Singapore Average Cost of Living
For a person hoping to visit to Singapore either for the sake of studies or do some business it is mandatory to know the cost of living there and the various means as how to get along there. This article provides a brief information about the average cost of living in Singapore in the recent year that is 2008-09.
Singapore. The cost of housing depends on such factors as proximity to the city, relative age of the property, availability of facilities such as pool, gym, etc., and the quality of the furnishings that come with the apartment. You should take your time before deciding where to live in Singapore and make a decision after careful consideration of the average rental cost as well as your personal preferences.
Singapore, the same room will cost approximately S$1,200-S$1,500 per month. The room rental in an HDB flat will normally cost around S$300-500.
Food is relatively cheap in Singapore. However, as elsewhere, food expenses depend on how extravagant you are. An expatriate family living in Singapore can scrimp on their food budget if they cook on their own as often as possible. On the other hand, several international cuisines are available in a range of restaurants but they may prove to be quite harmful for your budget since restaurant prices are rather high in Singapore. Food expenses can either be a marginal factor or a significant factor when calculating your average living costs depending on the lifestyle you choose to adopt in Singapore.
Eating Out
Singapore is the abundance of hawker centres and food courts that offer a wide variety of dishes, and are commonly air-conditioned. An average daily lunch at a hawker centers can be as low as S$4 whereas at a food court you can have lunch for about S$5-6. A meal at fast food places such as McDonald will cost you around S$7, while a drink at Starbucks is around S$5-6. A visit to an average restaurant can set you back by S$20-S$40 per person for basic meals. In summary, with breakfast and dinner at home, lunch outside at food courts, plus basic weekend outings, the monthly food budget in Singapore can run around S$600-S$1000 for an average budget conscious couple
One of the unique features of living in
If you cook at home, your average monthly personal food costs should come up to only about S$200 per person for basic meat and vegetables. For a couple eating in, average monthly food cost can range around S$400-S$800 depending on their eating choices.
Eating In
Cost of Food
In the choice districts closest to the city center, a single-family house can set you back by S$30,000 each month. Farther, you can rent a house for an average of S$15000 per month. These dwellings are typically of the 2500-3500 square-foot size. They usually come with a driveway, front-yard, back-yard, and an average of 4 bedrooms.
Detached Houses
A room in a private condo located in the city costs a monthly average of S$2,000.
Paying Guest
A 3-bedroom private condo apartment with the size of around 1300 square feet close to city-centre can fetch an average monthly rent of S$7,000-S$10,000. A similar private condo property outside the central business district will cost you around S$2,500-S$5000 per month. If you are on a tight budget, living in a government housing flat is a very reasonable option; more than 80% of the local Singaporeans live in such accommodations. A 3-bedroom government housing flat (also called HDB flat) costs from S$1000 to S$2,000 per month. A typical HDB flat rented would include the basic household appliances such as a bed, television, sofa, refrigerator, washing machine, oven, etc.
Condos/Apartments
Location is a major differentiating factor in rental costs in
Cost of Accommodations
If you are an expatriate whose compensation package includes additional benefits such as transportation, car allowances, housing, childcare, payment of school fees, entertainment allowances, and other work-related benefits, these costs could be of less concern to you and you will find that life in Singapore can be quite comfortable. But for every category of goods and services, there is a wide spectrum of prices so even if you do not have such a rich package, you can always find something that fits your budget.
In Singapore, taxes are usually included in the prices shown. In general, prices of basic necessities such as food, clothing, public transport, basic education and utilities are moderate. Public transport and taxis are quite affordable. However, housing, private schooling, owning an automobile, etc. can be quite expensive. Your main concern could be the cost of accommodations and education (in case you are sending your children to an international school).