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Singapore - Shanghai

Senrab_nhoj

By Senrab_nhoj
in The Swanny

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Hassony

Hassony

Posted
Posted

I would be less inclined to live in Shanghai because the air pollution is much worse.

 

I was there last week, and the German guy I saw told me that his son's school closes down when the pollution gets over a certain level

 

The reason that I wouldn't move there permanently is that I'd really struggle with the food

 

 

 

 

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smithdown

smithdown

Posted
Posted

I was there last week, and the German guy I saw told me that his son's school closes down when the pollution gets over a certain level

 

The reason that I wouldn't move there permanently is that I'd really struggle with the food

 

 

you could buy ours

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JRC

JRC

Posted
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Visited Shanghai a lot, and always found it difficult to get to know well - a bit of an LA effect, I spent most time on slow-moving highways to our out-of-centre factory or on organised minibuses to corporate events and too little on the Bund or the more human-dimension streets, but my mate relocated there for 3 years, plus wife (both 50's, kids left home types) and loved it - for that long, anyway. Very much a gated ex-pat community experience though.

 

Another (younger) colleague went for a supposed short spell but has gone native there, married, kids, language - the lot, never coming home, and was the most unlikely ex-pat I could have imagined - only ate McDonalds for the first 3 months.

 

The pollution hangs heavy like a pall over everything in the morning, that's true, but those times when I managed to break out and just get around, it feels like an exciting, cosmopolitan, f***ed-up kind of place - in a good way.

 

Don't know Singapore, but never felt like going out of my way to go there, tbh. Sounds too sanitized - this is not, you understand, an expert, or remotely worthwhile, opinion.

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Tosh

Tosh

Posted
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Singapore is not as dull as it used to be, but is eye-wateringly expensive. AS a place to be based for exploring the region, it's likely better than Shanghai. Shanghai has a real buzz to it though

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Jonesy

Jonesy

Posted
Posted

How are we gonna send Panini World Cup sticker swaps to you then? Think about how you'll handle 2018 before you start making any rash moves.

 

by then we'll all have 3d printers ........you will be able to print out your own plane fly them to him

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JGL

JGL

Posted
Posted

I used to live in Shanghai for a year and I absolutely loved it. I can see it wouldn't be for everyone though, it can be chaotic and confusing. No one really speaks english, food is not always great etc. However, its great fun and an increadible adventure. I didn't think the air quality was that big an issue, if it's only for a year as well it won't have any long term effects if you're bringing kids for example either. Traffic can be quite bad but it's nowhere near Beijing for example. The city is huge though so it's key to live somewhere well located to where you need to go.

Just been briefly to Singapore and my impression is that it's a lot more boring but I would guess moving there would be a lot easier. Singapore is much cleaner, everything is more organized.

Another aspect is the weather. Shanghai is quite cold during winter and only really crazy hot during july/august while Singapore is really hot and humid all year around.

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Senrab_nhoj

Senrab_nhoj

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How are we gonna send Panini World Cup sticker swaps to you then? Think about how you'll handle 2018 before you start making any rash moves.

 

Judging by the speed of the admin staff in sending yours out I may actually not make it out there before 2018 :)

 

We are just waiting to see what I get offered (if anything at all) before we start counting chickens or deciding preferences but from the comments so far is backing my initial thoughts... Singapore would be the 'safer' option, but more expensive balanced with the travel opportunities, Shanghai the more adventurous option... If it all comes to nowt I will be back contracting early 2015

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ChrisC

ChrisC

Posted
Posted

I may be heading off to Singapore or Shanghai with work later this year as a 'permanent' move. As ever there will be some wheat amongst the chaff of replies that might give me some things I may or may not need to consider etc......

 

Lived in Singapore the last three years so feel free to get in touch if I can help out at all mate.

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Stevie H

Stevie H

Posted
Posted

Lived in Singapore the last three years so feel free to get in touch if I can help out at all mate.

d'you enjoy singapore mate? was there earlier this year for work and some tourism time and just didn't get on with the place at all. too regimented, too organised and crazy expensive. place didn't feel like a lot of fun to me.

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Snookie

Snookie

Posted
Posted (edited)

Judging by the speed of the admin staff in sending yours out I may actually not make it out there before 2018 smile.gif

 

We are just waiting to see what I get offered (if anything at all) before we start counting chickens or deciding preferences but from the comments so far is backing my initial thoughts... Singapore would be the 'safer' option, but more expensive balanced with the travel opportunities, Shanghai the more adventurous option... If it all comes to nowt I will be back contracting early 2015

 

I've been in Singapore for nearly 5 years. Positive things:

  • Food - I've never had better. If you eat in local hawker centres (food courts) you can get a rally good meal for €3-4. A majority of locals hardly ever eat at home because of this. Its very much a sit, eat and go food culture which has very obvious downsides but ignoring that its difficult to overstate the range and quality of food you can get for next to nothing.

  • Transport - The city has a ridiculously cheap public transport system that covers the entire city. Changai is the anti-Heathrow. Its the best airport in the world. The public infrastructure is light years ahead of anywhere else in Asia and far better than in Europe. It shows what can be achieved with state investment.

  • Health system - The system is very good and cheap though it is not strong on patient care or bed-side manner.

  • Safety - Its the 'safest' city I've ever been in. Crime is obviously there, but most ex-pats never encounter it.

  • Taxation rates - They are stupidly low.

  • Other - Its a city-state but you can find some really beautiful places that make you forget you are in Singapore. I live near a nature reserve. In 15 minutes walk, I can be in the middle of the remnants of an old rain-forest that is as far away from the sterility of the city as you could find.

 

Not so Positive

 

Its the kind of place that a corporate HR Department would build if it had complete and absolute power. It permeates every aspect of life. The main national pass-times seem to be shopping, taking selfies and spamming online. There is a soul destroying obsession with conspicuous consumption and a complete lack of self-awareness among the local aspirational classes. A lot of ex-pats have the same mindset and they exhibit the same capacity for double think that the colonial classes once had. The fact that so many work in finance doesn't help. They were probably c**** before they came here.

 

Education and accommodation are really problematic for any one arriving with a family. There is no free public education system to speak of though it is very cheap if you are a citizen or permanent resident. 10k fees are not unusual for the better primary schools . The real problem though is educational philosophy, Most of the local schools adopt a learning by rote model and put extraordinary pressure on kids. They are expected to study 7 days a week. During holiday time - which is very short by European standards - they are expected to take extra grinds and classes. Its definitely part of the reason why the kids are in the main so dull. Not having the opportunity to dream and be a t*** seems to turn a lot of them into sterile vacuums. The only other option are foreign schools which adopt European model. They seem to offer a more rounded education but they cost a stupid amount.

 

Accommodation is absurdly expensive as is buying a car. You need, for example, to pay €20+k for basically what is the right to buy a car though that doesn't seem to stop people spending stupid amounts on them. The number of high performance sports cars and 4*4 is something that is very noticeable. To get around this, make sure they agree to an ex-pat package that includes accommodation, education and car (if required).

 

Let me know if you want to know more.

Edited by Snookie
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The Hitman

The Hitman

Posted
Posted

d'you enjoy singapore mate? was there earlier this year for work and some tourism time and just didn't get on with the place at all. too regimented, too organised and crazy expensive. place didn't feel like a lot of fun to me.

Exactly the same experience here. Found it deathly dull. The only mad thing is the Four Floors,which my mate lives opposite!

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Senrab_nhoj

Senrab_nhoj

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I've been in Singapore for nearly 5 years. Positive things:

  • Food - I've never had better. If you eat in local hawker centres (food courts) you can get a rally good meal for €3-4. A majority of locals hardly ever eat at home because of this. Its very much a sit, eat and go food culture which has very obvious downsides but ignoring that its difficult to overstate the range and quality of food you can get for next to nothing.

  • Transport - The city has a ridiculously cheap public transport system that covers the entire city. Changai is the anti-Heathrow. Its the best airport in the world. The public infrastructure is light years ahead of anywhere else in Asia and far better than in Europe. It shows what can be achieved with state investment.

  • Health system - The system is very good and cheap though it is not strong on patient care or bed-side manner.

  • Safety - Its the 'safest' city I've ever been in. Crime is obviously there, but most ex-pats never encounter it.

  • Taxation rates - They are stupidly low.

  • Other - Its a city-state but you can find some really beautiful places that make you forget you are in Singapore. I live near a nature reserve. In 15 minutes walk, I can be in the middle of the remnants of an old rain-forest that is as far away from the sterility of the city as you could find.

 

Not so Positive

 

Its the kind of place that a corporate HR Department would build if it had complete and absolute power. It permeates every aspect of life. The main national pass-times seem to be shopping, taking selfies and spamming online. There is a soul destroying obsession with conspicuous consumption and a complete lack of self-awareness among the local aspirational classes. A lot of ex-pats have the same mindset and they exhibit the same capacity for double think that the colonial classes once had. The fact that so many work in finance doesn't help. They were probably c**** before they came here.

 

Education and accommodation are really problematic for any one arriving with a family. There is no free public education system to speak of though it is very cheap if you are a citizen or permanent resident. 10k fees are not unusual for the better primary schools . The real problem though is educational philosophy, Most of the local schools adopt a learning by rote model and put extraordinary pressure on kids. They are expected to study 7 days a week. During holiday time - which is very short by European standards - they are expected to take extra grinds and classes. Its definitely part of the reason why the kids are in the main so dull. Not having the opportunity to dream and be a t*** seems to turn a lot of them into sterile vacuums. The only other option are foreign schools which adopt European model. They seem to offer a more rounded education but they cost a stupid amount.

 

Accommodation is absurdly expensive as is buying a car. You need, for example, to pay €20+k for basically what is the right to buy a car though that doesn't seem to stop people spending stupid amounts on them. The number of high performance sports cars and 4*4 is something that is very noticeable. To get around this, make sure they agree to an ex-pat package that includes accommodation, education and car (if required).

 

Let me know if you want to know more.

 

That's a great start thanks, will be in touch with more questions when options become clearer, the positive notes are the kids are really open to this move if it is the right thing for us to do as a family

 

d'you enjoy singapore mate? was there earlier this year for work and some tourism time and just didn't get on with the place at all. too regimented, too organised and crazy expensive. place didn't feel like a lot of fun to me.

 

Think one of the biggest positives is the doors this opens for us to explore / holiday the far east using this as a base.. with the transport infrastructure / hub nature of Singapore....

 

Lived in Singapore the last three years so feel free to get in touch if I can help out at all mate.

 

Will take you up on this when the options become clearer

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Stevie H

Stevie H

Posted
Posted

Exactly the same experience here. Found it deathly dull. The only mad thing is the Four Floors,which my mate lives opposite!

hah, i was staying just off orchard road as well. one side of the street a luxury mall with versace and armani logos everywhere and a steinway piano shop, other side of the street a pink neon multistorey brothel. very weird.

 

 

Think one of the biggest positives is the doors this opens for us to explore / holiday the far east using this as a base.. with the transport infrastructure / hub nature of Singapore....

 

yeah it's a good base alright i suppose. flight to the beach in phuket is only about an hour and a half. and as someone said, changi airport is ace - it's got a f***ing swimming pool in it.

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windy city red

windy city red

Posted
Posted

I've been in Singapore for nearly 5 years. Positive things:

  • Food - I've never had better. If you eat in local hawker centres (food courts) you can get a rally good meal for €3-4. A majority of locals hardly ever eat at home because of this. Its very much a sit, eat and go food culture which has very obvious downsides but ignoring that its difficult to overstate the range and quality of food you can get for next to nothing.

  • Transport - The city has a ridiculously cheap public transport system that covers the entire city. Changai is the anti-Heathrow. Its the best airport in the world. The public infrastructure is light years ahead of anywhere else in Asia and far better than in Europe. It shows what can be achieved with state investment.

  • Health system - The system is very good and cheap though it is not strong on patient care or bed-side manner.

  • Safety - Its the 'safest' city I've ever been in. Crime is obviously there, but most ex-pats never encounter it.

  • Taxation rates - They are stupidly low.

  • Other - Its a city-state but you can find some really beautiful places that make you forget you are in Singapore. I live near a nature reserve. In 15 minutes walk, I can be in the middle of the remnants of an old rain-forest that is as far away from the sterility of the city as you could find.

 

Not so Positive

 

Its the kind of place that a corporate HR Department would build if it had complete and absolute power. It permeates every aspect of life. The main national pass-times seem to be shopping, taking selfies and spamming online. There is a soul destroying obsession with conspicuous consumption and a complete lack of self-awareness among the local aspirational classes. A lot of ex-pats have the same mindset and they exhibit the same capacity for double think that the colonial classes once had. The fact that so many work in finance doesn't help. They were probably c**** before they came here.

 

Education and accommodation are really problematic for any one arriving with a family. There is no free public education system to speak of though it is very cheap if you are a citizen or permanent resident. 10k fees are not unusual for the better primary schools . The real problem though is educational philosophy, Most of the local schools adopt a learning by rote model and put extraordinary pressure on kids. They are expected to study 7 days a week. During holiday time - which is very short by European standards - they are expected to take extra grinds and classes. Its definitely part of the reason why the kids are in the main so dull. Not having the opportunity to dream and be a t*** seems to turn a lot of them into sterile vacuums. The only other option are foreign schools which adopt European model. They seem to offer a more rounded education but they cost a stupid amount.

 

Accommodation is absurdly expensive as is buying a car. You need, for example, to pay €20+k for basically what is the right to buy a car though that doesn't seem to stop people spending stupid amounts on them. The number of high performance sports cars and 4*4 is something that is very noticeable. To get around this, make sure they agree to an ex-pat package that includes accommodation, education and car (if required).

 

Let me know if you want to know more.

 

Wow. I'm from Singapore and I think Snookie got it spot on.

 

I get the sense that if you are on a absurdly extravagant expat package, you would have more fun in Singapore than Shanghai just because things are more organized. Public transporation (bus and trains) is even cheaper in Shanghai I believe but not as clean.

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  • 2 months later...
ChrisC

ChrisC

Posted
Posted

Ok

 

Have now had Singapore confirmed and its now down to the package. Any recommendations for websites for comparing cost of living etc?

 

Happy to answer any questions on living expenses etc mate, drop me a line at cjcorney@gmail.com

 

Cheers

 

Chris

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