today is truly only meant for the real ‘EXPATS’, who are making some serious money if they want they big condos (or GCBs), conti car(s - one for themselves, one for the wife and one for the domestic helper 😂 to go marketing), int’l school, ultra ex-holidays that they can talk about during the ‘EXPENSIVE’ parties that they throw quite regularly. Had one former staff who literally up-lived his ability and chalked up a pretty sum of debt, got laid off and had to leave town with his tail between his legs. It was tough for me to actually lay him off, which I felt really bad but no choice.
From MOE website : International students can seek admission to our mainstream primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute. The Aussie couple can send their kids to local schools but they don't. They can rent HDB but they don't. Of course expenses high lah. I don't like the way you title your video because it is misleading to base your conclusions on a single case study.
I don’t understand how to chalk up $1000 p/m for utilities bills???😂
Rental aside, the kids’ education is normally covered by employers. If not, then anywhere in Asia is expensive ! Bangkok, Shanghai, HK etc international schools are not cheap + considering the local country salary earned by these expats in those countries.
An expat can always go alone. It’s called single posting.
Depending on the package, usually housing is fixed. So expats can search within their companies’ allocated budget. If housing allowance is given to them, they have the flexibility to decide to splurge or save with the type of rental
Totally agree! There's always single posting, if the co budget doesn't cater for the whole family relocation.
Mr Loo, this expat only has himself to blame for failure to do his homework prior to relocation, instead of whining "Money Not Enough!"
Mr Loo, you forgotten to mention the income tax that they need to pay if they are earning $320K annually. Luckily Jarred is from down under. If he and wife are both working Americans, then also need to consider Americans-working-abroad income tax.
Actually they can always rent hdb instead. Or choose to go elsewhere to work instead of kpkb working in sv
hdb in pasir ris near international school - 36k per annual.. there, saved 36k.. i havent start the rest.. what utilities at 1k per month? thats landed property bill
That’s true.
Most of their housing and children's education are fully or partially funded by companies. I don't think companies are keen to put them in HDB which is illegal to rent out the whole flat unless the owner obtain HDB approval, which means availability is limited. And if it is the company's policy to only pay for International schools partially, they would have no choice if they want to receive that allowance.
Plus Phone bill, Netflix and utilities. Probably 1k.
Utilities in landed like Semi-D is only half if use air-con only at night. He turn on air-con 24 hours. It guzzles electricity.
Maybe quite a lot of them come with packages from their companies that cover housing and education
Many expats don’t get expat package anymore. They are either forced to take local package or leave (as many others are willing to replace them to come to SG)
Not really. Many talented expats rather choose to stay in Hong Kong as Singapore is viewed as expensive and DULL.
@@Callsign-Blade_RunnerSG, many foreign companies came from HK to SG becos of extended COVID lockdown. Expats just employees. They go where their companies tell them to go. What dull??
Actually it is right after covid that every spike up. Especially rents. As a foreigner working even staying in HDB is expensive. plus medical fee , plus education fee. Electricity bill is also on the high side here.
Hi Mr Loo, saw you at Suntec yesterday haha, have a good one!
Mr Loo good that you made this video. Fact is non residents getting into local school is very difficult apart from higher fees for expats in local schools. And HDB rental units are very few as compared to condo, hdb rental is also not cheap now. Also we must understand that most expats are not rich. Overall singapore is becoming much less attractive and if remain expensive, expats and locals both maybe will be forced to move out. World has opened, good living and opportunities can be found in many countries, finally it is the saving in bank target at end of the day matters which is now difficult in singapore to achieve
You must get out of the well to see the jungle out there. Just don't get eaten up.
No leh, my expats colleagues and bosses' housing rental and children's school fees are paid by the company, these form part of the expat package terms.
They came here with eyes wide open, no need kpkb. How much of the expenses is necessity and how much is for keeping up appearances?
I think the only thing they cannot cut down is the education fees, as it’s unrealistic to go public school here due to differences in system which makes it hard to return to their home system. Housing and other lifestyle choices can certainly be reduced to a more reasonable level.
What kills them is the Singapore accent lah.
Not only more Angmoh in HDB estate but many doing food delivery too.Marine P got 2 blondes ladies doing Grab
cause when they are in thier home coutnry .. thier culture is stay apartments and drive car ?? and also maybe air con on 24/7 ??? how come the ulities so high ??
Ang Moh default home in their native land is house. When native English speakers use the word HOUSE it has to be a real HOUSE 🏡 landed house.. the term the Singaporeans use.
Yes. The costs of living are very high. Many youngsters told me their salaries are also very high.
Those affected are likely the elderly
In Bali, while waiting for the plane, we met an Aussie couple who were very interested in our salaries which we refused to disclose. 😂 He said his friend made a lot of money, over 200k per year but that's not enough for his family total expenses in Singapore. They moved back to Australia for a lower salary.
Exactly
Foreign income tax is 15% vs Australia tax of 37% for higher income earners
@@lidna82 even if they have double tax relief, they will still be taxed the difference if they managed to repatriate any savings left when they go back.
@Fiona20238
You conveniently forgot to mentioned with their supposed “lower salary” back in Australia,
Their quality and enjoyment of lives are significantly better than those living in Singapore.
I must also add that while their taxes are high, their salaries are also much higher than the average employee in Singapore.
@@Callsign-Blade_RunnerSG there is nothing conveniently forgotten. I stated what was in my discussion. If Singaporeans go overseas to work, we would naturally command/ask for higher pay due to all the cost of relocations, compensations for being away from families, friends and familiarities. We just do not compare locals with expats because it is apples and oranges.
Ang Moh Expats stay in HDB will never die like the Indian expat. Still can ship back the spare money back home. This problem is also good for SG economic as it will force those expat to take up local citizenship.
Expat rental and children school fee are paid by company. Unless they are not expat, they take up local salary package. They are willing to do so, may be they get huge personal tax saving by coming to Singapore and company subsidise some rental. International school fee is expansive, they should have do their calculation of net tax income before coming.
Reflect: Thanks for sharing the topic. Indeed Singapore is no longer suitable for middle class migrants. Those who are rich/wealthy and yet not the "money laundering" type can consider migrate here. God blessed Singapore. God Is Love! 🙏🏻💕🌻🌏💕🌈
In Punggol, lots of Indian expats rent and stay in HDB. Indian International School is in Punggol. My neighbour is now an Indian expat family of 4. Previously, also Indian. There are a few other Indians expats in my block. Many others in the neighbouring blocks too. Having said that, not cheap too, heard the rental is high $3k+. Maybe Ang Moh are more high class
2 floors above me are both Indian FT. Their laundry and mop continued to drip on mine. I went up so many times to tell them to be considerate. They apologized but continue to do it anyway. So I have no choice but buy a dryer instead. Birds shit on their ledge and they feel like washing it, they just splashed water. All the laundry downstairs got wet and dirty. I don't hang laundry anymore after I invested on a dryer. Now I just watch the neighbour downstair to quarrel with my Indian neighbour upstair. I told them to consider washing when it rains but they now do it at night because weather is so hot and no rainy days are hard to come by.
Human beings have the remarkable ability to adapt. This skill is a privilege that everyone should utilize. Each individual has the freedom to decide what kind of lifestyle to adopt. However, the most crucial aspect is our ability to adapt our lifestyle according to our income. This skill is inherent in all of us, and it's up to each person whether they choose to utilize it or not.
Mr Loo, I think you made a wrong assumptions: Aussie expat's children can also study in SG schools ? I can tell you that Australian children cannot survive in SG schools, period. I remembered attending my daughter's teacher meet the parent session in her year 4 (equivalent to SG Primary 4). As I was about to enter the teacher's room, an Aussie mother was coming out. I overheard her asking the teacher to revise her son on ×4 math table. During year 6 graduation, the top student in math, science, arts, English ...... are all chinese students ....only the top student in sports is an Aussie student ....
@cheongenghoe
The Chinese Students you saw are Tops in Grades ONLY. Basically Rote learning.
How may GREAT INVENTIONS came out of Australia as compared to Singapore’s. Even the WIFI you have at home was actually INVENTED and DEVELOPED by an Aussie.
I agree with you 100%
I beg to differ about studying in local school. Is not they do not want to study in local school more like is hard for them to enter. First local school have quota for foreigner and PR. Second foreigner 's kid need to pass AEIS exam before able to gain admission. The exam is not easy even with tuition. I have a friend's kid took 5 tries before able to get in.
There’s a Chinese saying, if you are not a fierce dragon, u don’t cross the canal! So those who are in Singapore surely can afford this! Anyway, we need them to rent our investment homes right?
SG universities are top tier according to gov surveys but our gov brings in FT (fake talent) and where the top tier uni graduates go ?
I don't travel. Eat at hawker centre. No international school. Mortgage is $1400 per mth.
Too expensive, live somewhere. More likely he is making this kind of $
Mr Loo, most companies typically offer accommodation (condo) and transportation (car) for them....
Not now a days… most on local packages now
1K for utilities a month??? My household also has 4 adults and utility bill is less than 400 a month.....
My guess is mobile and telecoms charges are included. Must be a lot of roaming
If cost of living is "killing" the expats, just imagine how Singaporean are affected by this.
No lah, these angmoh needs a high quality lifestyle
Ang Moh are generally very high ego n high pride. That’s why they seek high standard of lifestyle
@@1m65our salary much much lower than expats leh
Not many foreigners can go to our local schools too… they qualify them via test/ exam.
That’s true
it is true, yesterday I overhead an European Family talking how expensive living in Singapore now 😢
Why can't they just leave? Singapore is too crowded anyway
They eat and enjoy better than us ....no matter what ang mo are all.rich here
@@SivalinPutheryIf they leave Singaporeans won’t have jobs. Most of the jobs in Singapore are created by foreign investment…..
Go elsewhere like Thailand, Vietnam and even Malaysia
300k net of taxes. 300k means you gotta pay around 40k annually to the gov
Exactly all these Angmoh contribute a lot to our economy
Not easy to go in to local govt school. Some tried, but didn't have chance.
Ang mo expat can consider leasing HDB that will save them lots of money. Eat at kopi shop and shop at Sheng siong will do, no need to aim at market place or CS. But ang mo wish to differentiate themselves from our heartland culture, then will pay premium... In short, there are choices open to them.
Mr Loo a 300k per year income is just above average, many professionals in Singapore make between 300-500k per year. If you live in a landed property, a terrace cost about 6 mil and if you borrow half 3 mil the mortgage will be about 25k per month already.
I m a foreigner who bought a high end Condo in JB which is much cheaper than Singapore
It's up to their choice, they chose expensive then got to pay lor, they also earn more than locals.
For life at Austin Heights, not ordinary Malaysian can live in that area too.😅
Mr Loo many of them company pay for their children private schools, rental allowance, car allowance etc
Wah damn not easy life in Singapore, sure got a lot of professional drama characteristics in working environment.
They can stay in Jay Bee.
Eat at hawker ctr take public transport, buy from seng siong super mkt also rent hdb, and go local school. if foreigner can't afford then go home lah
6.7k per month, if there is no more inflation. Me seeing REAL inflation is no less than double digits.
High level expats mostly have their costs covered by package. They dont suffer our hi living cost as much as the lower level expats. Expats can easily do research homework before coming. Don't kpkb. Besides the exceptions, many still choose to come with mindset to experience good class Asian culture with their family, endorse overseas posting for career boost. Pubbing, clubbing, happy hour, condo living, cafe breakfast, cars travel ... lifestyle remains. This is their tradeoff for being posted but is mostly only short term.
Not true. Maybe in the 90s and 2000s.
Looking at the expansion of international schools, I don't see why is there an issue. economically, I haven't even delved deeper into the culture fissure because of IS.
How you want to spend your monthly income depends on individual. Small car or luxury car, big house , HDB or condo also depend on individual. In my opinion, you have a choice that suits your needs or within your means. Why not live simply and let others simply live?
How about income tax?
The foreigners contribute to the PAP govt more as the govt collect revenue.. but whether it helps the average Joe and everyday Singaporean is a totally different thing..
Why must he stay in a condo ??? So, that is not necessary.
They go to Malaysia
I think your concerns are misplaced.
Honestly Condo not worth unless your HDB has no sports facilities nearby at all. Most Condos take 330+ as monthly maintenance don’t even have shuttle bus to MRTs that are far away. Condo good just for in-compound facilities if at all it is needed otherwise waste of money
There's some error regarding the education fees. It is high not because he is a foreigner but because he chose to put his children in an international school. It would have been so much cheaper if his children attended the local schools since the education system here is actually highly regarded. But no, this guy wants his kid in an international school. He does not want to integrate into the local society while staying here but want to remain in his expat bubble. If that's the case, for sure he has to pay for that closed to $100k per year.
Foreigner parents , cannot put their kids into our local school. Not allowed
An excellent video which offers pragmatic advice peppered with humor. If the “angmoh” (red hair/Caucasians) are high-ranking, the corporations sending them to work in Singapore or anywhere in the world, will pay for the housing and international schools for them. It is part of the package. They are fringe benefits and incentives for working overseas.
Why go to international school ??? Is any Singaporean working in Australia would send the children to international school ? So the 100k is unnecessary.
Yes, they contribute a lot to SG tax and economy, so gov can subsidize citizens more. It's a win-win situation.
Expats who live here with their spouses require around 7K+ per month to have a normal life.
Rental 3.5K - 3.8K (HDB),
Food 1.5K - 2K (mostly eating outside),
MRT & Cabs 500,
PUB, Internet, Mobile 500,
Gym, Insurance 500,
Household items like tissues, cleaning stuff, random shopping, friend visits, some beers aircon service will easily add another 500 😅
If only 7k, not an expat.
@@lidna82 this is to have an average life without partying :D
@@lidna82Jai Hinduja. We from India are also called expats
Even they are earning $20k per month minus rental, educational fees, expenses they actually left not much
Go fly kite!!! All his estimates are atas estimates.
1. Rent a hdb; or a 2BR condo. When living in Singapore, don't expect to have the same apartment size in Australia.
2. Why must go international school? Go to MOE school. They will still get GCE certificates
3. Utilities where got $1000 / mth. Don't use Bathtub and switch on aircon at night.
4. Who can save 20% of his pay? Foreigners also have cpf.
You are giving him too much benefits.
Totally true about localisation . hahahahaha
Would you considered that for your planning to retire in JB?
Yes, we should be more open to them.
More open? Our open policies not opened enough?
It is on the high side for all quoted lah!!
I've met Westerners working in Singapore who say that the Income Tax is ridiculously low in Singapore than their country of origin , and they feel guilty about it.
Hong Kong even lower at 14%.
Don’t buy condos for investment n rental. You may lose money your condos may be empty
EP does not have CPF
I want more expats to come to Singapore. They are important for growing Singapore. I see them as workers to work for us and make us richer. As Singaporeans we must understand our value and know that foreigners are here to build wealth for us. Learn how to equip ourselves financially so we can capitalised on their labour for our own gains. We have ground leverage and good financial leverage over them if we look at pockets of opportunities around the world while keeping our assets here. make use of them, praise them while we laugh behind :)
I agree!
Jarred is identified as a pilot
Better for foreign singles to work overseas rather than married couples “dragging” the family with kids over to face culture shock especially with teenagers.
Or else, one needs to make enough money to meet similar living standard needs from their own country.
Their head big and like big hats
Their children education cost is standard and they will be paying the same amount in their own country, remember, international school is called Private School. The private school or international offers a whole lot of subjects for their children to study, not just rote learning like typical limited subjects available in Singapore. The Ang Mo Expat will never wanted to mingle with the locals as they will stick close to their own expat circle which is called network. Anyway, if Singapore is so good, why so many Singaporeans wanted to migrate. Hey, many of the PAP ministers or ex ministers children and grand children are educated and living in the Western countries. One good thing in Singapore for them is cheap domestic helpers which they can never afford with 300K salaries in their own country. I only work 10 hrs week and my monthly salary is equal to a average worker monthly salary in Singapore who needs to work 40hrs per week for 4 weeks. The grass is definitely greener on the other side...lol
Yes absolutely agree with you. Not sure why Singaporeans like to blow their own trumpet as if they are really “living a better and quality” lives than others overseas. 🤦🏼😂
They are basically working like slaves simply to sustain an average lifestyle.
Sk condo rental only 4k
HDB has Quota for rental for foreigners.
Singaporean long q up for toto , buying property , flooded at event oversea holiday .purchased new car .......cost living high for us ? Govt will monitor ......
Yes I also wonder at times
All on credit .
Not sure why Mr Loo today speech a bit confused. Comparing sg monthly versus expat yearly... the content is there but speech from mouth not there? Is it old liao 😅
talking rubbish again
Singapore cond is expensive and Ah Moh life style not use to HDB.
And last most Ah Moh will leave Singapore too expensive living cost not able to justify.
This guy factored in $100-120k of savings yearly, which means his annual package is 500-600k.
🤦♂️
No. The $300k salary includes his savings. It’s so simple you also dunno no wonder you are low income earner
Like them : if you have an apt rented to them at 6k.
Don’t like them : if your job is being taken by them or U r fired by foreign boss.
Expats also contribute to the rising cost in SG as they spend more than the locals on daily needs. So why sympathise them? Not to mention some of their jobs can easily replaced by local talents.
too bad.. choice is theirs.
Too bad? It’s too bad for us too.
Simple. If it is not worthwhile for them, don't come. No one is indispensable.
They can live in HDBs n go to safes, then their children can go to cheaper international schools or local schools. They r having double standards, in the own countries they dont have condos n their children do not go to international schools but free local schools where the standards r. Not even half as good as our local schools. They choose to live like expats. My n husband n I r living in a HDB n my husband is an European, I am a Singaporean n my kids will go to local schools if we r in singapore. Some expats r spoilt
Ang mo can save lots of money got SPG and no need go spa or geylang or KTV some SPG even provide for ang mo, they think they got higher status, if eat potatoes instead of rice
still too much at $6000 a month; $4500 is more fair amount.
If they got kill with their high salary then imagine us normal working Singaporeans
my relatives in USA, fresh graduates without experience salary around usd$6k to $8k. Their high salary means high inflation. Same as in sg, expats are getting household allowance for their family, including their children international school expenses. He is getting high salary and allowances but cheappo kind of ammo
EXPAT paid much lesser income tax than their Australian peers. It even out thought.
Expat's "special skillset" = know only one thing,that is "nothing",cook maggi mee also dunno,pakai English only themselves paham..in KL,we alwiz see them as "又来个多旧鱼".
But ,its true, for the $$$$$$ economy contribution part ,we 假假 nice nice to them.haha.
Mr Loo, they want come here and eat our grass..... Already not enough grass for we Singaporean to eat, then they want to eat too... 😂. I like the way you put things in perspective.... I also need vitamin M and not grass... 😂
Recall Jo Teo talk about FT spends $500 on bottle of wine.Sinkies no need worry
PSA: Mr Loo is warning expat not to come to work in Sg for the cost of living is very high,, he was polite not to add, you can go to JB…😂😂😂😂
Johor won't pay so much .. unless u work night shift for USA
@@strongstrengthtv the company pays what the expat is making from their country plus allowances.
@@david888avery few companies does that now
@@1m65 no, for overseas posting, there’s still allowances especially in high cost of living Sg n any Sgporean that r posted overseas for projects get allowances too.
Can they choose to rent HDB n put their children in public schools ? I know of my expats who do that.
If not PR, it's very difficult for expat kids to get into publish schools.
@@teqsterI know expat who put their children in public school but it’s those leftover school with really bad demand by locals, the location of the Public school I know the expat sent his children is in Jurong but they live in Holland
Not easy for foreigners to get into govt school.
huh, one meal $5. utility/transport $200, hdb rental flat $100. u mean singaporean cannot earn $600? cannot earn, there is social assistance. live within your means. want more upskills n upgrade.
I agree with him as your salary taxed