SINGAPORE has become a more expensive city to live in, according to a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit …. It moved up five notches – from 15th spot six months ago – to become the 10th costliest city to live in the world.
Straits Times (See also EIU website)
We don’t need a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit ti tell us that!
What is EIU’s methodology anyone know? Singapore more expensive than London? How so?
after being reminded of the ranking, would this give businessmen and hawkers the reason to justify for increasing their fares/fees/prices? even in this extraordinary times, food courts prices have not fallen but even risen in some cases. but i guess the people accepts, as usual.
i’m working in london now , and feels tha london is cheaper to live in than singapore…much cheaper…given a chance i stay in london
You must understand the income/living expenses.
We are paid “peanut” to as compared to our european counterparts.
Singapore hdb are ex. nowadays. you cant even own a hdb if you have a mere pay of 2k.
taking into consideration 1 HDB is 300,000
pay of 2k x 12 = 24,000
given you save 500 per month.
tat gives you 6000 every year.
300,000/6000 = 50 years… oh I will be dead by then.
as damage control, CNA reports that Singapore ranks the best place for Asian expatriates to live.
singapore has put a lot of average citizens on a lot of stress. and when the strings are so tight, sometimes you wonder those people killing themselves or commiting crimes are due to stress of society.
unless we make millions, otherwise living in singapore can mean a lot of stress.
6) cheap on March 10th, 2009 5.25 pm
If A ranks it, get result A.
If B ranks it, may get result B.
I do not see the point of ranking.
7) aloha on March 10th, 2009 5.51 pm
singapore is cheap to live in, to someone who gets to earn 1 million a year.
COE has no effect on the rich. Eg. richman buys a mercedes for 250K. what is COE of 2k to him? Will it have effect of lowering the number of vehicles on the roads to the rich? so, does it means its effective only to the non-rich? then what does this mean?
The three morons LKY, GCT and LHL would probably say that our standard of living has surpassed that of London and hence, we have become a more expensive city to live in as a consequence. Worse still, 66.6% of Singaporeans will believe them.
5) stan
“300,000/6000 = 50 years”
sorry, but did you account for the interest? if you add that in, you will pay much more
priority should be:
1. quality of life
then
2. standard of living
then
3. cost of living
Singapore living stantard certainli very best and very first in the wold, carpaks not enough, roads jam everywere everyday. No money so many car there!
“Well, it may still be the best place to live in.”
Some may say.
“Aiya, the grass is always greener on the other side one la. Why you want to go to Australia or Canada?”
That’s what an uncle told me.
“See if you want a simple life or not.”
Yes, I want a simple life, that why’s I don’t want to work so hard for so little money to spend! Don’t you get it?
JTYS
look at how high residential and commerical rentals are.
so so high.
hope the pap government can help to control rental hikes.
maboh tan will tell you tat HDB is afordable… ya, rite…
it’s affordable…. to someone who’s earning millions!!
It is not difficult to see that 4 or 5 room HDB flats, despite being still the cheapest in Singapore compared to those from private sector developments, have become costly to own and the term “affordable” – a prized word of some of our ministers – seems to be a description that now needs to be exercised with care and circumspection.
If you and/or your spouse are earning a gross combined income of say $4k/$5k pm and having one/two kids, you/spouse probably can’t afford to buy a HDB flat and would have to continue being accommodated by your own parents or in-laws. If you are already the owner of a HDB flat, it may have occurred to you that this is all the asset you have when you retire. Money for retirement? Sell the flat!
The comments from stan [#5], SZ [#11] and Koh [#16] are pertinent.
HDB has apparently ended with a higher level of expenditure vis-à-vis income for each year in the last 4 years. Was the construction of the HUB building at Lorong 6, Toa Payoh financed by the govt, or financed by HDB’s own resources [for example, accumulated profits from its operations over the years]? Can anyone be certain that figures have not been fudged, to show deficits instead of surpluses? Land provided by the govt has a cost, that’s for sure, but the cost can be something that’s debatable.
No wonder my HLE application was rejected so many times hdb also know i can’t effort to own a hover.I think being patriotic and loyal dosen’t pays, wasted my time serving national service.Too bad i can’t go anywhere i think stay here and die like slave is the only option
It has to be expensive, living in singapore? citizens have to help pay up the money for the bad investments of TEMASEK N GIC.
Subsequently the govt try to justify it (thru radio) by adding that Singapore in the most prefered place to stay for expatriates according to some obscure survey…. guess we all citizens shld juz move out of the country n let the expatriates stay instead!! Sick of the media trying to protect n justify the exploitation of the s’pore people.
A few years ago, your 2-3k pay can help a family to live comfortably, probably with a small car and all. Now, its like can barely survive!!! Its ridiculous. You have no money to migrate and now have to live from hand to mouth Singapore. Its practically a stalemate
Everything in Singapore is getting more and more expensive except wages is depressing. One do not have to worry about losing jobs in early twenties and thirties as their wages are still cheap, when one reached forties or fifities, one would have to worry to get retrenched as their salaries are at their peak with cheaper new blood or worst with foreign talents which are much more cheaper to be the subsitute.
How to have family with instabilities in Singapore, if one would to have family and kids, one would have to stress worry about supporting the family and job instabilities, now especially with economy downturn, lagi worst lah.