Are expats in Singapore ONLY here for the money?

[00:00:00]Oh, this is a little pet peeve of mine.

[00:00:02]I >> What should I save my money for right now? I don't know.

[00:00:05]>> People don't walk in a straight line here, and that really bothers me.

[00:00:08]>> I always hear that Singapore is the best place in the world, but is it actually true? Or are people just here for the money? I'm asking expats living in Singapore what brought them to Singapore and if they would stay even if they would earn more money in their home country. Let's find out. Where are you from?

[00:00:24]>> I'm from Italy.

[00:00:25]>> And how long have you been in Singapore for?

[00:00:27]>> For 5 and 1/2 years.

[00:00:29]>> Can I ask what do you do for a living?

[00:00:31]>> So, I'm currently self-employed founder, but that's I came for a master's in AI to Singapore initially.

[00:00:37]>> And what brought you to Singapore?

[00:00:40]>> I kind of found a program that I really liked and I did econ and computer science before and then SMU they had a program in AI, so I came for that.

[00:00:48]>> Would you say that you can earn more money in Singapore than you can or could in your home country?

[00:00:53]>> I think there's a lot of opportunities here and you definitely are outside of your comfort zone, but it depends on what kind of exact your occupation is, but I think there's a lot of opportunities in Singapore for sure.

[00:01:05]>> So, let's be honest. If salary was the same in Singapore and in your hometown, would you still be in Singapore?

[00:01:11]>> I mean, I came to visit Singapore when I was 7 and I always had said that it was my favorite city growing up. So, I think I'm fulfilling my dream from back when I was 7, so I think it's a different answer to most people, but yeah, that's basically my view.

[00:01:26]>> Is there something you don't like so much about living in Singapore?

[00:01:29]>> I mean, it's far from my family, but other than that, so far so good. I found great amount of people. Yeah.

[00:01:35]>> Okay. Are you Do you currently manage to save some money?

[00:01:39]>> Uh yeah, but I'm also reinvesting most of it, but I do save. Especially since the start of the year, I've been actively saving. Yeah.

[00:01:48]>> Last question. Would you stay here long-term? Can you imagine staying here long-term?

[00:01:53]>> Yes, but I think you also got to make it work, especially as a ex- as an expat, you have a higher barrier to be able to stay. I've seen so many of my friends that did other paths, but I think to be able to stay here long-term, you got to outperform, especially for an expat. So, I think that's in short.

[00:02:09]>> All the best. Thank you so much. Hi, where are you from?

[00:02:12]>> Uh from Texas.

[00:02:14]>> And why did you move to Singapore?

[00:02:16]>> Job.

[00:02:17]>> Okay.

[00:02:17]>> And we ended up selling our company to Accenture, so we moved and as part of that I moved to Singapore 4 years ago.

[00:02:24]>> Can I ask what your job is?

[00:02:25]>> Uh I run sales for Asia Pacific, but now I consult with companies on B2B on sales strategy.

[00:02:32]>> Okay, amazing. Would you say that you earn more here than you would in your home country?

[00:02:38]>> I would say so, yes. But I also spend more here than my home country. So, I think it's it's all related in in some way.

[00:02:45]>> Okay. So, if you're really honest, if the salary was exactly the same, would you still be here?

[00:02:51]>> Ooh, that's a tough one.

[00:02:54]Well, so for my for my fact is I have kids as well, right? So, I've got to factor that in.

[00:02:58]Life in Texas was definitely cheaper.

[00:03:01]So, more than likely I would stay in Texas, to be honest.

[00:03:05]>> Do you even manage to do some savings here?

[00:03:07]>> I do. Because again, because of my role and the fact that in sales, you if you hit your targets, you tend to earn more.

[00:03:15]Do you save a lot? But it's also been ingrained in me since the beginning, so it's always putting away a percentage of a paycheck.

[00:03:22]So, am I saving more in Singapore than in the US?

[00:03:26]There's an indirect correlation because in the US I was making less, Singapore I'm making more, so I think it's probably the same.

[00:03:30]>> What is something that you don't like so much about living in Singapore?

[00:03:34]>> Oh, this is a little pet peeve of mine.

[00:03:37]I I don't like faces and phones when you're trying to get on the MRT.

[00:03:41]People don't walk in a straight line here, and that really bothers me. I'm just trying to get through the turnstile and get to my train.

[00:03:48]So, eyes up, please. I've Uh, and and let's just all get on our way. So, that's that's a that's a little pet peeve of mine.

[00:03:54]>> Interesting. Would you stay here long-term? Can you see yourself living in Singapore until you retire?

[00:04:01]>> Retire, I don't know, but certainly in the for the next 5 to 10 years, yes.

[00:04:05]Because obviously my kids are growing up, they're stable, it's a great place to raise them.

[00:04:10]Uh, amazing place to travel, obviously great center. I would say near near to mid-term, absolutely. Far term, under evaluation.

[00:04:18]>> Thank you so much. Hi, where are you from?

[00:04:20]>> Germany.

[00:04:22]>> Germany as well.

[00:04:23]>> What brought you to Singapore?

[00:04:25]>> Um, research. For university, basically, but um yeah, research.

[00:04:31]>> And now you have a job and you work here?

[00:04:34]>> Um, sort of. It's like I'm still I'm still just doing research, um, but I might do a PhD later.

[00:04:42]>> Okay.

[00:04:43]>> Yes.

[00:04:43]>> And would you say that you can earn more money in Singapore than you can in your home country?

[00:04:48]>> Um, I would say so, yes, but you definitely have to pay higher rent. So, I don't know if it's maybe it's about the same.

[00:04:57]>> Let's say your earnings would be better in Germany, would you still be in Singapore?

[00:05:03]>> Yeah, I would be. Um, for sure.

[00:05:06]>> Do you like Singapore? What do you What do you like about Singapore?

[00:05:09]>> I don't know, there's so much going on.

[00:05:11]Like compared to my hometown, there's like people are just working and I don't know, here I have the freedom to like go to Indonesia, go surfing, um I don't know, I have so much more things going on that I like to do.

[00:05:25]>> Kind of?

[00:05:26]>> Yeah, I totally agree. Would you say that you are able to save some money at the moment?

[00:05:31]>> Not really.

[00:05:32]>> Um >> [laughter] >> That's fine. That's fine.

[00:05:35]>> Cuz I'm like traveling all the time. I like I like to travel. I like to go to Indonesia. I like to I don't know, just go to different events.

[00:05:43]>> Yeah, I like to live. I I know. I'm like what should I save my money for right now? I don't know. So, yeah.

[00:05:49]>> Okay. I'm living the life. Would you say you have more local or more expat friends?

[00:05:55]>> Um I have both, but I think I have a few more expat friends, yes.

[00:06:00]>> Would you say it's hard to make friends in Singapore?

[00:06:03]>> No. Um I go to a lot of communities.

[00:06:06]It's like calisthenics is like one big part, so I have a lot of friends in calisthenics. Then another big part is um trail movement, for example, or the running clubs.

[00:06:16]I don't know, there there are many more small communities where people come together. I have another AI community thing, so so easy. Like if you start to go somewhere, if you're active, then there's no problem in like getting to know other people.

[00:06:29]>> Oh, I love that for you. Last question.

[00:06:31]Can you see yourself living in Singapore long term?

[00:06:34]>> Um not forever, no.

[00:06:36]>> No? Why not?

[00:06:39]>> Um I feel like Singapore is nice for now, >> [laughter] >> but um I don't know, for me I need more I don't know, I need it a bit more chaotic. I need more character, and I need more I don't know, also spirit from the people. I do think a lot of people have spirit, but I feel like it's more calmed down, and everyone is like just living their life, living their having their way of living, but not really asking like different kinds of questions that I think for me is important in my life, so I I don't know.

[00:07:11]>> Interesting. Uh that was my last question, actually. What is something you don't like about living in Singapore?

[00:07:16]>> Um yeah, I guess that's that's my uh point of view that like people just go along and um I think they have a nice life, they have a good life, but there are so many topics where I feel like it would be nice if there's more opinion, more character on like some things, or like even in the MRT, like why people not talking with each other, or in the elevator, or why like why are people not smiling at each other? Like when I go to like, a bus station, it's so nice to just like, smile at the bus driver or something.

[00:07:46]Like, >> Yeah.

[00:07:47]>> I don't know. Not a lot of people do that.

[00:07:49]>> Yeah, say hi to each other. Thank you so much. All the best.

[00:07:53]Hi, where are you from?

[00:07:55]>> From France.

[00:07:56]>> And how long have you been in Singapore for?

[00:07:58]>> Oh, it's been 4 years already.

[00:07:59]>> And what brought you to Singapore?

[00:08:01]>> Uh, my work, but also my will to go abroad.

[00:08:05]>> Can I ask what what's your work?

[00:08:07]>> Uh, I work in the procurement department in aerospace defense company.

[00:08:10]>> Would you say that you earn more money in Singapore than you would in your home country?

[00:08:15]>> Definitely, yes.

[00:08:16]>> And now, let's be honest. If money was not more, or like, money was the same in your home country, would you still be in Singapore?

[00:08:23]>> Mm, it's a good question. I think, yes, for the experience. I think, uh, living abroad is an incredible experience. Yes.

[00:08:30]>> Do you currently manage to save some money, or like, put some money on the side?

[00:08:34]>> Yeah. Yeah, definitely more than in my home country.

[00:08:36]>> Okay.

[00:08:37]What's something you maybe don't like so much about living in Singapore?

[00:08:42]>> Um, it's a small country, so, yeah, definitely sometimes it feels a little bit like, the options of what to do are a little bit restricted. Yeah, everything is very codified, uh, probably more than in my home country.

[00:08:54]>> But, would you say that you have some local friends, or is it mostly other expats?

[00:08:58]>> Uh, I think definitely more expats than local friends, but I think with time I managed to make some local friends. So, I'm, yeah, proud of it, proud of it.

[00:09:07]>> When you first moved here, did you have any troubles in like, you know, in integrating and finding finding friends here?

[00:09:13]>> Mm, I think that sense I'm quite lucky because the French community in Singapore is quite big. Uh, that helped a lot at the beginning, and then I opened up to more international communities.

[00:09:22]Uh, I would say, no. No, definitely, as an expat, always the first few weeks, months are a bit hard cuz you have to start everything from from scratch. But then, uh, it quickly, after a few months, I think, went really well.

[00:09:34]>> My last question, would you stay here long-term, or do you plan to go back at one point?

[00:09:39]>> Uh that's a big question. I think I would love to stay still for a little while, but I don't think I'm going to stay here forever.

[00:09:47]Mhm. I think >> Why not? I think it's the best place in the world.

[00:09:50]>> [laughter] >> No.

[00:09:52]>> Yeah, it's it's great. I mean Singapore is a beautiful country. Everything is so well organized. Honestly, nothing we can complain about. As an experience it's awesome.

[00:10:00]Uh nothing to complain to be honest.

[00:10:01]Yeah.

[00:10:02]>> Thank you so much. Thank you. Hi, where are you from?

[00:10:05]>> China.

[00:10:06]>> And how long have you been in Singapore for?

[00:10:08]>> 10 years.

[00:10:09]>> What brought you to Singapore?

[00:10:10]>> Oh, uh my study here.

[00:10:12]>> Okay, nice. Would you say that you can earn more money in Singapore than in your home country?

[00:10:17]>> Uh it's hard to say.

[00:10:19]>> [laughter] >> Cuz there are a lot of uh of opportunities in China. Yeah.

[00:10:24]>> So, you're not here for the money.

[00:10:26]>> I'm here for for the fun.

[00:10:28]Yeah, for experience. International experience. Yeah.

[00:10:31]>> Yeah.

[00:10:32]If you would earn more money in China, would you still stay here?

[00:10:36]>> I probably go to US.

[00:10:39]Yeah.

[00:10:39]>> Why the US?

[00:10:41]>> Cuz it's probably more fun there.

[00:10:43]>> You think Singapore is not fun?

[00:10:45]>> Oh, it is fun, but I've been here for 10 years, so yeah.

[00:10:49]>> So, you're planning to leave soon?

[00:10:50]>> Oh, no. No plan yet. I don't know.

[00:10:52]>> Okay.

[00:10:53]>> It's just a vision. Yeah.

[00:10:54]>> What is something that you maybe don't like so much about Singapore?

[00:10:57]>> Oh, the weather. Never change. Yeah, a bit hot. Yeah, like right now. Yeah.

[00:11:02]>> Okay. I love the weather. Would you that you have more local or more expat friends?

[00:11:07]>> Uh I have more expat friends. Yeah.

[00:11:10]>> Is it hard you think to connect with locals?

[00:11:13]>> Uh it's okay. I'm Chinese. They speak Mandarin. I can speak Mandarin, so it's okay. Yeah.

[00:11:18]>> Can you imagine living here for for good for long-term?

[00:11:23]>> I never want to live in the same place for long-term.

[00:11:27]Yeah.

[00:11:28]>> Where are you from?

[00:11:29]>> Uh Melbourne, Australia.

[00:11:30]>> Why did you move to Singapore?

[00:11:32]>> I came here for business school.

[00:11:34]Um that was 2 years ago.

[00:11:36]>> And what do you do for a living?

[00:11:37]>> Um I'm running my own company, Koda.

[00:11:40]>> Would you say that you can earn more money here in Singapore than you would in your home country?

[00:11:46]>> Not right now cuz I'm not making any money, but um yeah, I think generally speaking, yes.

[00:11:50]>> And let's say that salary was the same in your home country and in Singapore, would you still be in Singapore?

[00:11:55]>> Right now, [music] yes.

[00:11:57]>> Yes.

[00:11:58]Do you manage to save some money here in Singapore at the moment?

[00:12:01]>> No, I'm running my own company, so we're bootstrapping our company, so it's burning savings.

[00:12:05]>> Okay.

[00:12:06]What's something that you don't like so much about Singapore?

[00:12:09]>> Probably the weather.

[00:12:10]>> The weather? I love the weather. What's wrong with the weather?

[00:12:13]>> Um I'd love a little bit of seasonality, but apart from that, it's generally pretty good.

[00:12:18]>> Okay, last question. Can you imagine living here long-term?

[00:12:22]>> With the right partner, I can, yeah.

[00:12:24]>> Yay, okay, thank you so much. Hi, where are you from?

[00:12:27]>> Hi, I'm from Kazakhstan.

[00:12:29]>> How long have you been in Singapore for?

[00:12:31]>> 7 years.

[00:12:32]>> 7 years? And what brought you to Singapore in the first place?

[00:12:35]>> My friends and Asian culture.

[00:12:38]>> Okay, did you have a job when you first came here?

[00:12:40]>> Yes, I already had a job.

[00:12:42]>> And salary-wise, do you think you can earn more in Singapore or in your home country?

[00:12:47]>> Right now, it's hard to answer cuz where I'm from, Kazakhstan, is very rapidly develop, so I think it's equally.

[00:12:55]>> Okay. And if money was better in your home country, would you still be here in Singapore?

[00:13:00]>> Um maybe for a couple of more years and then I can easily go back.

[00:13:06]>> What is something you maybe don't like so much about here living in Singapore?

[00:13:09]>> Actually, the weather cuz it's never change and as cuz in Kazakhstan we have four seasons, this is how we track time.

[00:13:17]Here, if you ask me what I What did I do in spring? I was like, "Hmm, let me see my calendar." Cuz this is how I track my time here.

[00:13:26]>> Yeah, that makes sense. Is it every every day is the same, right?

[00:13:29]Would you say you have more local or more expat friends?

[00:13:32]>> Uh 50/50 actually.

[00:13:34]>> Yeah. Would you say that it was hard for you to make friends when you moved here?

[00:13:38]>> Not really cuz I have very good knowledge before I moved to Singapore thanks to my Singaporean friends who I studied with in UK. So they already filled me up with everything, already could speak all the Singlish.

[00:13:52]So it was quite easy to in general make friends with others.

[00:13:58]>> Last question.

[00:14:00]Can you imagine yourself living here for good?

[00:14:04]>> I do.

[00:14:05]Uh but of course we need to travel more >> [laughter] >> for this.

[00:14:10]>> Yeah. Thank you so much. Let me know your opinion in the comments. I'm genuinely curious. Watch this video up next because the algorithm thinks you might like it. And on @SuzyandNatty I share more about life in Singapore, what to do, where to eat, where to go. And if this was helpful, please give it a like and subscribe. It really helps my channel. See you in the next one.