The latest MyExpatriate Market Pay survey published annually by ECA International, a human resources consultancy has revealed that expatriate pay packages in Singapore rose by US$ 13,163 in 2018 to a total of US$ 236,258, including an average cash salary of US$ 90,170.
When considering the cost of an expatriate package, companies need to factor in three main elements: the cash salary, benefits – such as accommodation, international schools, utilities or cars – and tax. To assist companies relocating staff with benchmarking their packages against the market, ECA conducts its annual MyExpatriate Market Pay Survey of pay levels for expatriates around the world, including benefits, allowances, salary calculation methods and tax treatment.
“Expatriate pay packages in Singapore increased across the board in 2018, with salaries increasing by nearly US$ 5,000 and benefits going up by US$ 6,400 on average,” said Lee Quane, Regional Director – Asia at ECA International. “However, with minimal increases in personal tax and extremely low tax-related costs as compared to most of the other locations in our rankings, Singapore sits at the 19th position globally. This is good news for companies with employees currently living in Singapore, as the relatively high cash salary and benefits and low taxes result in less expense for employers when relocating staff to the country.”
