Is Thailand The Best Place To Retire Or Pristine Singapore?

[Naam]

Actually if oh marry a Singaporean woman you get a one year - 5 years long term visa pass that allows you I work with no 90 day reporting and no financial requirements

So in many aspects it's seems easier than the Thai one ...this is "retirement visa " for those that take that marriage option

For the non marriage option while it is true that you don't have a retirement visa to apply , the current Permanent resident and employment pass scheme easily provides consultants with real skills a viable option to stay in Singapore long term if you like




Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

 

what part of "best place to retire" is it you don't understand? why would a retiree be interested to apply any skills and work after marrying a Singaporean?

 

i will now google trying to find out whether singlish translations for "retire" and "retiree" exist.
 

[MrWorldwide]

I don't get it, why would someone want to retire in Singapore? 

Unless you have loads of money and prefer the hustle and bustle of a city state, I feel that Thailand's a much better place to be. 

No offense but most of you would probably be better off in your native country/Thailand if retirement's the option. 

 

There are no pensions or any form of benefits in Singapore especially when you're a foreigner. 

 

 

 

 

I dont get it either, but I'm fairly confident that there arent any pensions for the vast majority of Thai people either - the concept of 'work till you die' isnt restricted to Singapore. As for foreigners, why would any country (other than the Western nanny states) ever offer foreigners a pension simply for implanting themselves in the country until they reach a given age ?  As populations age and the tax base shrinks, I believe we'll see a significant reduction in the size and scope of welfare for the elderly in the West. Most of us accept that there are some interesting times ahead for the nanny states. 

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Yup... Mr. Worldwide... I agree with your analysis. I gave up my air and space in a nanny state to the less unfortunate.

[harrry]

Singaporians have one of the best systems for their residents.  Theirr low cost government housing which means that one of the largest costs of living have been covered as a person owns his own house by the time he is old enough to "retire".

[Naam]

Singaporians have one of the best systems for their residents.  Theirr low cost government housing which means that one of the largest costs of living have been covered as a person owns his own house by the time he is old enough to "retire".

this thread is not about the housing entitlements of Singaporeans but about the potential retirement of foreigner in Singapore who are already old enough to retire.

[harrry]

 

Singaporians have one of the best systems for their residents.  Theirr low cost government housing which means that one of the largest costs of living have been covered as a person owns his own house by the time he is old enough to "retire".

this thread is not about the housing entitlements of Singaporeans but about the potential retirement of foreigner in Singapore who are already old enough to retire.

 

Retire and marry a Singaporian.  She will have housing and as that has been already noted as the way to retire there.

Edited August 5, 2014 by harrry

[thailiketoo]

 

I don't get it, why would someone want to retire in Singapore? 

Unless you have loads of money and prefer the hustle and bustle of a city state, I feel that Thailand's a much better place to be. 

No offense but most of you would probably be better off in your native country/Thailand if retirement's the option. 

 

There are no pensions or any form of benefits in Singapore especially when you're a foreigner. 

 

 

 

 

I dont get it either, but I'm fairly confident that there arent any pensions for the vast majority of Thai people either - the concept of 'work till you die' isnt restricted to Singapore. As for foreigners, why would any country (other than the Western nanny states) ever offer foreigners a pension simply for implanting themselves in the country until they reach a given age ?  As populations age and the tax base shrinks, I believe we'll see a significant reduction in the size and scope of welfare for the elderly in the West. Most of us accept that there are some interesting times ahead for the nanny states. 

 

 

Don't all Thai government workers get a pension?  Gee there are lots of teachers, medical workers, military and all of the other government agencies eh? 
 

[Berkshire]

 

Actually if oh marry a Singaporean woman you get a one year - 5 years long term visa pass that allows you I work with no 90 day reporting and no financial requirements

So in many aspects it's seems easier than the Thai one ...this is "retirement visa " for those that take that marriage option

For the non marriage option while it is true that you don't have a retirement visa to apply , the current Permanent resident and employment pass scheme easily provides consultants with real skills a viable option to stay in Singapore long term if you like




Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

 

what part of "best place to retire" is it you don't understand? why would a retiree be interested to apply any skills and work after marrying a Singaporean?

 

i will now google trying to find out whether singlish translations for "retire" and "retiree" exist.
 

 

 

So Mr. Chee is a Singaporean who is retired (?) and living in Thailand now.  Perhaps Mr. Chee could share with us his reasons for settling in Thailand instead of his homeland....?
 

[eppic]

 

Singaporians have one of the best systems for their residents.  Theirr low cost government housing which means that one of the largest costs of living have been covered as a person owns his own house by the time he is old enough to "retire".

this thread is not about the housing entitlements of Singaporeans but about the potential retirement of foreigner in Singapore who are already old enough to retire.

 

 

Singapore DOES have a very good retirement program, it's called CPF (central provident fund).  Basically, it's a contributory program that every Singaprean worker has to contribute to, as do many non-Singaporeans (I won't get into all the rules). It's one of the best such schemes in the world, but it does not reward the lazy dregs that don't like to work.

 

So, most Singaporeans, or those foreigners that have worked many years in Singapore, will have a very nice retirement nest egg.  I dated a teacher there with a relatively modest salary, and she already had hundreds of thousands SGD in the account by the time she was 30. It is similar to the US 401k  or IRA program, with strict withdrawal rules.

 

That's different from just moving to Singapore and retiring with a pension, but presumably then you should have a pension coming from other sources, right?

 

Yes, it's true that if you are a deadbeat that has never had much interest in working, you can't just  move to Singapore and live off the government tit as you could do in socialist Europe...but you can't do that in Thailand either.

 

However, you could retire in Singapore if you had worked there (I had a PR, for example) or marry a local. The fact that there is no retirement visa does not mean you could not retire there, but it would be similar to retiring in Manhattan, London, or Tokyo -- not many people want to do that, but some do. I personally prefer cities, so I would be open to the most livable urban centers, and Singapore would be on the list. But I would also not consider any location in Thailand other than Bangkok, so again the comparison should really be Singapore vs Bangkok, not vs "Thailand"....SIN and "Thailand" have nothing whatsoever in common.

 

And yes, Singapore is expensive, but these surveys that list it as the most expensive place are complete nonsense . I have lived in Both NYC and London (kept a place in London for my wife during part of my Singapore stay), and cost of living for comparable lifestyle is far higher in central London or Manhattan than it is in Singapore. Plus, you get crap weather in London, unbearable for me.

 

The one big exception is cars, and that inclusion is undoubtedly why Singapore tops the "most expensive" list, but car's aren't necessary (or even really desirable) in Singapore. I had a company car much of my time there, but I rarely used it since taking a taxi or the MRT was usually easier, faster, and cheaper when parking and traffic hassles are included.

Edited August 5, 2014 by eppic

[MrWorldwide]

 

 

 

Don't all Thai government workers get a pension?  Gee there are lots of teachers, medical workers, military and all of the other government agencies eh? 
 

 

 

What percentage of Thais are so fortunate ? Thailand's biggest export earners aren't dominated by government workers, 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Thailand#Industries

 

Whatever subsidies rice farmers might have received in the past, I'd be surprised if they had a pension plan beyond what their kids can provide when they can no longer work. Genuinely happy to hear otherwise but from where I'm sitting it looks like a very hard life from go to whoa. 

[sundrenched]

And yes, Singapore is expensive, but these surveys that list it as the most expensive place are complete nonsense . I have lived in Both NYC and London (kept a place in London for my wife during part of my Singapore stay), and cost of living for comparable lifestyle is far higher in central London or Manhattan than it is in Singapore. Plus, you get crap weather in London, unbearable for me.

 

I disagree.  I lived in Manhattan and London too and still travel to New York frequently, and rent is about the same, whereas groceries are MUCH, MUCH cheaper.   The only thing that's expensive in Manhattan is the rent, the rest is cheap.  Also clothing, basically all shopping.  As for restaurants, ignoring the hawker centers which got old really fast (low quality food with poor ambiance), New York has a much wider range of dining options at moderate points, from fantastic buffets at Korean groceries and places like Whole Foods (typical cost around 10 dollars) and diners all the way up.  During my last stay there I went to a cafe almost every lunchtime that had a huge salad with a large piece of grilled salmon and unlimited soda for $10 + tax.  Is that expensive?  Plenty such options around in New York.  In Singapore, there isn't a whole lot of offering between hawker centers at 5-10 Sing dollars and relatively more expensive places starting at maybe 30-40 Sing dollars for a meal.

 

London is expensive for everything too, but I doubt it's worse than Singapore.  I lived in London for 3 years, but that was early in the millenium so a long time ago. 

[eppic]

 

And yes, Singapore is expensive, but these surveys that list it as the most expensive place are complete nonsense . I have lived in Both NYC and London (kept a place in London for my wife during part of my Singapore stay), and cost of living for comparable lifestyle is far higher in central London or Manhattan than it is in Singapore. Plus, you get crap weather in London, unbearable for me.

 

I disagree.  I lived in Manhattan and London too and still travel to New York frequently, and rent is about the same, whereas groceries are MUCH, MUCH cheaper.   The only thing that's expensive in Manhattan is the rent, the rest is cheap.  Also clothing, basically all shopping.  As for restaurants, ignoring the hawker centers which got old really fast (low quality food with poor ambiance), New York has a much wider range of dining options at moderate points, from fantastic buffets at Korean groceries and places like Whole Foods (typical cost around 10 dollars) and diners all the way up.  During my last stay there I went to a cafe almost every lunchtime that had a huge salad with a large piece of grilled salmon and unlimited soda for $10 + tax.  Is that expensive?  Plenty such options around in New York.  In Singapore, there isn't a whole lot of offering between hawker centers at 5-10 Sing dollars and relatively more expensive places starting at maybe 30-40 Sing dollars for a meal.

 

London is expensive for everything too, but I doubt it's worse than Singapore.  I lived in London for 3 years, but that was early in the millenium so a long time ago. 

 

 

Not sure what to say, other than you are completely off base.

 

I also still travel to both NYC and London, and have been apartment shopping in both within the past year.

 

The London flat (Earls Court) I gave up a year ago was 2/3 the size of my Singapore (Orchard Rd) place, but 20% more expensive, drafty, with horrible bathrooms and noisy neighbors. My Singapore place was pristine, modern, with 24 hour security, a huge pool and tennis court, immediately next to the best shopping in the city.

 

You need to compare the same QUALITY, and NYC and London apartments are both crap compared to the beautiful, modern places in Singapore. To get anything close to my Singapore place in London or NYC would cost easily double. This cost alone would dwarf any other cost discrepancies.  NYC and especially London places are old and creaky, tiny bathrooms, noisy...they aren't shiny and built of granite and marble...the few that are cost a FORTUNE.

 

Food is VERY expensive in either place, as well.  Yes, imported food items can be expensive in Singapore, but Manhattan grocery store prices are incredibly expensive, so overall grocery bills would be similar -- easily 30-40% more than suburbia. 

 

I do know what I am talking about, I didn't just invent the idea. We can agree to disagree I guess, but now way in hell I can be convinced that the cost is anywhere close on a quality-adjusted basis.

 

As I said, cars are a different story, as is perhaps buying a condo (NOT renting -- rental yields were 2% in my building!)

[LawrenceChee]

 

Actually if oh marry a Singaporean woman you get a one year - 5 years long term visa pass that allows you I work with no 90 day reporting and no financial requirements

So in many aspects it's seems easier than the Thai one ...this is "retirement visa " for those that take that marriage option

For the non marriage option while it is true that you don't have a retirement visa to apply , the current Permanent resident and employment pass scheme easily provides consultants with real skills a viable option to stay in Singapore long term if you like




Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

 
what part of "best place to retire" is it you don't understand? why would a retiree be interested to apply any skills and work after marrying a Singaporean?
 
i will now google trying to find out whether singlish translations for "retire" and "retiree" exist.
 
 

 
So Mr. Chee is a Singaporean who is retired (?) and living in Thailand now.  Perhaps Mr. Chee could share with us his reasons for settling in Thailand instead of his homeland....?
 

I like the stay in Chiang Mai and being able to bike without a helmet ...being close to mountains and having KFC delivered for a dollar. ...all things that are not available in Singapore

There is great good that I miss in Singapore, at times when I look at the ludicrous policies and visa situation I also miss the "by the book" styled policies in Singapore

However by and large when I consider ease of living, cost of living and the freedom I get in Chiang Mai ...Thailand beats Singapore as a retirement venue

Especially now when it's just a cheap flight back there whenever you miss the food in Singapore


Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Berkshire]

 

 

So Mr. Chee is a Singaporean who is retired (?) and living in Thailand now.  Perhaps Mr. Chee could share with us his reasons for settling in Thailand instead of his homeland....?
 

I like the stay in Chiang Mai and being able to bike without a helmet ...being close to mountains and having KFC delivered for a dollar. ...all things that are not available in Singapore

There is great good that I miss in Singapore, at times when I look at the ludicrous policies and visa situation I also miss the "by the book" styled policies in Singapore

However by and large when I consider ease of living, cost of living and the freedom I get in Chiang Mai ...Thailand beats Singapore as a retirement venue

Especially now when it's just a cheap flight back there whenever you miss the food in Singapore


Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

 

 

Fair enough....

[canman]

 

 

 

Actually if oh marry a Singaporean woman you get a one year - 5 years long term visa pass that allows you I work with no 90 day reporting and no financial requirements

So in many aspects it's seems easier than the Thai one ...this is "retirement visa " for those that take that marriage option

For the non marriage option while it is true that you don't have a retirement visa to apply , the current Permanent resident and employment pass scheme easily provides consultants with real skills a viable option to stay in Singapore long term if you like




Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

 
what part of "best place to retire" is it you don't understand? why would a retiree be interested to apply any skills and work after marrying a Singaporean?
 
i will now google trying to find out whether singlish translations for "retire" and "retiree" exist.
 
 

 
So Mr. Chee is a Singaporean who is retired (?) and living in Thailand now.  Perhaps Mr. Chee could share with us his reasons for settling in Thailand instead of his homeland....?
 

I like the stay in Chiang Mai and being able to bike without a helmet ...being close to mountains and having KFC delivered for a dollar. ...all things that are not available in Singapore

There is great good that I miss in Singapore, at times when I look at the ludicrous policies and visa situation I also miss the "by the book" styled policies in Singapore

However by and large when I consider ease of living, cost of living and the freedom I get in Chiang Mai ...Thailand beats Singapore as a retirement venue

Especially now when it's just a cheap flight back there whenever you miss the food in Singapore


Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

 

Lawrence

 

You can bike in Singapore without a helmet and KFC does deliver although the cost is 3.50

[Berkshire]

 

A bit off topic, but Interestingly enough, I know only one person with a Thai wife that meets my definition of "beautiful".  Guess where he met and ultimately married her? Yup, in Singapore, where she was attending university.

 

Of course, I have seen plenty of beautiful Thai women (again, by my definition), but rarely are they with farang in Bangkok (at least the parts I frequent). 99% of the hot Thai women I have seen are with a Thai man.

 

So true.  And this applies to young and old farangs, no difference.  Guys should understand that if they can't bag the top hotties in their own country, they're not going to be able to do it in Thailand either. 

[spidermike007]

Singapore is crazy expensive, and stupid boring. Nice city to visit, but not sure why anyone would want to live there. The $7000 annual license plate fee for a car is one aspect of it. I know the public transport is good. But, what about the desire to travel in the region? $88 for a tower of beer, in a local pub? $260 for dinner for four in a seafood court? On my last trip I could not visit the ATM often enough. Blew $3000US, in six days, and I was not exactly living it up, and was traveling with my woman. So, to answer your question if you are wealthy, Singapore could be an option. But, you would need $12,000US per month, to live comfortably there.


Spidermike
Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[LawrenceChee]

[quote name="canman" post="8204925" timestamp="1407294099"][quote name="LawrenceChee" post="8203387" timestamp="1407250343"] [quote name="Berkshire" post="8201719" timestamp="1407226976"] [quote name="Naam" post="8199435" timestamp="1407195730"] [quote name="LawrenceChee" post="8198913" timestamp="1407171561"]Actually if oh marry a Singaporean woman you get a one year - 5 years long term visa pass that allows you I work with no 90 day reporting and no financial requirements

So in many aspects it's seems easier than the Thai one ...this is "retirement visa " for those that take that marriage option

For the non marriage option while it is true that you don't have a retirement visa to apply , the current Permanent resident and employment pass scheme easily provides consultants with real skills a viable option to stay in Singapore long term if you like




Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand[/quote] 
what part of "best place to retire" is it you don't understand? why would a retiree be interested to apply any skills and work after marrying a Singaporean?
 
i will now google trying to find out whether singlish translations for "retire" and "retiree" exist.
 
 [/quote] 
So Mr. Chee is a Singaporean who is retired (?) and living in Thailand now.  Perhaps Mr. Chee could share with us his reasons for settling in Thailand instead of his homeland....?
 [/quote]
I like the stay in Chiang Mai and being able to bike without a helmet ...being close to mountains and having KFC delivered for a dollar. ...all things that are not available in Singapore

There is great good that I miss in Singapore, at times when I look at the ludicrous policies and visa situation I also miss the "by the book" styled policies in Singapore

However by and large when I consider ease of living, cost of living and the freedom I get in Chiang Mai ...Thailand beats Singapore as a retirement venue

Especially now when it's just a cheap flight back there whenever you miss the food in Singapore


Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand
 [/quote]
Lawrence
 
You can bike in Singapore without a helmet and KFC does deliver although the cost is 3.50[/quote]


Hahahaha the problem is when you get caught ... A sorry doesn't get you off :)

The cost of KFC is different they don't have fish fingers there and the cost of KFC is nuts there :)


Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[sundrenched]

Eppic, yes, let's agree to disagree. Maybe part of where I'm coming from is that my idea of quality is different from yours. Most luxurious Orchard Road condos are charmless aquarium boxes to me and Orchard Road itself a place to be avoided (overpriced, overcrowded, not so great selection, clothes and shoes in my size not available, annoying staff that follows you like a shadow...). Not that i like creaky and drafty, but a lot of those places have a real charm and warmth and are very comfortable if kept in good condition.

As for groceries, do you shop at Dean and Deluca only? If you go to regular supermarkets in Manhattan, things like yoghurt, fruits and vegetables, wine, etc. are much cheaper in Manhattan.

Shopping for clothes, again, much cheaper for what I like to buy. Sales prices in Singapore for brands like Banana Republic, Armani X, j Crew, etc. are often still higher than the regular price in New York. Then there's the online shopping with free shopping and incredible variety.

As for the quality comparisons, another reason why we may have a different impression is that in Singapore I don't find a comparable offering to the my sweet spot in NY. I'm never happier than in a nice casual diner or family restaurant, and there isn't much in Singapore at that level. Either hawker centers or boring inauthentic places like you find on Clarke Quay and where you get charged high prices for mediocre food and service (like bringing your food at different times from your companion). Edited August 6, 2014 by sundrenched

[soihok]

Lived in Singapore for 11 years (I am British).

 

Will return back there soon from KL for further work that should cover many years.

 

Great place. Looking forward to the move. Good school lined up for the yougest daughter.

 

Yes, it comes at a price but is well worth it.

 

ps. If you are worried about the price of a beer or curry crab, well, you aren't on the right page really.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

The Colonel and Mickie D's prices in Singapore is a non factor because if that is a concern then you ain't going to be living long. What is the world coming to? Hehe. "Hey Will that Double Big Mac is going to set you back a pretty penny! You better opt for Mac Nuggets!"

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Looks like deciding between Thailand and pristine Singapore is going to take divine intervention...

[soihok]

Divine intervention? Are you expecting a post from "neverdie" ?

 

I make the money in Singapore (presently KL) to retire in Thailand. (There is not a chance in the world I would want to retire in KL)

 

The price of  beer, seafood or a big mac is of no concern.

 

 

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Lived in Singapore for 11 years (I am British).
 
Will return back there soon from KL for further work that should cover many years.
 
Great place. Looking forward to the move. Good school lined up for the yougest daughter.
 
Yes, it comes at a price but is well worth it.
 
ps. If you are worried about the price of a beer or curry crab, well, you aren't on the right page really.

Wow! Jesus H Christ! Work? I'm RETIRED. Did that done that. But.. I hope my next work will be gate keeper, in heaven, and I'll be slamming that mother on ever troll that tries to get in!

[Fellini]

I've always imagined that I would be arrested within six hours if I ever set foot on Singaporean soil. It seems like everything is illegal there.

Though Thailand is hardly the freest place on earth, our values are far more liberal than Hong Kong's or Singapore's, as our culture has not been poisoned by Victorian morality. If you're just an old cracker who only cares about petty comforts and amenities and you don't value your freedom, then sure - live in Singapore.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

I've always imagined that I would be arrested within six hours if I ever set foot on Singaporean soil. It seems like everything is illegal there.

Though Thailand is hardly the freest place on earth, our values are far more liberal than Hong Kong's or Singapore's, as our culture has not been poisoned by Victorian morality. If you're just an old cracker who only cares about petty comforts and amenities and you don't value your freedom, then sure - live in Singapore.

No spring chickens in this forum and my definition of an "old cracker" is anyone over 21 with 10 years of work experience.

[canman]

[quote name="LawrenceChee" post="8203387" timestamp="1407250343"] [quote name="Berkshire" post="8201719" timestamp="1407226976"] [quote name="Naam" post="8199435" timestamp="1407195730"] [quote name="LawrenceChee" post="8198913" timestamp="1407171561"]Actually if oh marry a Singaporean woman you get a one year - 5 years long term visa pass that allows you I work with no 90 day reporting and no financial requirements

So in many aspects it's seems easier than the Thai one ...this is "retirement visa " for those that take that marriage option

For the non marriage option while it is true that you don't have a retirement visa to apply , the current Permanent resident and employment pass scheme easily provides consultants with real skills a viable option to stay in Singapore long term if you like




Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand[/quote] 
what part of "best place to retire" is it you don't understand? why would a retiree be interested to apply any skills and work after marrying a Singaporean?
 
i will now google trying to find out whether singlish translations for "retire" and "retiree" exist.
 
 [/quote] 
So Mr. Chee is a Singaporean who is retired (?) and living in Thailand now.  Perhaps Mr. Chee could share with us his reasons for settling in Thailand instead of his homeland....?
 [/quote]
I like the stay in Chiang Mai and being able to bike without a helmet ...being close to mountains and having KFC delivered for a dollar. ...all things that are not available in Singapore

There is great good that I miss in Singapore, at times when I look at the ludicrous policies and visa situation I also miss the "by the book" styled policies in Singapore

However by and large when I consider ease of living, cost of living and the freedom I get in Chiang Mai ...Thailand beats Singapore as a retirement venue

Especially now when it's just a cheap flight back there whenever you miss the food in Singapore


Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand
 [/quote]
Lawrence
 
You can bike in Singapore without a helmet and KFC does deliver although the cost is 3.50

Hahahaha the problem is when you get caught ... A sorry doesn't get you off

The cost of KFC is different they don't have fish fingers there and the cost of KFC is nuts there


Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Believe it or not in the country of rules and fines a helmet is not required for a pedal bike. It is required for a power assisted bike however.

Yep, cost of KFC like alot of things is over the top. Can still get a good chicken rice for $4 most places however!

[Fellini]

No spring chickens in this forum and my definition of an "old cracker" is anyone over 21 with 10 years of work experience.

 
How'd you know my age without visiting my profile?

Well, have fun. I'm sure the vassal city state of Western imperialism that lies south of our lands has many adult video stores, gay bars, independent cinemas, a vibrant civil society free to do whatever it pleases, friendly police, and plentiful weed... NOT!

You should come to NL with me sometime.

No spring chickens in this forum...

Said the Grand Wizard of the KKK. Edited August 6, 2014 by Fellini

[canman]

Looks like deciding between Thailand and pristine Singapore is going to take divine intervention...

I have lived in both places and Singapore suits me at the moment.

 

It takes some time to get to know the place, despite claims above to the contrary there is plenty to do in Singapore. At the end of the day it is a small island and you will run out of places to explore but you have the whole Malay peninsula just a short drive away, Batam & Bintan a short ferry ride away and short flights to Thailand, KL, Bali etc. when you feel the need for a change of scenery.

 

The low incidence of crime is a big plus, I don't know anyone here who has had their home broken into and robbed whereas the vast majority of my friends in Thailand had been robbed at least once. The place is clean some would say almost sterile but that too is a good thing in my books.

 

Cars and accomodation are the big expenses, food depends on at what level you want to eat. We do our own cooking mostly and the weekly grocery bill is SGD350. That's for good food, steak, salmon, plenty of fresh fruit and veg. Eating out for two could be as low as $40 (cheaper if you do a hawker centre) all the way up to $300 steaks.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

What is easier? Keeping a golden retriever on point or a troll on topic? Actually, it is a trick question. And the obvious never requires a response.