Cost of rent in Singapore for 4-6 months?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 269
Cost of rent in Singapore for 4-6 months?
Currently living in So Cal and considering living in Singapore for 4-6 purely for leisure. I've visited the country twice and done my some research into the cost of living in Singapore, but would appreciate the advice from people more familiar with living in the country.
How much should I budget for rent? Rent seems quite expensive compared to Los Angeles. Is that a fair assessment? I figured Orchard Rd area, say Somerset, was the best place for someone staying in Singapore for leisure. Are there better recommended areas? Not looking for luxury, but furnished is best. Guarded is also a plus.
How much should I budget for rent? Rent seems quite expensive compared to Los Angeles. Is that a fair assessment? I figured Orchard Rd area, say Somerset, was the best place for someone staying in Singapore for leisure. Are there better recommended areas? Not looking for luxury, but furnished is best. Guarded is also a plus.
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,887
Currently living in So Cal and considering living in Singapore for 4-6 purely for leisure. I've visited the country twice and done my some research into the cost of living in Singapore, but would appreciate the advice from people more familiar with living in the country.
How much should I budget for rent? Rent seems quite expensive compared to Los Angeles. Is that a fair assessment? I figured Orchard Rd area, say Somerset, was the best place for someone staying in Singapore for leisure. Are there better recommended areas? Not looking for luxury, but furnished is best. Guarded is also a plus.
How much should I budget for rent? Rent seems quite expensive compared to Los Angeles. Is that a fair assessment? I figured Orchard Rd area, say Somerset, was the best place for someone staying in Singapore for leisure. Are there better recommended areas? Not looking for luxury, but furnished is best. Guarded is also a plus.
For sommerset/orchard are you need to budget SGD $7000-$8000 per month. That's for a room, not for an apartment.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN/CLE
Programs: UA GS/1K, SQ SilverKris, DL MM-Silver
Posts: 2,099
Well, first of all you are not able to rent an apartment because you don't have long term visa. So Airbnb and/or hotels are your only choices. At the same time Airbnb does not allow to rent a place for more than 30 days so you have to move from place to place. The same applies to hotels.
For sommerset/orchard are you need to budget SGD $7000-$8000 per month. That's for a room, not for an apartment.
For sommerset/orchard are you need to budget SGD $7000-$8000 per month. That's for a room, not for an apartment.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN/CLE
Programs: UA GS/1K, SQ SilverKris, DL MM-Silver
Posts: 2,099
Currently living in So Cal and considering living in Singapore for 4-6 purely for leisure. I've visited the country twice and done my some research into the cost of living in Singapore, but would appreciate the advice from people more familiar with living in the country.
How much should I budget for rent? Rent seems quite expensive compared to Los Angeles. Is that a fair assessment? I figured Orchard Rd area, say Somerset, was the best place for someone staying in Singapore for leisure. Are there better recommended areas? Not looking for luxury, but furnished is best. Guarded is also a plus.
How much should I budget for rent? Rent seems quite expensive compared to Los Angeles. Is that a fair assessment? I figured Orchard Rd area, say Somerset, was the best place for someone staying in Singapore for leisure. Are there better recommended areas? Not looking for luxury, but furnished is best. Guarded is also a plus.
#6
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Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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You can also get 30 days hotel room at most of the 5-star majors for SGD 6000 but that won't have a kitchen, however hawker food is as cheap as cooking yourself. Advantage is slightly better location and amenities than most serviced apartments or airbnb would have, plus FF points. As stated accom in Singapore is much more expensive than LA unless you are a resident/citizen.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,887
You can also get 30 days hotel room at most of the 5-star majors for SGD 6000 but that won't have a kitchen, however hawker food is as cheap as cooking yourself. Advantage is slightly better location and amenities than most serviced apartments or airbnb would have, plus FF points.
If the goal is to see SEA countries, KL offers better price/performance in terms of minimizing lodging expenses.
Last edited by invisible; Feb 22, 2017 at 8:03 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SFO, OAK, SJC
Posts: 242
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 269
I am not sure that serviced apartments are available for more than 30 days period unless one has long term stay visa.
If the goal is to stay as close as Singapore as possible, than Johor would be an alternative with 1/3 of rental prices, but getting in and out daily to Singapore will be a pain. Plus after a week border officials on both sides may start asking questions.
If the goal is to see SEA countries, KL offers better price/performance in terms of minimizing lodging expenses.
If the goal is to stay as close as Singapore as possible, than Johor would be an alternative with 1/3 of rental prices, but getting in and out daily to Singapore will be a pain. Plus after a week border officials on both sides may start asking questions.
If the goal is to see SEA countries, KL offers better price/performance in terms of minimizing lodging expenses.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG LTP, HH D
Posts: 729
Mind you, even if you are able to rent or purchase public housing, that still could be more than US$2000/month rental or as much as US$600,000 or more to purchase depending on age of property, location and size.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,955
https://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/buy-prope...sidential.aspx
https://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/Topics/P...ers-guide.aspx
If you're OK with the 6 month minimum, rentals would range from ~usd300-350 for a 'common room' (local parlance for a room without its own bathroom), to ~usd2000 for a 3-bedroom private condo in the island's outskirts, to ~usd3200 for a 2-bedroom private condo in the central region.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 269
Officially, landlords aren't allowed to do rentals shorter than 6 months (both for public and private housing).
https://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/buy-prope...sidential.aspx
https://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/Topics/P...ers-guide.aspx
If you're OK with the 6 month minimum, rentals would range from ~usd300-350 for a 'common room' (local parlance for a room without its own bathroom), to ~usd2000 for a 3-bedroom private condo in the island's outskirts, to ~usd3200 for a 2-bedroom private condo in the central region.
https://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/buy-prope...sidential.aspx
https://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/Topics/P...ers-guide.aspx
If you're OK with the 6 month minimum, rentals would range from ~usd300-350 for a 'common room' (local parlance for a room without its own bathroom), to ~usd2000 for a 3-bedroom private condo in the island's outskirts, to ~usd3200 for a 2-bedroom private condo in the central region.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG LTP, HH D
Posts: 729
Almost all condo toilets in S'pore tend to be of the western bowl type (certainly those of built around/after the turn of the century) but some older public housing flats have the traditional Asian squat type for the "common" toilet.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN/CLE
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Best look into SIN's rules and expectations for admitting you as a Employment Passholder and potential Permanent Resident. Unlike the USA, they are picky and actually work to enforce it (nothing's perfect). And, if you're old enough, they won't want you. But, if you have a significant wad of cash to invest in SIN, they'll consider you regardless of age. Other route is to have employment lined up willing to sponsor your EP.
#15
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Just don't expect to ever acquire Singaporean citizenship, regardless of how long you live there, whether you marry a local, etc.
BTW, US$3200 per month seems low for a large private apartment near Orchard Road.
You can get some idea of prices for where you might live initially by looking at websites for serviced apartments. Many of these are located in very nice areas.
BTW, US$3200 per month seems low for a large private apartment near Orchard Road.
You can get some idea of prices for where you might live initially by looking at websites for serviced apartments. Many of these are located in very nice areas.