Redditer : French-Chinese family considering move to SG: Is 12k SGD/month enough for a comfortable life with 2 kids?

[uniboi]

I earn more than $12k and I don’t even think it’s comfortable.

Foreigner needs to rent and that’s the #1 heavy expense. And sending the kids to international schools? lol

Just rent and international school fees will tear through their $12k easily.

Its the foreigner’s own problem. He want he take it this lowball salary without full expat package of covering rent for condo, international school fees for his kids and other expenses all covered by his company besides his 12ak basic salary for future foreigners and leave higher paying jobs and better benefits to Sinkies.

 

[jsctan]

Can we reject them coming here taking the post? We got so many local grads that is bilingual from our top uni and they cannot get the job which
pays $12k/month? What went wrong for job matching and the MOM allowing so many in? What is wrong with the labour market here?

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

They rather hire some foreigner (and probably not a very good one, if they can get for $12k without expat package).

 

[kulgai]

the apartment rental alone is a killer. so, no way for $12k income

 

[The Crow]

If Singapore education is one of the best, why is your SG position not offered to local? ...

 

[The Crow]

the apartment rental alone is a killer. so, no way for $12k income

$12K can only rent a utilities room in sg, pls dun come better ...

 

[WangChuk]

French-Chinese family considering move to SG: Is 12k SGD/month enough for a comfortable life with 2 kids?​

Tourist/non-local Question

Hi everyone,

We area French-Chinese couple currently living in France with two kids (3yo and 1yo). I’ve just received a job offer in Singapore with a salary of 12,000 SGD/month. We’re trying to figure out if this budget is realistic for a family of four, aiming for a comfortable but not luxurious lifestyle.

We would love to live locally and blend in (though helper and condo sounds tempting!).

We want our kids to attend local Mandarin/English schools—but we’re confused about what’s actually is accesible as foreigners. I know foreigner tend to go to international school but I believe it will be out of budget and Singapore education is one of the best therefore we are really confortable with local school.

We’re definitly more than okay with hawker centers, public transport, and a simple lifestyle—no fancy international week-end or car.

So, the big question: Will 12k SGD/month cut it for a comfortable life, or are we daydreaming? Any insights on school options for foreigners would be a massive help too!

Thanks in advance for your advice!!

Edit : thanks a lot your all your answer and advice so far, I just wanted to giva more infobas some question often rise up.

We do not mind leaving in HDB, it just sound like it is hard for foreigner to get one. We cook a lot at home, so eating out will definitely not be on a daily basis as it look possible. Children are still young, between 1 to 3 years old. Job insurance will cover for me, but I will have to top up for the rest of the family. Finally my wife would like to work but with a DP people told us to be careful as it is not that easy to find a job, she might need to find her own EP, which will be hard as working in retail.

whole family of 4 on a 12k/month salary ... confirm need wife go out help earn $$$$ to support ....

 

[jurongkechil]

I earn more than $12k and I don’t even think it’s comfortable.

Foreigner needs to rent and that’s the #1 heavy expense. And sending the kids to international schools? lol

Just rent and international school fees will tear through their $12k easily

Wow...

 

[syed putra]

$12k is a lot in jb. Go there instead to learn mandarin.

 

[jurongkechil]

Heard 1.2k sg family can survive le