Long Commute Vs High Rent: Is It Worth Paying More Rent For Shorter Travelling Times?

You leave work at 6 pm, get home by 610 pm, and you are in and out of the gym by 7 pm.

Your friend calls you to ask if you want to grab some dinner.

You look at your watch and shrug your shoulders.

Sure, why not? 

It’s only 7 pm, after all, most of your colleagues aren’t even home yet.

You meet up with your friend for some delicious sushi, and get home by 9 pm.

Which still leaves you an hour of flicking through Netflix, before you fall fast asleep at 11 pm. 

Sounds like a dream, right? 

I’m sure many expats would love to be in this situation. 

But the reality in Singapore is very different. 

According to Moovit, people here spend an average of 84 minutes commuting with public transport to and from work.

Not to mention, 25% of people travel by public transport for more than 2 hours a day.  

In short, most people travel an average of 42 minutes to get to work. 

Which if you think about it, that is equivalent to 21,840 minutes a year just on travelling.

Or 364 hours, or 15 days of constant travel. 

So why do people still want to subject themselves to all this travelling?

Those living in ulu places, how is your commute like? from singapore

Clearly, it is all about saving money on rent.

Rents paid by expats in Singapore are among the top 10 highest in Asia, at US$4,215 on average for a 3-bedroom unfurnished condo in Singapore. 

High rent coupled with shrinking expat packages has led to many expats looking to live further out and resort to long commutes to work instead.

This all leads back to the age-old debate of paying rent versus suffering a long commute.

But is it really worth all that commuting to save on that sum of money?

Long commute times means the less free time you have for family, friends, exercise, and time for yourself to destress.

And that has a massive, and frankly, often overlooked impact on your mental health.

There have been many studies conducted to show the influence that long commutes can take a toll on your mental wellbeing.

Let’s take a look at some of them:

A most recent study conducted in 2019 of Australian commuters showed that people with longer commutes take more unplanned absences from work. Those with shorter commutes were found to be more “relaxed, calm, enthusiastic, and productive.”

Another study in 2017 from Mercer of more than 34,000 UK workers found that people with longer commutes are 33 percent more likely to suffer from depression, 12 percent more likely to report work-related stress, 21 percent more likely to be obese and 46 percent only managed less than 7 hours of sleep each night. 

The last 2017 study from the University of West England found that longer duration commutes reduces job satisfaction, reduces leisure time satisfaction, and increases strain and reduces mental health. 

In short, let me save you the time reading all those studies to conclude:

A long commute definitely has bad repercussions on your mental health.

So is a long commute worth the savings?

Since we have already concluded that long commutes are bad, the real question still remains:

Is it worth the monetary savings?

Let’s look at another study published by Harvard Business Review, where 500 people were asked to choose between two jobs.

The first job was dangling a $67,000 a year salary with a 50-minute commute.

The second job was offering a $64,000 a year salary with a 20-minute commute.

Now, take a guess which job was the more popular one?

That’s right, the first job was the undisputed winner with 84% of the vote.

In other words, they were willing to forgo one hour each workday to commute for 250 hours per year for the $3,000 hike.

Which basically means $12 per hour of commuting time, as compared to the almost $35 per hour that they would be earning at work.

This essentially tells us that people really underestimate the effects of a long commute, and do not think rationally when it comes to making a wise decision. 

So if you are an expat looking to make this decision, we have taken the trouble to do up a table showing the average rent in each district compared to the travelling time and costs that you should expect. 

District	Average Rental	MRT Travel (Mins)	Cost pm	Taxi Travel Time	Cost pm
1	$2,700
2	$2,600	10	$33.2	14	$360
3	$2,500	30	$48.8	32	$800
4	$2,350	54	$45.2	30	$740
5	$2,050	46	$58.8	50	$960
6	$3,889	34	$37.2	6	$300
7	$3,000	16	$33.2	18	$520
8	$2,000	38	$37.2	26	$720
9	$2,400	22	$37.2	20	$640
10	$2,350	58	$55.6	40	$900
11	$2,300	26	$41.2	28	$740
12	$2,000	34	$48.8	40	$800
13	$2,000	52	$51.6	40	$780
14	$1,800	32	$48.8	40	$740
15	$1,800	52	$48.8	30	$700
16	$1,850	46	$57.2	44	$860
17	$1,600	92	$65.2	56	$1,000
18	$1,700	72	$70	62	$1,100
19	$1,800	78	$65.2	60	$1,120
20	$1,900	42	$54	46	$940
21	$1,900	72	$60.4	60	$1,020
22	$2,300	56	$63.6	64	$1,020
23	$1,900	82	$66.8	76	$1,220
25	$1,500	88	$77.6	90	$1,260
27	$1,700	68	$70	74	$1,160
28	$1,700	54	$60.4	54	$1,120

*Assumptions:

1. Comparison was made for commute time to District 1, Raffles Place
2. Taxi time and cost is based on morning 830 am and evening 630 pm
3. Average rental based on typical 1 bedroom unit between 400 to 500 sqft

At the end of the day, only you can decide if a long commute is truly worth your time.

If seeing the costs and time still isn’t enough to help you decide, here are a few more helpful pointers to consider:

1. Think about the additional salary – Having the additional cash as opposed to time saved. What would you do with it? Is that incremental gain going to help you save more? Do you have a solid plan for it?
2. Think about what you could do with the additional time – Would you be able to indulge in a hobby that you have been neglecting? Spend more time with family and friends?
3. Check on job requirements – Perhaps there could be more negotiation in flexibility and being able to work from home. To maintain the level of professionalism you could always meet clients in meeting spaces near your home.

Have any thoughts on the long commute versus high rent debate? Feel free to let us know at stories@stackedhomes.com or leave a comment below!

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to pay more rent for a shorter commute in Singapore?

Long commutes can negatively impact mental health and reduce free time for family, friends, and personal activities. Many studies show that shorter commutes improve wellbeing and job satisfaction, making higher rent for a shorter travel time potentially worthwhile.

How does a long commute affect mental health according to studies?

Studies indicate that longer commutes increase stress, reduce job satisfaction, and can lead to depression, obesity, and less sleep. They also reduce leisure time satisfaction and increase strain, negatively impacting mental health.

Are people willing to sacrifice more money for a shorter commute?

Yes, a study by Harvard Business Review found that most people prefer a higher salary with a longer commute over a lower salary with a shorter commute, undervaluing the time spent traveling.

What factors should I consider when deciding between high rent and long commute?

Consider the additional salary, the value of your time, potential for flexible work arrangements, and how much you would enjoy or benefit from more free time versus saving money on rent.

Is the average Singaporean commute time considered long?

Yes, the average commute in Singapore is about 84 minutes daily, with 25% of people traveling over 2 hours a day, which is considered a lengthy commute.