$175k - good salary in Singapore?

[FiftyShadesOfNifty]

DH would be a SAHD at least to begin with so we'd only have the one salary. It would be a local role so no expat extras though schooling has been mentioned (DD1 would be starting in Sept 2016 when she's nearly 5).

I know it's a bit "how long is a piece of string" but is that salary enough for a decent enough lifestyle?

We eat out approx once a week, don't have expensive hobbies (aside from the girls' swimming/toddler groups/minigym etc), probably wouldn't run a car, but would like to make the most of travel within the region 2-3 times a year.

People with kids in local school are fond of saying "there's no such thing as a bad school", which is a line from the government. Like anywhere, there's bound to be a range - some heavily academic, some with excellent results, some attempting to bring in a slightly more holistic approach to learning. The thing is you don't have a choice - you get what you're allocated (if you get anywhere at all). Class sizes are large and school starts early (and finishes early). The approach to learning is different and there is a big emphasis on tutoring and testing. It might be an option, but it would be wise to have a back up plan at the moment as last year lots of expat kids missed out.

I'm surprised that the govt is happy for resident expat kids not to get an education. OK, fine, give priority to Singaporeans but surely a developed country should provide schooling to all children who are resident? It's not even free for foreigners. I guess Singapore has no interest in attracting any more expats than it already has!

Well, I'm not sure the local option will be viable for many reasons, other than the difficulty in getting a space. Just think it'll be a shame that the children won't mix much with Singaporean children who I understand aren't even allowed to attend the international schools.

Now I just need to wait to see what they'll offer me and see what we can do about the SGD$60,000 or so in school fees we'd need to shell out (until number 3 starts school....and then even more $$$). I've got a feeling this might not work out.

Singapore does not want more expats. A few years ago it drastically reduced its quota of employment passes and made it harder for expats to buy property.

As the days of the generous expat packages and singapores status as a hardship posting are coming to an end (15 - 20 years ago it was definitely a hardship posting according to many company policies), expats are increasingly not provided for in terms of school fees. 10 years ago, i don't think you would have found a western expat anywhere in the local school system. Now faced with paying fees out of their own pockets, larger numbers are looking to local schools. It's a question of local schools keeping up with demand. Doesn't the same thing happen in the UK?

I lived in Singapore in the late 90s and thought it was fabulous. I was teaching at a poly so no expat package but still pretty good for a first job out of uni.

No, entry to school in uk (and us where I am now) is absolutely not on nationality status! And the LA/school district is obliged to educate every legally resident child.

"I'm surprised that the govt is happy for resident expat kids not to get an education".
From a public policy point of vue why should they care? Expats are welcome so long as they are productive paying members of society not a burden.We chose to come to Singapore mostly for its low taxation band & great lifestyle, safety, healthcare, lots of free public leisure facilities, etc, etc.......which is already plenty the government provides for little tax.

The government also has to account for the numerous casual workers and long term expats from south east Asia who live on much much lower incomes than your average western expat. These are the permanent residents who build Singapore alongside Citizens. Places (rightfully in my opinion) go in priority to children of these families whose parents are often highly qualified/low paid ( Drs and nurses in hospitals, teachers, engineers etc.......)
Singapore already has a hard time absorbing these, not the least because it doesn't want its ethnic/racial make up to change too much.
The education system also can not absorb too many western kids because it does not want to deal with change. It expects total compliance and would not tolerate any dissent from parents which would be absolutely inevitable.

Sorry to be blunt but that's what it is. If you already feel offended by Singaporeans making their own decisions for their own house, you will have absolutely no place in a Singaporean school.

shakshuka sorry I do sound a bit dismissive in my post but am only just stating facts.
The Singaporean government simply does not care about your opinion nor mine (except when i vote on local matters as I am a permanent resident. And as such we have chosen not to put our children in local schools. The mentality gap is too wide to bridge.)

Not offended by their decision, of course it's theirs to make. Just very different to the other developed countries ive lived in where its always been on residency so I'm surprised.

Presumably expats pay taxes as well? I don't feel grateful to the US government for providing me with free libraries or whatever even though I'm not a us citizen. I think they're lucky to have me ??

And when I think of expats in Singapore, I don't automatically think of westerners. When I was teaching there, I had 3 office mates. Only one was Singaporean, one a Tamil from Sri Lanka and one a Malaysian Chinese. I assume most of the foreigners in local schools won't be western as I remember most professional expats I met at work were from across Asia.