What Is A Comfortable Salary In Singapore? | Hot Take

How much do Singaporeans need to earn to be comfortable in Singapore? How greatly do lifestyle and commitment affect that amount? We hit the streets to find out how much is good enough!

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[woodstockht]

Try conducting this interview at different locations, such as industrial estates, neighborhood estates, tourist attactions etc. See if the outcome is the same.

[matildawormwood]

I feel like I've been living under a rock... their comfort and my comfort is a world of difference...

[kacey]

i think it would have been better if the interviewer asked the participants to define 'comfortable' as everyone has different interpretations of it

[silverchairsg]

Hot take: A comfortable salary is one where your income exceeds your expenses, you are saving and investing at a rate that gives you confidence, optimism, and peace of mind about the future, and you are insured in a way that makes you feel secure and covered with peace of mind. That's my definition of comfortable, and I think it's better and healthier to define it on a psychological/emotional basis that is subjective and specific to the individual than to tie it to arbitrary dollar amounts.

[Claudia-cyou]

its alarming how wide the pay gap in sg is. I know people who worked 10-20 years to reach 4k. I know people who start at 7k. I know people who've reached 20k at 32.

[carmen]

I think it's also important to be mindful of lifestyle inflation. It's easy to start spending more as your income increases, but being intentional about expenses can help maintain financial stability in the long run.

[jdrei]

The first interviewee had a lot of realistic insights!

[grys]

That 50 y.o. teacher…looks so youthful!

[fatcat.]

_Always remember is not how much you earn but how much you can keep (& invest)._
_Inflated lifestyle is a silent killer to your finance, be careful of the comfortable choices you made._

[mikolah]

For a normal Singaporean like me, no debts, flat is fully paid, no car, no kids, single, i think around 4k is very ok. can already travel 3 times a year, eat well, pay insurances and necessities.

[lecherhao]

We don't have to compare with others. All of us have different needs, desires and aspirations in life. And there's absolutely nothing wrong to be different from others who are striving for more.

At 37, and being the only breadwinner for my family of 2 young kids, i have remained contented with my current life- living in a 3 room house, dining at hawker centre and food court, and travelling on public transport.

Our live is simple yet happy. I spend quality time with my children. How many of us can confidently claim that?
And yes, I'm a singaporean.. it would be overgeneralizing to infer from the video that 10-15k is a comfortable salary only in Singapore.

[HeyHaffiz]

Maybe you guys can do the interview in the heartland area to see what's the reality of how much average people earn to survive?

[ymhktravel]

The answers you get from interviewing someone living in Orchard Rd vs one from a heartland would be very different. Interviewing someone in the financial district vs someone working in industrial estates would also yield different set of answers.

[mulelos]

Someone has to say this: you can't always be asking people working in the CBD about topics like this.

[Timholle]

People who kept screaming cost of living in Sg is high are defo the ones who are living beyond their means. It’s high because you sought for it. Housing ex? No, CPF is there to help. Medical ex? Govt aid is there to help. Car ex? As it should be for a tiny island with a pop of millions. But does it hinder you from traveling around? No. Sg has one of the best transport system in the world, you can’t walk more than 15mins without seeing a bus stop anywhere. Can’t retire? Again, we’ve CPF. It’s there to make sure those who’re living beyond their means/have bad financial management etc don’t go hungry. Wife & I each only earn around 4kish, we have a kid & a 5bedder house & are very comfortable. Ofc more $ is better la but people esp the young gen need to learn to live within their means. That also points to how life’s too comfortable & secure here, that people are chasing/greedy to satisfy their wants. Not a bad thing, but within your abilities. You can’t be blaming the govt for you spending > earnings. Because it’ll never be enough

[ashleyyee]

Im assuming this interview was done in the cbd? Would appreciate if it was done in a mall on the weekend for example to get a more randamized group of people

Still appreciate the content tho!

[BLEE]

even 10k still a bit challenging to own a Condo and a car in Singapore ... 5k is HDB and no car.. that's life

[rafiq]

What I gather from this video.... Recruiter and financial planners are very free lol

[jonlbdg]

Good to see a successful Indonesian girl working and doing well in Singapore 🇮🇩 ❤

[Yippeedee]

If you’re paying for a mortgage largely using CPF 5k should be fine for a single. If you’re renting, double of that. Family of 3 at least 8k. If your spouse is also working then 10k total can still include traveling as a family and comfortable with some savings. If you are also paying for a car, then you will lose all your financial freedom and won’t be able to save up for your kids college education.