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 Home > Countries > Singapore > Living Expense in Singapore
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Singapore Living Expense
living expense in Singapore, cost of living in singapore... |
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Accommodation (shared): |
400 SGD/month |
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Utilities: |
Included in hostel fee |
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Food cost in Singapore: |
250 SGD/month |
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Public transport: |
60 SGD/month |
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Telephone: |
50 SGD/month |
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Medical Insurance: |
Included in tuition fee |
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Cost of living
in Singapore is varying according to the individual life style.The cost shown above is only for an idea.
Cost of Food
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 on quite harmful for you 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 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 Out
One of the unique features of living in Singapore is the abundance of hawker
centers 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.
Transportation Costs
Public Transportation
Singapore has one of the best, most comprehensive, and least expensive public
transport systems in the world. A one-way average bus or MRT (Mass Rapid
Transit) fare is about S$1.20. If you avail of the MRT, your monthly
transportation expense should be no more than S$60-S$70 a month. If you combine
bus and MRT transports, it will cost you S$100 a month on the average. A couple
that travels regularly within Singapore, using MRT or bus, will need to set
aside a monthly combined transportation budget of roughly S$300 as part of their
Singapore living costs.
Taxi Service
Taxi service in Singapore is one of the most efficient worldwide. You can hail a
cab on the road or call their number (S$2.50-4 extra) to book a service. Taxi
drivers are willing to cover even the shortest of distances. Taxi fare starts at
S$2.80 for the first mile. Twenty minutes on a cab will cost you around S$12
during non-peak hours. During peak-hours (morning 6:30am-9:30am and evening
5pm-8pm), you will end up paying extra charges of about S$3-4. Your taxi
transport service budget, to and from your office, will most likely cost you
around S$400-$600 a month.
Utilities
Monthly gas, water and electricity bill may range from a low of S$200 to a high
of S$600 a month, if you leave the air-conditioning running all day. Mobile
phone subscription costs anywhere between S$50 to S$200 per month with an
average plan to be around S$100. A broadband internet connection at home will
cost you around S$50 per month. For cable TV connection you can estimate about
S$25 for the basic channel subscription and S$50 for the expanded subscription.
You have a wide choice of international channels including familiar channels
such as CNN, BBC, Discovery, HBO, Disney, ESPN, and many more. Your TV should
have a PAL system, and your home should have a cable-ready connection. A deposit
of S$250 is required of foreigners for obtaining a cable connection. Star Hub’s
(the cable company) offering for Digital TV has further improved the choices for
programs. The company’s Demand TV offers a choice of 10 movies at any given time
for a cost of S$4.50 per movie. You need a digital set-up box from Star Hub to
use this service. |
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