One of the most sought after activity after retirement is travelling. Some of us are contented to say in Singapore; while others are forever looking out for near places to live their retirement. In the last two weeks, the Straits Times carried two articles on Perth and Western Australia.
For some members, their children are studying in one of Perth’s universities. For others, it is a golfing outing with friends. Many just love the open air and wide space. Families may go there to see dolphines and whales. And for others, a chance to own a 450 sq metre piece of land with a landed property at about AUD 450,000 freehold.
Some years ago, SilverHairsClub organised a homestay among Singaporean homes, enjoyed Fremantle and its wide and beautiful coastline, moved leisurely around Perth city, and mixed with the Singapore community.
Perth is 5 hours from Singapore, same time zone, and with Scoot, jetstar,
Quantas, Singapore airlines and Air Asia, many can buy their air tickets between S250 to 900 return. Hotels starts from AUD100, and rentals of an apartment or house are around AUD 450+ per week.. Car rentals are pretty cheap, and available at around AUD50-70 per day. Coffee is expensive, at about AUD 4 per cup. A single dish is big sized, and likely to cost AUD 10 – 18 each.
What are your experiences and considerations when it comes to holiday or retirement in Perth? Share and discuss.
Terence Seah
S
Perth or any part of Australia or “Ang Moh” countries would always be just a holiday destination for me. The cost of living in these countries is much higher than the Asean countries or the countries nearer to us.
I heard from my sister’s domestic helper that living in the Philippines, you need only $1,000+ per month to have a comfortable life. Accommodation, food and transport costs and miscellaneous expenses all in. And I cannot imagine myself cooped up in the house by 5.30pm during autumn or winter.
Unless I find a partner who wants to live there, I can cook at home so food cost is no issue. Otherwise, if I have a choice, I would rather live in Bangkok, Jakarta or Manila. But then again, there is no place like home.
Carly
Hi Caroline,
If one has a house in Perth, I think living costs can be reduced substantially. At AUD 450 per week for a 3 bedroom house, this is almost AUD 2000 per month. Staying in an apartment seems not too different in housing costs.
While a cup of coffee costs AUD 4, I think it is no different from Singapore prices.
Recently, the exchange rate seems to be attractive to the Singapore dollar. 1 AUD = SGD 1.0x.
I was there in Perth recently, and it brings back good members of a couple of trips with fellow SHC members. Fishing?
Terence Seah
For me the primary attractions are that Western Australia offers a different weather of autumn and spring, an alternative place a few hours flight away, a temporary relief from the congested place and hustle and bustle of a city. We can take it as an escapade and an opportunity to recharge our life of drudgery of routine – with therapeutic effect both physically and mentally.
Could someone come up with an initiative to organise such a trip.
Robert
Holidaying in Perth is great, but to retire there………..not so sure because the grass is always greener on the other side. For me, unless I have extended family and a fair number of Singaporean friends there, I think it would be more stressful retiring there. Agreed that cost/quality of living could be better there, just like someone mentioned before, when we retire here, we have to adjust our lifestyle, unless we have the luxury of being able to spend a few months in Perth and a few months in Singapore (meaning maintaining two homes) without having to worry about the $$$$ running out. I think for most of us, even with all our grouses about the cost/quality of life in Singapore, at the end of the day (deep in our hearts) and just like Caroline Gee mentioned – there is no place like home.
On another note, why is it that when I go on Google Chrome to access Silverhairs website, I am brought to this page that says “This is the PLESK default page” but on my company’s IE10, no problem. The same thing also at home on Google Chrome. Not so IT savvy – so don’t understand. This happened only recently.
Regards
Caroline
I visited 3 friends in Perth some time ago. Houses were so beautiful, they have a row of pretty flowering plants at the front – wish I have one like that here, and one house even had a nice pool with a lemon tree, lemons strewing all over; weather was God-sent to us Singaporeans at 15 degrees C. But I heard summer can be gruelling hot at 40 degrees! It was also very cold inside the house and we were treated to a nice yummy pudding cake baked by my friend. But the house was standing lonely, some distance away from another house and I wondered where to go marketing, shopping centres and hawker centres? To each his own I suppose, but that’s too lonely for me and I (or we) being a hardcore city dweller and so accustomed to crowds, no thanks, I will not give up my hot, humid, furnace, crazy weather, jostling with the crowds and slurping my cheng-tng, chengdol, ice-kacang, not forgetting my bakzhang, char kway teow and rojak, in exchange for anything.
Of course it’ll be nice to visit for a holiday or have a vacation house to spend a month or two during autumn/springtime there. Isn’t that a nice escapade from our simmering temperature here?
Totally agree with Susan C H Tan’s comments. Cannot think of giving up all those goodies/conveniences in Good Ole SG!
The Australian government has announced new visa rules for parents who wish to stay with their children. The new visa fees is probably one of the highest in the world. But, the objective is to allow parents to stay with their children who are in Australia, and help them look after the grand children and still be close to the kids.
Children have to guarantee the health care cover, so that the elderly parents will not be a burden to the Australian health care system.
The new parents visa forbid parents from working, so as not to compete with Australians in the job market.
A 3 year parent visa is AUD 5,000. A 5 year parent visa is AUD 10,000. And a 10 year parent visa is AUD 20,000.
So, if you have kids in Australia, and you have no PR or citizen, this may be a route towards retiring in Australia for the next 10 years. Gosh, this is expensive.
Terence Seah
Lets see what life is like in Perth for retirees. Irene Wong has a timeshare and she will definitely be staying in the resorts. There are others who visit Perth because their children are there or studying.
We can also take opportunity to see what it is like to live in Perth. We hear it is boring but we can find what we want to do. Maybe we catch to see a few properties too, coastal, town or city.
Join the WhatsApp Perth chat. It has been ongoing. Simply WhatsApp “Perth” to +65 9489 4360.
Terence Seah
Next week, 3rd week Sep, a group of us are doing a driving trip north of Perth. The original idea arose from a plan to explore Perth as a place for retirement. I guess the group now is more keen on exploring north of Perth. Irene Wong started the idea, and now very soon we will be driving north across Western Australia from Perth to Kalbarri, Coral Bay, Carnarvon, Geralton and Jurien Bay.
6 of us, with many drivers will start on 21 Sep and return to Perth on the 29 Sep. We have a 8 seater auto. Flowers are out in bloom. We are looking forward to enjoy the wilderness and space, enjoy Australian BBQ and the relaxing pace of life.
The Singapore dollar is now slightly stronger than the Aussie dollar. Summer is coming in dec. Do form a group and enjoy Western Australia. You may want to stay 3 months, instead of just 7 days.
For those who have children and friends in Perth, share your experience in this city with the same time zone as Singapore.
Terence Seah
Perth is 5 hours away, and same time zone as Singapore. Spring is coming.
The AUD has taken a tumble, making tourism attractive to Singaporeans. Club has a group focused on spending time in Perth and Western Australian.
If u like to find out more about Perth, have a holiday there, explore 3 mths there on retirement, WhatsApp me to join the group.
Terence Seah
Many of us may not have visited Perth Western Australia. What’s life like in Perth?
For those who have been to Perth regularly, you know its strawberry season,big, red and juicy. It’s Autumn now
Irene Wong is now in Perth. A regular visitor to Perth, staying 3 mths at a time in Australia on a tourist visa. She updates us regularly on what she does in Perth, buying a property, travelling around Western Australian in her own transport, visiting many sites and enjoying PERTH’S FRESH AIR. And best of all, how she is enjoying her stay all on her own.
Unless we have PR status in Australia, most of us can stay 3 mths at a time in Perth. Irene shares with us her stay via “What’s life like in Perth?” If you like to get the feel and smell of Perth, join our What’app group.
Terence Seah