What You Need to Know Before Moving to Singapore
Written by Mark Neville
Singapore is fast becoming one of the biggest financial hubs of Asia, joining the ranks of Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. As such, a lot of westerners from the US are making the move to Singapore. As this is a big move it’s important to figure out some of the associated hurdles before you make the trip.
Housing:
Be forewarned: Rent in Singapore is not cheap! While you’ll be privy to some of the newest, coolest, and stylish condos in Singapore, they all come with a pretty hefty price tag. If you have company-sponsored residence, you’re in luck, if not you’ll need to do some serious financial planning. A one-bedroom apartment outside of the city center will still cost you about $2100 Singapore dollars per month.
Transportation:
Singapore is one of the most expensive places to drive in the world. With very high congestion, gas prices, tolls, as well the costs of the car itself, if you can get around without a car we highly recommend it. (For example, with all of the fees, a 30k car in America could cost about 60k in Singapore.)
If you do need a car it’s much more economical to ship yours from home versus buying a new one. Luckily this is another area where Schumacher Cargo can help you out. Find out how we can ship your car to Singapore.
Luckily, public transportation in Singapore is top notch so if you can’t afford to import your vehicle, or just simply don’t want the hassle you won’t have to worry about getting around.
Pets:
Whenever you’re moving to any new country you should check the pet allowance beforehand. Singapore is no exception. Only certain animals and breeds will be allowed to enter Singapore and that’s after having met the veterinary and import requirements. Additionally, depending on where you live, you might meet further restrictions; many of the high rise condos only allow small dogs.
With these major aspects hammered out, you’ll be able to spend the rest of your planning figuring out what you’ll see first.
Written by Mark Neville
Here at Schumacher Cargo we’re all about helping others get out and experience the wealth of culture and geography the world has to offer. As such, living abroad is one of our favorite ways to immerse yourself in all the wonder this earth has to offer. And one of our favorite destinations is Italy. But just how much are you going to need to live there after you’ve made the move overseas to Italy from the States? Let’s explore the cost of living in this historic and diverse country
Housing:
Of course, the price you pay on housing will change depending on where you live. Cities and densely populated areas like Campania are going to be more expensive. In general, for people already living in Italy, about fifty percent of monthly salaries are spent on rent. On average, a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre can cost anywhere from 350-600 Euros. Those prices lower as you move outside of the centre and will lower if you share with roommates.
Utilities:
Utilities are unfortunately one of the more increasingly expensive facets of living in Italy. Combined, your monthly price for water, gas, electricity, and heating could be around 180 Euros a month. Tack on another 20 Euros or so for your phone and internet.
Transportation:
Luckily transportation won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Train passes start at 1.50 Euros and only 35 Euros for a month pass. Gas is about 1.78 Euros per liter. It’s perfect for a moped, though that might get a little expensive if you plan on doing a lot of driving…which you shouldn’t.
Groceries:
As Italy is probably most renowned for their food, this is one area where you will probably try and dedicate as much of your budget as possible outside of traveling the countryside and visiting historic museums. The average single person spends about 40-50 Euros a week on food. What’s great is that, with the market food being so fresh, you’ll be able to experience fantastic Italian cuisine without having to shell out the big bucks at restaurants.
There you have it! With these costs in mind, you can start preparing for your Italian adventure.
Spain has long been one of the more popular destinations to study abroad for US students. This is due to the popularity of the language as well as the beauty and intrigue of the historic and cultured country. But just because you want to study there doesn’t mean that every university is the right fit for you. Below we’ve compiled the best schools and universities for US students to study in Spain.
Prepping your visa and brushing up on your Spanish will take some time, so let Schumacher Cargo handle all your moving needs. We’ve helped hundreds of families and students make international moves and can get your belongings to and from Spain without hassle.
Top 4 Universities for US Students in Spain
SLU Madrid
Why SLU Madrid is a Top University for Americans in Spain
Saint Louis University is a great option for American students trying to study abroad in Spain. Not only is the University a reputable American based university ranking in the top 100, but the school also allows for a 4-year degree program. Here you have the privilege of studying in one of Europe’s greatest cities while attending an “American” university. In this case, it means addressing any issues will be much easier.
SCL Madrid
Marbella International University Centre
Why MIUC is a Top University for Americans in Spain
MIUC is located on Spain’s southern coast, in the beautiful Costa del Sol. As far as scenery goes, you couldn’t ask for a more gorgeous and inspired place to study. What’s more, the school allows students to select whether they want to take courses taught in Spanish or English. This is a major perk for students who don’t want their studies impacted by their lower skill in Spanish.
MIUC
EU Business School Barcelona
Why EU Business School Barcelona is a Top University for Americans in Spain
Part of the European University schools situated across EU countries, this business school in Barcelona is a great opportunity for international students. With EU Barcelona, students study in a small intimate classroom setting alongside other international students. The fact that it’s located in the famous Bonanova neighborhood doesn’t hurt either!
EU Barcelona
The Instituto de Empresa School of Arts and Humanities
Why IE University is a Top University for Americans in Spain
For a well-rounded education located just outside the major city of Madrid, you can do no better that the IE School of Arts and Humanities. The school prides itself on providing a balanced, liberal arts education to both undergrad and graduate students. And, again, you’re only 20 minutes away from the bustle of Madrid.
IE University
More Reading
Now that you know some of the best colleges in Spain for US students, check out some of our other college guides below. When you are ready to move to your new school overseas, Schumacher Cargo Logistics is ready to help.
For help moving to your new school in Spain, fill our Online Form or call in at (800) 599-0190
Written by Alex Bach
Living abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences of any lifetime. But depending where you go, it is not always the most inexpensive experience especially if that place happens to be Hong Kong. We’ll go over the cost of living in Hong Kong, what you can expect when you get there and what you’ll need to stay.
To get your belongings there, we can make moving to Hong Kong one of the lesser stresses you’ll have to worry about. We’ve helped hundreds of families make international moves and can help get your possessions to to your new home without a hitch.
Rent and Housing:
Hong Kong is the most vertical city in the world, resulting from the relatively tight space of the city, forcing construction to build up instead of out. As a result, the price of property in Hong Kong is not cheap. Whether you’re renting or buying, you will likely be paying more for lodging than you did back in the States. The average rent for an unfurnished apartment in the city is anywhere from $3,600 to $5k!
Utilities:
Utilities are fairly expensive as well in Hong Kong. You can expect your water bill to be around $50, your gas bill somewhere near $25 and your electricity bill ( the big one) to rest between $130 and $200. Meaning an additional $300 per month on top of the rent.
Lifestyle Costs:
Luckily many of your grocery items and restaurant dishes are going to be relatively the same as you’d find in any major city in America. Fresh baked bread goes for about $5, eggs for around $2, coffee for about $8, local milk $3. Note: Hong Kong has several options for higher level foods, such as free range eggs and Australian milk, which are going to cost significantly more money than their base level counterparts.
Alcohol:
Alcohol is an expensive commodity in Hong Kong. You can expect to pay as much as $35 for a bottle of Tanqueray gin and up to $22 for a bottle of wine. Thankfully six packs of beer, like Heineken, are only about $6 per pack.
Restaurants and Entertainment:
Luckily the cost of having fun in Hong Kong is about the same as it is in New York or Chicago. Certainly not cheap to do every night, but it won’t break your bank to go out once or twice a week. A mid-level dinner for two can be found for under $100 though not including alcohol. And a concert or trip to the theater can range from $13 all the way to $130 for premium seats.
Written by Damien Shields
Thinking of making a major move? Great decision. But where will you go? Largely your choice will depend on what kind of finances you have and what standard of living you hope to find. The good news is that New Zealand is a gorgeous, exotic location and one that won’t break your bank.
A big move overseas can be a big headache. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Make sure you plan ahead and give yourself ample time to get all the preparations for your move to New Zealand finished well before you actually leave. Then you can start focusing on which part of the “Lord of the Rings” tour you’ll hit first.
Economy:
New Zealand has welcomed a growth in their economy in the past years, with the median household income around 60,000 Euros per year (although the country is on its own New Zealand currency). Compared to many other cities around the world, New Zealand’s main cities, Auckland and Wellington come in at numbers 56 and 74, with cities like London and New York coming in at numbers 25 and 33, respectfully.
Rent:
Rent in New Zealand is fairly affordable. You can rent a three-bedroom house here for about $357 NZ a month, with higher prices in the city going towards $600. That’s quite a bit lower than any real estate you’d find in most major American cities. And if you’re looking to buy, the average house price was $392K in 2013. Again, much lower than many American and European cities.
Goods:
The price for market goods is fairly standard in New Zealand. Milk costs about $2.40NZ per liter (they are on the metric system there). Eggs are a bit more expensive at about $4.35/dozen. Though, if you’re a smoker, you should expect to pay a lot more for your Marlboro’s, approximately $18NZ a pack!
Transportation:
Luckily New Zealand has many affordable ways to get around. Tickets for local public transportation go for about $3.50 with monthly passes around $120.0; about what you’d pay in most other metropolitan cities. Gas goes for about $2.20-liter; as there are 3.785 liters in a gallon you’re looking at a pretty hefty price for gasoline.
Overall, New Zealand is likely one of the more affordable destinations you could choose for an international adventure, just keep in mind that it’s a different lifestyle and many things such as gasoline and tobacco have some steep surcharges.
