When it comes to the topic of Malaysia versus Singapore, there’s been a never-ending debate on many issues, especially on which country has the better food. However, have you ever considered that the cost of living in Singapore may actually be lower than in Malaysia despite our currency differences?
Over the weekend, a netizen submitted her story on the Humans of Kuala Lumpur Facebook page about her experiences of living in Singapore for more than 10 years after marrying a local there. According to the user, she was surprised to learn that the cost of living in the neighbouring country is much more affordable than in her homeland.
An example she gave was that one can afford to buy luxury items with just a $SGD2000 (RM7,037) salary. With that being said, it is also worth noting that the netizen mentioned that the cost of living was “dollars-to-dollars, ringgit-to-ringgit, without conversion”. She also revealed that with her and her husband’s combined income of $SGD6,000+(over RM21k), they were able to afford their first house with the help of the Singaporean government.
“A few years ago, we bought a Housing and Development Board (HDB) apartment for $SGD 430k (RM1.5 million). Since we bought the HDB in a younger area of Sengkang, and we were a young couple under the age of 30, we were qualified to receive proximity and first-time buyer grant of SGD 90k (RM316k),” she said while also highlighting that they were considered lucky as not every first-time buyer would be granted that much money from the government.
Apart from that, the Malaysian also listed down 7 reasons why she chose to live in Singapore which are:
- Salaries are generally higher in Singapore, and work conditions are mostly better.
- Singapore’s healthcare is more advanced.
- There are many Malaysians working in Singapore, so it’s easy to connect with fellow Malaysians.
- A higher standard of living.
- Better safety.
- Public transport is reliable.
- Good work-life balance.
With all that being said, the Malaysian citizen pointed out that Malaysia’s work culture is more laid back as many would be able to spend time with friends and loved ones after working hours. “The overtime culture in Singapore is a killer. I do miss Malaysia, but I don’t regret my choice,” she wrote.
After her story was posted, some netizens agreed with her points while others commented that the cost of living may depend on the individual’s lifestyle and expectations. Regardless, this person’s story definitely gave more insights into what it’s like to live and work in the neighbouring country. Who knows, her story might even encourage others to take risks in order to live a better life.
Source: Facebook
