Capt or F/O?
Generally speaking, as an expat on local terms you will be able to just about live, rent somewhere halfway reasonable and pay your Singapore bills - but save nothing. If you have a high maintenance wife and/or children of school age you will find that your salary is quite simply inadequate.
Singapore is a very expensive place to live and recent pay rises have not kept pace with inflation.
Staff travel is not impossible but very difficult due low priority and there is no interline agreement with other airlines. Medical cover is ok for you but very limited for dependents. You will need private health insurance for your family and that is not cheap either. Buying and running a car is extremely expensive. You will also be bonded for 3 or 5 years and you can get caught in the position where you cant afford to stay because of high costs/low salary but neither can you afford to leave because of the bond.
On the plus side, the aircraft is great, routes are good if you can deal with the jet lag and there are a great bunch of guys from a very diverse background to fly with. My advice would be don't come on local terms unless you are single and prepared to not save a dime until you have seen out your bond and moved on. Also remember that the 744 is no longer the gold standard of type ratings. If you want a guaranteed job you need B737, A320 or B777 imho.
Maybe some guys on local terms can expand on the above.
Last edited by BANANASBANANAS; 27th Jun 2012 at 18:11.