Why is Singapore called a modern utopia, and is it good to live there? How much does it cost to live in Singapore?

We shared our experiences of living in this Asian country, dispelling some of the most famous myths.

A little over a year ago we returned from Singapore. After living there for some time, we realized that this city-state had truly become home to us. And now, finally, we are ready to write about what is really happening there and what Singapore is really like.

Let’s say right away that 80% of the information we had before leaving there was false. Neither the program “Heads and Tails,” nor a single forum or article gave us the information we needed to know when going there to live, work, or simply travel.

Myths about Singapore

Myth one. Complete prohibitions

You can't chew gum, you can't throw cigarette butts, you can't litter, you can't spit, you can't, you can't...

Of course, there are all these signs in Singapore. But the reality looks a little different. There will definitely be a circle of smokers next to the “No Smoking” sign; in a place that should be clean, there will be trash lying around, and in a place where skateboarding is prohibited, you will find a crowd of teenagers on skateboards. And, of course, they chew gum there. So don't be scared. Everything is there, like normal people.

Myth two. There are no homeless people in Singapore

And right on the first day, while walking around the city, we met several “friends” who were collecting bottles and sleeping on a park bench.

From here it collapses third myth. Who are these tramps and why do they live on the streets in this richest state?

These are pensioners. The fact is that there are no pensions in Singapore. Elderly people should be supported by children. And if the children turned out to be not very positive or wealthy people, then each parent has only one fate - to remain in old age on the street, since maintaining housing in Singapore is quite expensive.

The fourth myth. Singapore - perfect place to go to work

If you decide that you are a hero and can conquer any part of the globe, it is better to come down to earth. Although we sincerely believed in it. English language, higher education, determination and activity do not solve anything. No one advertises that for the past year and a half, rallies against Europeans have been actively held in Singapore (Russians, Ukrainians - in general, all the Slavs did not please them either). The Chinese want to see only Chinese and sometimes Indians at work. It’s easy to find a job, but to work, you need a work visa, which is where the problem most often arises, since they simply don’t give us one due to the lack of quotas.

But, of course, there are exceptions. If you register a company in Singapore, if you are a first-class specialist (for example, a pilot, aircraft mechanic, engineer, etc.) in demand in Singapore, if you come on an exchange, then you will be gladly accepted. In other words, if you already have enough money, then you can go. But if you want to go to Singapore to earn money, it won’t work. To move to Singapore you need a good financial base.

Fifth myth. There are no traffic jams and almost no traffic lights in Singapore

There are traffic jams and many traffic lights. You can stand at a red traffic light for 20 minutes. It's been a bit long for them. Buying a car in Singapore is almost impossible. First you need to pass your license, then get your license, then pay a huge tax and shell out a considerable amount for the car, because cars, of course, are very expensive in Singapore (most often you can see Ferrari, Bentley, etc. on the roads . P.).

Myth six. Singapore has a beach

The only three beaches you will find are on the entertainment island of Sentosa. But you won’t see the ocean, you will only see something similar to a quarry. Singapore is a port city, because of this the water in the bay is very dirty, it is almost impossible to swim, but it is possible. =) We really like the Sentosa amusement park itself. Yes, it doesn’t match the exoticism that we had in our fantasies, but the beaches are really very good. Attractions, show programs, fountains, wind tunnel and much more. We came there all the time, had a picnic and still remember these moments with joy.

Organizational aspects

Housing in Singapore. This is where it gets interesting. By law, you won't be able to rent an apartment until you get a work permit, so it's a vicious circle. But thanks to our compatriots, of whom there are about 1,500 in Singapore, it is still possible to rent housing unofficially. We rented a room in a Condo, with private shower and toilet, in one of the nicest residential areas. On the territory we were pleased with a swimming pool, a gym, a barbecue area, a cafe, a tennis court, a basketball court and a beautiful park. 300 meters from the embankment and about 20 minutes drive from the center. The room cost €700, utilities included in the price. The place is simply gorgeous, it’s called Bayshore park.

We rented a more modest room, in an outlying area, but in a new house, from a compatriot for €450 per month. Hotels in Singapore are expensive, renting an apartment and living with Indians or Chinese is probably not very good either, so you may find the forum where we found our accommodation useful: www.nashdom.sg.

Kitchen. Very tasty food. They have such places called food court, there are many different restaurants, shops, snack bars, etc. Prices start from €1. Chinese, Indian, Malay, Thai, Filipino food for every taste.

Products in stores: meat - expensive; chicken is cheaper; pasta, noodles, vegetables - for free. We ate noodles and vegetables.

Transport. Subway, of course. Clean, fast, interesting. It's interesting to watch people. =) Costs the same as in Moscow.

Visa. Citizens of Russia and CIS countries require a visa to travel to Singapore, with the exception of a transit stay of 96 hours if they have a ticket to a third country.

A few facts about Singapore

Singapore is waiting for self-sufficient people. Neither your compatriots nor the Chinese will help you. You will most likely get help from the Indians.

Singapore is special. He is waiting for successful and self-confident people. If you have the opportunity to live or work there, be sure to agree. The beauty of the city center cannot be expressed in words. For us, this is the city of the future. Avatar Gardens, parks, Marina Bay Sands, observation decks, DNA bridge, the most big wheel reviews - every time we came for a walk in the center, we could not believe that this was happening to us. Night city lights, skyscrapers, casinos and the smell of delicious food at every turn. A zoo where you can have breakfast with the monkeys; Botanical Garden, where you can walk for two days; embankments, Sentosa, grill areas, coconuts - some unreal combination of civilization and exoticism. In Singapore, you can experience the life of different nations, walk through the Indian, Chinese, and Arab quarters, ride a water bus, and drink real tea.

Singapore is fashionable, but at the same time simple. There is no need to be afraid of prohibitions; the only thing you need to take care of in advance (while still at home) is work visa, because as soon as you get the “approved” stamp, the door to a whole new planet “Singapore” will immediately open in front of you.

We spent several wonderful months in Singapore. And we will definitely come back to live in this “space” again.

Katya and Kostya Shapovalov, organizers of the Hellomir project.

Have you been to Singapore? Share your impressions and discoveries in the comments.

How do they do it 05/25/18 271 835 41

Four years ago, my husband and I decided to move to Singapore.

Slavina Bueva

moved to Singapore

We wanted to change the country and the climate, and we thought that there was nothing stopping us from doing this. Before that, we came to Singapore just as tourists for three days, and we really liked the city.

My husband found a job in Singapore in IT finance. When he received an official job offer, I transferred to the Singapore office within my company - then I worked at Iota Devices.

Moving

First, my husband came to Singapore alone for three months to see how the new project would go, and to make sure that he could live comfortably in a completely new country, where there were no acquaintances at all.

Finally, we sent the necessary things to Singapore: clothes and shoes, small household appliances, books, medicines and several packs of buckwheat - there is no buckwheat in Singapore, but we love it. The husband's employer paid for the transportation. Several people of heroic physique came to our Moscow apartment, packed everything in a dozen branded boxes and left - and two weeks later they brought it to an address in Singapore. We did not take any part in this at all.

About Singapore

Singapore is a city-state in Southeast Asia. About 5.3 million people live here. In recent years, the Internet has often written about the Singaporean economic miracle.

I recommend the memoirs of former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, From the Third World to the First, where he describes how prison, the death penalty and socio-economic tools helped the country attract business and investors

Back in the mid-20th century, Singapore was known as a corrupt port city with a thriving opium trade. For 50 years the city has turned into separate state, the largest financial and logistics center in the region and the second largest sea ​​port in Asia after Shanghai.

I'll tell you why we chose Singapore to move.

It's comfortable here. In big ways and in small ways. There are elevators everywhere, clean free toilets at every metro station. Covered walkways have been built throughout so as not to get wet when it rains - and it rains here often.

Singapore is very high level life and safety. You can't see the police at all, but there are cameras everywhere. The police respond to incidents within a maximum of 15 minutes.

Compared to Europe and Australia, taxes are low here.

The banking and IT sectors are very developed. There are many main offices of various service companies and manufacturing companies with factories throughout Asia - all this is an excellent opportunity to find work. If the company is international, it most likely has at least a small office in Singapore.

We like the local climate. On average there is +27 °C all year round - and there is a lot of greenery.

Most bureaucratic procedures in Singapore can be completed online. My friends were able to register a legal entity and obtain a business permit within 24 hours.

There is a downside to all this: living in Singapore is expensive.

Money

The official currency of Singapore is the Singapore dollar, SGD. Now 1 SGD is equal to approximately 47 RUR.

There are 117 foreign and 6 local banks in Singapore. Most international banks have their representative offices or head offices here. The undisputed leaders are DBS, UOB and OCBC. DBS - The Development Bank of Singapore is the local equivalent of Sberbank. In my experience, DBS is an extremely customer-centric bank, with a user-friendly app and online banking. There is a DBS office or ATM near every metro station.

You can open a bank account at any branch. It's quick and simple: you need a foreign passport, a valid work or study visa and proof of address. A letter from an employer or educational institution will do. You can simply bring your utility bill.

per annum will bring the majority of deposits in Singapore banks. Rarely 2.5%

You can apply for a deposit or loan directly in Internet banking. The annual interest on a consumer loan will be only 4.5-8% depending on the bank, but you can’t count on high returns on your deposit either. Most deposits in Singapore will bring a maximum of 1% per annum, some options - up to 2.5%.

In some small stores you can only pay with a card with the national payment system NETS - Visa and MasterCard will not be accepted. There are local banks that, by default, issue clients only cards that support the NETS system.

There are places that only accept cash, such as some taxis and fast food establishments.

Taxes

Taxes in Singapore are low. For us, this was one of the reasons for moving.

It has a progressive tax system: the higher the annual income, the higher the tax. For example, an employee’s salary before taxes is 5,000 SGD (236,386 R) per month, which is 60,000 SGD (2,836,636 R) per year:

1. The first SGD 20,000 of this amount is tax free.
2. On another 10,000 SGD the tax is 2%.
3. On another 10,000 SGD the tax is 3.5%.
4. On another SGD 20,000 the tax is 7%.

Salaries in Singapore are always quoted before taxes. Taxes are paid once a year. The total amount is calculated based on the entire annual income, including bonuses.

Language

Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. Everyone uses English for everyday communication at work and in the city. Knowing Chinese is useful in some cases, but until now, ordinary spoken English has always been enough for me.

It is necessary to make a reservation that there is a local version of English - “Singlish” (Singapore + English). It is a mixture of English, Malay and Chinese. The most common expression of Singlish is adding “lah” after a word to make it more convincing. Mostly service industry workers say this.

I got used to Singlish within a couple of months, as well as to the Chinese, Indian and many other accents of the multinational population of the country.

Visa

In Singapore, 30% of the population are expats who came to work or study. As an expat, I feel very comfortable here. Thanks for this to the official policy of mutual respect in the country. In Singapore, displaying intolerance towards another religion or nationality is punishable up to criminal liability. They still use caning as punishment here. For example, this is the punishment for robbery or for overstaying a visa.

Long-term Singapore visas come in three categories: work, dependent and study. I will tell you in detail about the different types of visas.

S-Pass (SP)- the first type of work visa. To get such a visa, you need to have an official salary in Singapore of 2500 SGD(118,193 R) per month. By law, every company only 15-20% of employees can operate under S-Pass, others must be Singaporeans or Permanent Residents.

30%

Singapore residents - expats

Employment Pass (EP)- the second type of work visas. From 2018, the official salary for this visa must be at least 6000 SGD(283,663 R), but the quota for employees here is almost nominal.

Dependant's Pass (DP)- the first type of “dependent” visas. Such a visa is obtained, for example, by the spouse of a person who came to Singapore under SP or EP. The sponsor's minimum salary must be 6000 SGD per month. With a DP visa you can work in Singapore. The quota for the employer will not be applied, because he will not have to act as a sponsor - this is convenient for the employer.

Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)- the second type of “dependent” visas. The sponsor must be a Singaporean citizen or permanent resident who is legally married to the person applying for the visa. The minimum salary of a “sponsor” to apply for LTVP is also 6000 SGD.

Student Pass- a student visa for which the sponsor is an educational institution. With this visa you can stay in the country exactly as long as your studies last. With this visa you can work no more than 16 hours a week, but only if the school or university is on a special list. Even if you yourself want to work more, the employer will not allow it: for this he may be fined, and your visa will be revoked.

My husband has an Employment Pass visa and I have a Dependant’s Pass. This made my job search in Singapore very easy. Instead of applying for an Employment Pass, my new employer simply notified the state that they were hiring an employee with DP.

After living in the country for several years on a work visa, you can apply for permanent resident status (Permanent Resident, PR). You must sign up to submit documents a year in advance; documents will be reviewed for another six months. PR status is assigned for 6 years, then you need to submit a request for extension. Previously, renewal was almost automatic, but in Lately refusals have become more frequent. The authorities do not like the fact that expats receive residency with its privileges and minimum responsibilities, but do not want to then receive Singapore citizenship and stay in the country forever.

Expats rarely apply for citizenship. It is forbidden to have dual citizenship here - you can become a Singaporean only when you document your renunciation of any other citizenship.

Both permanent residents and citizens of Singapore are required to complete two years of military service and participate in annual training. Only men are subject to conscription.

Citizenship also has advantages. You can buy social housing, receive benefits for education and medical services.

My husband and I do not plan to obtain Singaporean citizenship.

Rental of property

The employer usually pays the expatriate employee's housing for one month. During this time, you need to find and remove the permanent one. The rental contract here is concluded by default for a year or two. If you sign for two years at once, the price per month will be less.

All expats mostly live in condominiums. This is a building or several buildings with a fenced area, security and entrance by magnetic card. The condominium has its own parking, gym, swimming pool, barbecue area and children's playground.

An alternative to a condominium is an apartment. This is what they call an ordinary residential building with a magnetic card entry, sometimes with a swimming pool on the roof.

Another type of housing is HDB, from the Housing & Development Board. This is social housing, which the state sells to citizens of the country at a discount. Typically, HDB apartments are large and inexpensive, but with a minimum of privacy. Such apartments can also be rented out only three years after purchase. Locals joke that Singaporeans propose with the words not “Will you marry me?”, but “Let’s take HDB together?”, because a decent size subsidy is given only to families.

By and large, HDBs are typical panel high-rise buildings.

A house or townhouse can be found at the price of a condominium, but then it will be far from the center and with very limited transport accessibility. Otherwise, the range of prices for individual houses is quite wide and depends on many factors.

Rental prices in Singapore have been falling for the third year. I recommend haggling when renting. Often in advertisements on websites there is a note: “Price is negotiable.”

A one-bedroom apartment in a condominium 30 minutes from the center by metro can be rented for 2100-2300 SGD(99 300-108 753 R ). With two bedrooms - 2700-3000 SGD(127 666-141 852 R ). Apartments on average cost 200-300 SGD less than condominiums. HDB is still slightly cheaper, depending on size and location.

Paying for housing and communal services in Singapore is simple: all utility payments are carried out by one company - SP Service. On average, for a one-bedroom apartment it works out to 100-150 SGD per month (4700-7100 R ).

RUB 141,852

per month we pay rent for a two-bedroom apartment near the center

We live in a condominium 30 minutes from the center. On the scale of Moscow, it’s as if we lived on Kolomenskaya. With the birth of a child, we moved to an apartment with two bedrooms, we pay 3000 for it SGD (RUR 141,852) per month plus utilities.

Lease contract

The contract is required. It is not customary to conclude an agreement without a realtor. The agreement is usually signed as a template; it equally protects the tenant and the owner of the property.

If you found housing on the site yourself, then the owner pays for the realtor’s services. If you find a realtor, and he finds a suitable apartment for you, then you will already pay for his work. Typically, a realtor's fee is equal to one month's rent.

After concluding the contract, you need to transfer a deposit to the owner within a few days - payment for 1 month if you have a contract for a year, or for 2 months if the contract is for 2 years.

It is very important to photograph all the shortcomings of the apartment when you rent it. This could save you time and money in the future if you decide to change properties and get your deposit back. Typically, landlords try to keep the maximum deposit for themselves, finding fault with every scratch or stain in the apartment.

It is important that the tenant is given 1 month to “test” the housing. All problems that you identify during this period will be repaired by the owner at his own expense. All other breakdowns are paid as follows: the first 150 SGD The cost of repairs is at your expense, the rest is paid by the owner.

Buying a home

Most banks provide mortgages in Singapore at 1.5-2% per annum.

You can take out a mortgage for a maximum of 80% of the cost of the apartment. Without citizenship or residency, you can only buy condominium housing or apartments. Even without citizenship, you will have to pay an additional fee - about 18% of the total cost of housing.

The cheapest one-bedroom condominium apartment will cost at least 500,000 SGD (23.6 million rubles).

23.6 million R

is the cheapest one-bedroom condominium apartment

Since we don't plan to stay in Singapore forever, we don't intend to buy our own apartment. For those who do not have permanent resident status, an apartment in Singapore is a dubious investment.

It is prohibited to import Staffordshire bull terriers, Akitas and a number of other dog breeds into Singapore. In addition to the standard requirements for importing animals such as vaccinations and a microchip, you will need to quarantine the animal for the first 30 days. Singapore quarantine is a kind of pet hotel. A room of 2 m² will cost 30 SGD(1420 R) per day, the dog will be fed and walked.

You can get a pet in Singapore, but there are also many restrictions. Only licensed breeders can keep an uncastrated animal at home. There are few breeders, prices are high, demand exceeds supply.

We wanted to adopt a cat and contacted a cattery. The cattery needs to prove that your home is ready to receive an animal, for example, that you have already installed bars on the windows. An expat by default is not the best candidate: what if he leaves the country and leaves the cat to die on the street? In the end we were refused.

Then we adopted a cat from a Chinese family, where the child suddenly developed an allergy to wool. We paid 900 SGD for the cat (37,800 R )- and they also sold him to us at a 50% discount from the breeder's price.

RUB 37,800

we paid for the cat

Landlords are usually extremely discouraged from having pets. Many stipulate directly in the contract that this is unacceptable, or increase the deposit several times as soon as they find out about their availability. They also took a double deposit for the cat.

We bought this cat for 37,800 RUR. The Chinese owners called the cat Onyx, but we gave him the simple Russian name Kolbasa

Medicine

There is no free healthcare in Singapore.

Employers typically provide insurance to employees. Often insurance is taken out for the entire employee’s family. The insurance includes a visit to a GP - general practitioner, this is a general practitioner like our therapist. You can come to him with any symptoms and receive the minimum necessary treatment. A visit costs on average 40-70 SGD (1890-3300 R).

9500 R

the minimum cost is a visit to a specialist doctor

Sometimes employer insurance covers emergency care and medical specialists. A visit to the emergency room with a swollen ankle will cost 300 SGD (14,200 RUR) for an appointment and an x-ray. If you need to straighten something else and apply a lock - 400 SGD (18,913 RUR). An appointment with a specialist doctor with an ultrasound, tests or vision test has never cost us less than 200 SGD (9450 RUR). Dentistry is usually not included in insurance, and a regular visit to the dentist will also cost at least 200 SGD.

If you don’t have insurance from your employer, it’s definitely worth purchasing - at least the cheapest one for 100 SGD per year (4728 R), which will cover accidents and hospitalization. An operation for appendicitis in a public hospital will cost 2000 SGD (94,500 RUR). In private - about 12,000 SGD (567,400 RUR).

The only remedies available over the counter in Singapore are for symptoms such as fever and diarrhea. Everything else is by doctor's prescription only. All Russian expats bring with them from Russia a first aid kit and a supply of various dietary supplements.

Public transport

Singapore has a large metro and many bus routes. Transport runs predictably on schedule. To get from one end of the city to the other - a maximum of 4 SGD (190 R). The shorter the distance, the lower the price. The ticket must be presented to the turnstile at the entrance and exit. Payment will be debited upon travel.

I really love local buses. Firstly, half of the buses in Singapore are double-deckers - any trip turns into an excursion. Secondly, even during rush hour you can take a seat because buses run frequently. And this is also an opportunity to spend the entire trip in a comfortable temperature, under air conditioning.

There are many dedicated lanes for buses. There are almost no traffic jams in the city, especially compared to Moscow.

In Singapore, there are regular taxis with a mileage meter and Grab Taxi (the local equivalent of Uber. If you take a regular, non-premium car, you can get to any part of the city for 25-30 SGD (up to 1,418 RUR). If you go to Friday evening in the rain from the center, the price can increase to 40-50 SGD (1900-2364 R), but for this you will have to travel really far and for a long time. On the scale of a country measuring 50 by 27 km, this is not easy.

Many people use taxis. Shopping malls have special exits where there is a queue for a taxi.

Personal car

If you are used to driving your own car, Singapore will be very difficult for you. The Singapore authorities have done everything to ensure that people travel by public transport. Owning a car is very expensive here.

Singapore has a fixed number of cars by law. There are also a limited number of licenses to own a car (COE), and new ones stopped being issued in 2018.

COE is purchased for 10 years. Depending on the type of car, a license costs 35,000-55,000 SGD (1.6-2.6 million rubles). When purchasing, you must pay a registration fee - this is 140% of the cost of the car. Import duty is another 31% of the cost. Plus road tax, insurance and number plates.

As a result, a new 2017 Audi A4 in Singapore costs SGD 182,000 already with a license. BMW 328 - SGD 238,000. Mercedes E-200 - 202,000 SGD. On a loan at 2-4% per annum, you can take out only 60% of the cost of the car.

A liter of AI-95 gasoline costs 2.2 SGD (105 R), diesel - 1.56 SGD (74 RUR).

Parking is almost always paid, even next to the house. If you work in the center and want to leave your car in the parking lot work time, be prepared to pay 5-6 SGD (236-283 R) per hour before 17:00 and an average of 3 SGD (142 R) per hour after 17:00.

105 R

costs a liter of AI-95 gasoline

Another significant cost item for a car is toll roads. In recent years there have been more and more of them. Not only express highways are tolled here, but also entrance to the city center. On Sunday travel is free, and on weekdays during rush hour travel on one of the main highways will cost 3 SGD (142 R) for a passenger car. More expensive for trucks, cheaper for motorcycles.

The payment device in every car is located under the windshield. Money is withdrawn automatically the moment you pass through a gate with a reader.

Cafes and restaurants

Singaporeans joke that food is their national sport. Traveling to the other end of the city for a certain dish is a normal practice. Establishments with delicious food are scattered throughout the city. Mostly the cuisine is Asian.

Hawker centers were a revelation for me. These are food courts that are found everywhere in Singapore. Hawker centers have a lot of Chinese, Peranakan and Korean dishes. Huge portions cost 2-4 SGD (95-190 R). The establishments here are unbranded; the signs indicate only the cuisine or type of dish. Large hawker centers also offer Western and Japanese cuisine.

A huge percentage of residents, regardless of age, nationality and social status, constantly eat in hawker centers. Here, a top manager can have lunch at the same table with the janitor of a neighboring office, a schoolchild, or an elderly handkerchief seller on the street.

76% of Singapore's population is of Chinese origin. It is not customary for them to cook at home, unless it is necessary to feed a child. But children also begin to be fed in hawker centers from the age of 3-4 years.

Initially, HDB social housing didn't even have stoves, probably to discourage people from cooking at home.

In addition to hawker centers, there are food courts and cafes that are much more similar to Russian ones. You can eat something more familiar in them. Business lunch will cost 10-15 SGD (470-710 R ) per serving.

A traditional Singaporean breakfast is kaya toast with butter and coconut jam, two boiled eggs and tea or coffee. In the business district, this will cost from 3 SGD (142 R). A European breakfast with pastries and omelettes costs about 10 SGD (472 RUR).

Dinner in an ordinary restaurant in the center for two will cost about 100 SGD (4730 RUR) without alcohol. Liquor is expensive in Singapore due to import duties. A 0.5 liter bottle of Heineken beer in a bar will cost 11 SGD (520 R), in a supermarket - 7.5 SGD (354 R ). Chilean table wine “Sauvignon Blanc” costs 10-15 SGD (from 470 R) per glass in a restaurant and 20-30 SGD per bottle in a supermarket.

4730 R

is it worth dinner in a restaurant for two without alcohol?

Products

The three largest supermarket chains are Fairprice, Giant and, the most expensive, Cold Storage. There is hardly an area in the city that does not have one of these stores. There are also tiny Seven-Eleven supermarkets everywhere.

Many Singaporeans save time and order groceries through Honestbee's delivery service. Delivery costs 3.5 SGD (165 RUR) per order. The products are the same as in the store, on the website you can

Approximate prices for products are as follows:

• 300 g chilled chicken breast, Malaysia - 3 SGD (142 R).
• 300 g chilled pork fillet, Malaysia - 4 SGD (190 R).
• 300 g chilled beef sirloin steak, Australia - 11-30 SGD (520-1418 R).
• 300 g of fresh tiger shrimp, Malaysia - 10 SGD (472 R).
• 1 kg of potatoes, Malaysia - 2 SGD (95 R).
• 1 kg of carrots, Malaysia - 2 SGD (95 R).
• 1 kg of tomatoes, Malaysia - 3 SGD (142 R).
• 1 dozen eggs, Malaysia - 2 SGD (95 R).
• 1 liter of milk, Australia - 3.5 SGD (165 R).
• 400 g of white bread for toast, Singapore - 2 SGD (95 R).
• Bread from a bakery, Singapore - 6.5 SGD (307 R).
• 1 kg of rice, Malaysia - 1 SGD (47 R).

I indicate the country of origin because there are still Chinese products everywhere. They are much cheaper, but there is an opinion that it is unsafe to eat and cook with them due to chemicals, hormones and antibiotics. We try not to buy Chinese. We spend about 1000 SGD (47,284 RUR) on groceries per month; we mostly dine out.

RUB 47,284

we spend a month on groceries

We also buy drinking water. A 1.5 liter bottle costs from 0.75 SGD (35 R). You can drink the tap water here, but it has an unusual taste.

Internet and mobile communications

The leaders in the Singapore telecommunications market are Singtel and Starhub. There is also Circles Life, but it has appeared recently and is still trying to attract customers with low prices. And I simply do not recommend the M1 company to you.

Mobile communications can be paid for with prepaid cards. This method is suitable if you do not yet have a long-term work, study or other visa. With a visa, you can apply for a postpaid tariff - an invoice will be sent to the post office once a month.

If you sign up for a postpaid plan for 2 years, you can take a phone along with it. You will have to pay a little more per month, but the total amount will in any case be less than if you buy a phone and pay separately mobile communications. In January 2018, you could make an initial payment of 400 SGD (18,900 RUR), rent an iPhone 8 for two years, then pay 50 SGD (2364 RUR) per month for 3 GB of Internet and 200 minutes of calls.

1500 R

costs a month of home internet

The newer the phone model, the less profitable such a contract is. Prices are reduced six months after the phone is released.

You can save on home Internet with the “SIM card + Internet only” package. The router and Internet at home will be free for the first six months. By default, the Internet here costs from 30 SGD (1418 R) per month for 200 Mbit/s and from 50 SGD per month for 500 Mbit/s.

Life

In Singapore, it is common to hire a helper to do housework. There are two options. You can invite an assistant for 3-4 hours once a week to clean and iron clothes. It costs 50 SGD (2364 RUR) per visit.

If you have children, they often hire a live-in assistant - they are called “helpers” or “maids” (from the English maid - maid). Usually helpers and maids are women from the Philippines, Indonesia or Burma. Their working day starts at 7-8 am and ends at 8-9 pm. Sunday is a day off. Common helper duties include cleaning, ironing, cooking, grocery shopping, caring for children, pets, the elderly or people with disabilities.

It is necessary to conclude a contract with the helper. The standard contract period is 2 years. This is usually done through an agency, which also helps you find a helper and arrange all visa formalities - for helpers in Singapore there is a special Foreign Domestic Worker visa.

66,000 R

the cost of a house helper per month, if you take all the expenses per year and divide them by 12 months

As the employer, you are entirely responsible for the assistant. Her residence and stay at your address is regulated by law. If your assistant gets sick, you are required to pay for her treatment.

How much does a helper cost:

1. Salary 600-800 SGD per month (28-39 thousand rubles).
2. Additional products, if for some reason the helper cannot eat the same as you - about 250 SGD per month (11,821 R).
3. Fixed tax - 265 SGD per month (12,530 RUR).
4. Accident insurance includes hospitalization - an average of 300 SGD for 2 years (14,185 RUR).
5. Flights to your hometown and back - 200-400 SGD once a year (9500-18,913 RUR).

Total - approximately 1100-1400 SGD per month (52-66 thousand rubles), if you take the total amount for the year and divide by 12.

Despite all the above costs and hiring features, it is rare for a Chinese family with children or elderly parents in Singapore to manage without such an assistant. In addition, maternity leave in Singapore is 4 months for citizens and permanent residents and only 2 months for expats.

Grandparents in Singapore usually work as long as possible. The pension here is exactly what you yourself have managed to accumulate over the years of work. It is very easy to spend your savings at the first difficult medical case. So people in Singapore don’t count on help from their grandparents.

For working expat moms, having a home helper is almost mandatory: you can’t cope without her. All my working friends in Singapore, as well as a fair number of non-working ones, have an assistant, and this is a real lifesaver.

Services sector

Massages, body wraps, spas, beauty treatments - all this is, of course, available in Singapore, but you shouldn’t expect low prices, as, for example, in Thailand.

Approximate prices in a regular salon are as follows:

• Men's haircut - 20 SGD (950 RUR).
• Women's haircut - 20-60 SGD (950-2900 RUR) depending on hair length.
• Coloring 60-120 SGD (2900-5700 R).
• Classic edged manicure with OPI varnish - 28 SGD (1323 R), with gel polish - 48 SGD (2270 R).
• Classic pedicure with polish - 38 SGD (1800 R), with gel polish - 68 SGD (3215 R).

A massage costs on average 35 SGD for 30 minutes or 65 SGD (3100 R) per hour. For comparison: in Thailand, on the beaches of Phuket, an hour-long full body massage with oil in SGD will cost 16 SGD in the low season and 24 SGD in the high season.

950 R

worth a men's haircut

Sports and fitness

Singapore is a paradise for summer sports lovers. It’s always warm here, there are many parks, convenient infrastructure for running, cycling and rollerblading. There are a lot of swimming pools in the city: you can go swimming endlessly. There are beaches here too, some of which you can swim in, but still, Singapore is a port city, and the water here is not very clean.

Large residential complexes often have tennis courts. They are free for residents, so tennis is very accessible here, as is badminton. Lessons with a tennis coach cost 100 SGD (4728 RUR) per hour.

Several large shopping centers have sports facilities such as a climbing wall or ice skating rink. It costs about 35 SGD (1660 R) per session. Climbing walls are popular in Singapore. Some are equipped with an “automatic partner” - this is a special mechanism that will catch you if you suddenly fall off the wall. You can safely go to such climbing walls alone, if suddenly there is no partner for training - I gladly take advantage of this opportunity.

9500 R

Unlimited yoga subscription per month

Wakeboarding and wakesurfing are available in Singapore all year round, my husband and I are very happy about this. In January and February there is a season of strong winds - at this time you can even wind and kitesurf here.

There are also many fitness and yoga centers in Singapore. An unlimited monthly subscription will cost about 200 SGD (9500 RUR).

Intellectual leisure

Let's say you're not a fan of physical activity and prefer to have fun in a different way. Unfortunately, the number of large-scale events in Singapore is much smaller than in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Concerts of performers of the Scorpions or Sting level take place 4-6 times a year. Tickets for the stands cost from 170 SGD (8,000 R), dance floor - about 300 SGD (14,200 R).

Every September, the Formula 1 night race is held in Singapore. For her sake, half of the center is closed off, and famous musicians, such as Bon Jovi or Robbie Williams, are invited to the opening.

RUB 14,200

costs a ticket to the dance floor for a concert of a famous performer like Sting

Singapore has theater and opera, but, in my opinion, the productions cannot compare with the level of theaters in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

I went dancing in Singapore and paid 40 SGD per class (1890 RUR). I also attended cooking classes at Kulinarion - it costs from 88 SGD (4160 RUR), during class you prepare three different dishes. I also took first aid courses just in case, they cost 160 SGD (7565 RUR). Sometimes my friends and I go to play quests - from 28 SGD(1323 R) per room, session lasts 45 minutes.

The Meetup website is popular in Singapore. Here you can look for like-minded people with even the most unusual interests. The website organizes meetings, master classes, games and discussion clubs for every taste. There are free events. Larger events can be found on the Eventbright portal, but they are all paid.

You can always just go to the movies. Evening session costs about 12 SGD (570 RUR). By default, movies are shown in English with Chinese subtitles, and if the movie was shot in China, then vice versa.

Trips

Traveling around Asia is very easy from Singapore. You can fly to the beach in Thailand in 2-2.5 hours, to ski resorts in Japan - 7 hours. If you fly with local low-cost airlines - Eirasia, Tiger, Scoot, Jet Star - tickets will be very inexpensive.

If you buy a low-cost airline ticket about a month in advance, for 100-150 SGD you can fly round trip to the following countries:

1. Thailand - Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok.
2. Indonesia - Bali island, Java.
3. Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi resort.
4. Cambodia - Phnom Penh.
5. Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City.

If you have a budget of 300 SGD (14,200 RUR) per person, then you can fly anywhere in Asia. My friends and I most often fly to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Near Singapore there are the Indonesian islands of Bintan and Batam. You can get there in 45 minutes by ferry for 40 SGD (1890 RUR). The islands have clean beaches, clear water and few sports activities. There’s not much else to do there, but if you want a change of scenery or swim with the kids, then this is a great option.

1890 R

there is a ferry from Singapore to a tropical island with a beach and clear sea

Children

Having children in Singapore is very expensive if you are an expat. Here's some simple math.

Pregnancy management: 100-300 SGD per visit (4,728-14,185 RUR). On average, 12 visits are needed if the pregnancy is problem-free.

Natural childbirth without the use of forceps and epidural anesthesia in a conditionally state maternity hospital and 2 nights in a ward for 4-6 people will cost approximately 4,000 SGD (189,136 R). In a private maternity hospital - 8,000-10,000 SGD (378-472 thousand rubles). Epidural anesthesia will add about 3000 SGD (141,852 R) to the amount. Caesarean section - another 2000-4000 SGD depending on the maternity hospital.

I had a natural birth with an epidural. I spent two nights in a solitary ward. All this cost 8,500 SGD (401,914 RUR) - fortunately, the entire amount was covered by insurance.

RUB 401,914

my birth cost, fortunately, it was covered by insurance

Annual health insurance, which covers pregnancy and childbirth, costs from 4,000 to 8,000 SGD ( 189-378 thousand rubles). Often it contains a condition that at least 10 months must pass from the start of the policy to the birth, so that women do not buy insurance while already pregnant.

In kindergarten You can leave your child from 7 am to 7 pm. Groups have up to 15 children. The cheapest kindergarten I've heard of costs 700 SGD per month (33,000 RUR), otherwise everywhere else the kindergarten costs 1000-1200 SGD(47-57 thousand rubles).

School - international or just private - costs from 2500 to 4500 SGD per month (118-213 thousand rubles). This does not include uniforms, bus fees, meals and other additional expenses. To get a place in a regular public school, you need either citizenship or permanent resident status.

The Russian-speaking community in Singapore is quite large, so there is a school and a kindergarten in Russian. There are simply language, dance and other clubs in Russian.

, who lived for a year and a half in Singapore.

1. 3 million people live in Singapore. Mainly the Chinese, famous for their obedience. Lee Kuan Yew, the ruler of Singapore from 1959 to 1990, had virtually unlimited power there, which allowed him to create a “computer state”: an Orwellian totalitarian state. Singapore's island position contributed a lot to this.

The truth is, Lee Kuan Yew managed to create a state with a robot-like population that would live ideal lives and bring maximum returns to their state. In terms of population composition, indeed, even now the Chinese make up a significant percentage of the population - around 77% - and indeed it was built on their workaholism and diligence. modern Singapore. But the main thing is what methods and restrictions were used to achieve this, how an entire generation of residents of the port city was deprived of their usual life. This can be called a successful experiment; Singapore now occupies a leading position in the world economy - but it was carried out on living people, which seems terrifying. It is enough to talk with any of the taxi drivers over 60 to understand how much they do not encourage the policies of the ruling party and the LKYu itself in the past.

About the state-computer account, it’s also true - the whole city is covered by video surveillance, the police are almost invisible on the street - only in especially dangerous places, for example in the subway. Everything that happens inside the country is under control, the border of the island is small - every centimeter can be controlled, every person is controlled in one way or another, snitching is encouraged in the country. Let's say, after littering on the street, a random passer-by can film you and send the photo to the police. I haven’t come across such situations myself, but I’ve heard of them. They say there are a lot of plainclothes officers walking the streets, and if you arouse suspicion, they may come check your documents. But in general, the police inspire trust, they communicate politely, do not provoke rudeness, and even in the event of a routine check, they will “serve” a tourist or a foreigner like a manager in a bank.

2. Singapore consists of three zones - tourist, economic and residential. Each zone is separated from the other by a border - an immaculate lawn five kilometers wide.

Regarding the lawn, of course, now this is not so noticeable, because the territory is increasingly being built up with new buildings, but as for the three zones, they really exist. There is an economic business zone - called the CBD, where all the major offices of banks and companies are concentrated, and indeed, there are no residential or tourist areas nearby. Eat tourist area- this is Sentosa Island or, for example, a zoo. In general, there is not one or two such zones, but as a rule there are no residential areas nearby, everything is done specifically for tourists. And there are sleeping quarters, of which there are a lot and they are really fenced off by lawns from each other - not 5 kilometers apart, but beautiful and large.

3. Violations of public order are severely punished. The fine for spitting on the ground is $500. The fine for smoking in public places is $500. Throwing away trash, such as a piece of paper - a fine of $500. The fine for leaving water in saucers under pots while watering flowers is $500 (water attracts mosquitoes).

Everything is correct here, Singapore is a city of fines, or as they say in English - fine city - which can be translated as a beautiful city, and the city of fines. Regarding the water in saucers under pots, once there was even a commission that selectively went from house to house and checked that there was no water in the saucers (maybe it still exists). This important rule helped the country get rid of epidemics of fever and malaria, because they practically got rid of mosquitoes. Indeed, in 1.5 years in Singapore, I have never been bitten by mosquitoes - their drainage systems and fines do an excellent job.

4. The number of cars in Singapore is artificially limited. To own a car, you must first buy a car permit at a special auction (the permit is issued for a period of 10 years). This permit will cost several tens of thousands of dollars. Then you need to buy the car itself, which is subject to an import duty of 41% of the cost. And finally, you need to pay a registration fee - 140% of the cost of the car. Thus, the purchase of, for example, a modest Toyota Corolla will cost no less than $100,000.

Absolutely true, except for the percentages. Time moves forward and the numbers have, of course, changed. But the essence remained the same - due to the size of the state, they were forced to introduce an artificial restriction of cars on the island, and in order to create a competent and convenient infrastructure, they also had to establish significant taxes on imports and servicing. Therefore, a car in Singapore is for wealthy people.
But in fact, you don’t need a car there, city transport works very well, taxis are very affordable. Therefore, you don’t feel any discomfort from not having a car there.

5. If a dog barks at night, its vocal cords are cut. Men should always wear trousers, no matter how hot it is. Women should also always wear stockings, even if it is thirty-five degrees outside.

For a year and a half I have never heard a dog bark, either day or night - as well as the dogs themselves - very, very rarely and of very good breeds. Probably everyone has already been reset. But it looks like there was once a similar rule, it’s very much in the style of the LKY. Regarding clothes for men and women - now it’s not so strict, especially if you’re a newcomer - you can wear whatever you want, no one will reprimand you. But, again, when the island was turning from a port city into a financial center, people had to be forcibly dressed from whatever they could into trousers and stockings - even if it was +35 outside, so that Western people could see something similar to a civilized society. And now, of course, people are used to it, they understand everything themselves - especially with the arrival of large corporations. There is no such law anymore.

6. Each car is equipped with a built-in siren, which stuns the driver if he exceeds the speed of 80 km/h.

It seems to me that such a system should be installed in every car designed for use in urban environments. But I haven’t seen anything like this in Singapore; I used to take a taxi and drive at 100 km/h - there was no siren. Perhaps it used to be there to teach people to drive carefully.

7. After 18-00 it is forbidden to ride in a car alone. You must give rides to work colleagues or travel companions. Are you traveling alone? The fine is $500.

They say that there used to be such a rule when you were in the business district area. Now you can drive alone, the road system is well established and works very well without this rule. There is a toll road system, plus taxi drivers charge an additional fee for entering the business district area. In general, they beat this rule with money.

8. Every Singaporean driver is required to place a special sensor under the bottom of the car so that the police are always aware of all his movements. Police are tracking traffic on special monitors. Pedestrians, when entering the house, are required to give their name to the security guard who is constantly on duty at the door. In addition, the entire city is flooded with video cameras.

Everything here is true. Only regarding the daktik under the bottom of the car - the concept has been slightly changed, the main purpose of this daktik is to pay for travel on toll roads. There are a lot of places in the city where travel at certain times is paid. This sensor allows you to automatically make payments, and of course control the movements of the car. And yes, the sensor these days is located on the front panel of the car, and not under the bottom.

It is indeed mandatory to give your name to the security guard. Especially in condominiums, this rule is still in effect, although it is not always observed.

As for video cameras, there are actually a lot of them in the city, especially near metro stations, road junctions and crowded places. And how much is still not visible is difficult to imagine.

9. Singapore is a democratic state. But so that citizens do not vote at random, the passport details of voters are indicated on the ballot papers.

10. Theft, violence, drugs, bribes are punishable by death by hanging. For lighter crimes, punishment is punishable by whipping. The laws also apply to tourists - in Singapore, poor fellows who are careless enough to carry a little drugs with them for personal use are regularly executed.

It’s absolutely true that the death penalty for drugs and weapons in Singapore is hanging. It is enough just to exceed the maximum permissible zone and that’s it, life is over. There were indeed cases when people were executed from Western world, but they are rare. Mostly Asians who try to smuggle drugs across the border into Malaysia are executed. Every year there are several dozen cases.
For minor offenses they can be punished with a whip or blows with rods. Moreover, this is truly a painful sensation. Pumped-up comrades are doing this under 2 meters, putting all their power into every blow. They say that this skill is passed down from generation to generation; there are even entire dynasties.

11. The press is censored. Writing about sex and politics is prohibited.

It’s true, I would even say that you can only write about what they say or allow. You won’t see anything about any opposition or intrigue, scandals, investigations in Singapore newspapers. But sometimes, absolutely censored jokes about sex or politics slip through. Overall, these are very boring destinations in Singapore life.

12. To make Singaporeans smarter, Lee Kuan Yew took measures to encourage the right choice of partners. Men who marry women with higher education receive a reward. Women without a higher education degree who have a second child pay a fine. The illiterate are strongly encouraged to undergo sterilization in exchange for a significant amount of money.

Yes, that happened. LKYu even arranged a public speech on this matter - which was met with ambiguity, but such an experience was put above the peoples. As a result, this policy has led to the fact that there is now a critical decline in the birth rate in Singapore and the state plans to make up for population losses at the expense of visiting emigrants. Either there were few women with higher education, or they no longer planned to get married after receiving their education.
In general, now marriage in Singapore is associated with the joint purchase of a home, and not as a love union with the goal of having a family. People get married because they simply have nowhere to live.

13. Two children per family is considered optimal. Therefore, in the evenings, police call families who already have two children and remind them to take a birth control pill and use a condom.

I have not encountered this, but it is quite possible, based on the LKY policy of encouraging the right choice of partners and a penalty for the second child.
***
In general, you can think a lot about the structure of Singapore; in our time it is truly an advanced civilization. Perhaps some prototype of the civilization of the future. A brilliant invention by LKYu and his associates. Their model looks very viable and promising, but unfortunately it does not allow a person to feel like he belongs and be confident in the future. This model is only capable of using a person, squeezing all the juice out of him and sending him back home.

Singapore is considered one of the most developed, safest and most comfortable countries in the world.

We have all seen the famous Marina Bay Hotel, amazing gardens, skyscrapers, etc., but few people know how ordinary people live here.

We were lucky enough to find a host through Couchsurfing, so we enjoyed local life to the fullest for three days. Our host was a young Indian guy living with his parents. In general, it was a discovery for me that 30% of the population of Singapore are Indians. They were brought here by the British at a time when Singapore was a British colony.

There are different levels of housing here, but the most popular is social housing, which was built by the state. A three-room apartment in this area costs from 300 thousand Singapore dollars (12 million rubles). The cost depends on several factors, for example, the distance from the city center. This is the most inexpensive new housing in the country.

Since Singapore has an equatorial climate, heavy rainfall is common here. Almost all the way from public transport stops to residential buildings There are special paths with rain roofs, so the risk of getting wet here is minimized.

The surrounding area is landscaped, there is not a speck around, there is a beautiful lawn everywhere and trees are planted.

Parking lots are located outside the courtyards. There are few cars here because owning a car in Singapore is very expensive. In order for people to be able to buy apartments here, the government has launched a special program. You pay from 10% to 30% of the cost of the apartment, and pay the rest over many years.

The areas provide areas for walking and recreation. Almost everywhere there are barrels in which you can make a barbecue.

The first floors are always non-residential. This space is used for bicycle parking.
If for some reason you cannot pay your mortgage, for example, you lost your job, then the government does not evict you, but finds you a job so that you become solvent again.

The space on the ground floors is also used as seating areas.

Mailboxes are also located on the ground floor.

Let's rise. It’s no longer the same as on the first floor; you can feel the Indian spirit here. This is a landing that could not withstand the onslaught of Indian traditions.

The neighbors are Chinese, everything is a little more modest with them.

Shared balcony. Singaporeans love greenery.

Here my Indian friends have chickens as pets. They don't really eat them, but keep them as pets.

View from the balcony. The houses are all similar to each other.

Let's go inside. This is the living room. A portrait of the apartment owners hangs above the TV.

View from a different angle. A hanging swing in the house is an interesting solution.
The cost of living in such an apartment is 300-400 Singapore dollars per month (12-16 thousand rubles). The bulk of this amount is electricity, and also includes payments for water, garbage collection and housing maintenance.

The apartment has a small storage room where they have a temple.

One of the rooms. Interesting fact. Despite the fact that Singapore is considered super safe, all residents of social housing have bars on their windows, although sometimes they do not even cover the front door. The logic is completely incomprehensible to me.

Spacious kitchen.

And finally, Olya with borscht and potato pies.