Almost 40% say it's cheaper here than in their countries
By
Theresa Tan
Singapore emerged fourth cheapest, after Spain, India and China, in a survey by HSBC Bank International of 870 expatriate parents across 14 places. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
A GLOBAL survey has found Singapore to be among the countries where it is cheapest for expatriates to raise their children.
Singapore emerged fourth cheapest, after Spain, India and China, in a survey by HSBC Bank International of 870 expatriate parents across 14 places.
Almost four in 10 of those in Singapore who were polled said it was cheaper raising junior here than in their home countries.
Another 25 per cent said the cost was 'about the same'.
On the other end of the spectrum, Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong are the most expensive places to raise children.
The survey also asked these expatriate parents to rate the countries they are living in, in areas such as the amount of time their children spend studying and being outdoors, and whether they think their children will remain in their adopted country upon growing up.
Using these criteria, Singapore came out tops in Asia and fifth on the list of 14 places for expatriates to raise children. It lost out to Spain, France, Germany and Canada in the ranking of the 14 places. Within Asia, India was second but eighth on the list of 14; China was third in Asia and ninth on the list.
Australian publisher Katrina Bingham-Hall, 43, who arrived in Singapore five years ago, is bringing up five children aged between four and 14.
With the older four attending government schools here, she spends less than $1,000 a year on all their school fees, and is all praise for how little the 'brilliant' education system here costs.
Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.
