When I was living in OZ, I paid less than 15% taxes. How on earth did that figure of 45% come about?
The figure there indicates the top income bracket. In most countries, they believe in taxing the rich more, but in sg, they believe in taxing the middle income more. That's why it looks scary at the top. However, most idiots would point to the 35% and make the conclusion that sg is way better. Those idiots forgot that tax is a slider, not a straight line.
In addition, as some have pointed out that there are a lot of hidden tax which is not accounted for.
Someone told me this before and I think it makes tons of sense. He said, if your 2 biggest ticket items, Housing and car, is so much cheaper overseas, why worry so much about slightly more expensive food or standard of living? The tens of thousands you'd saved would have more than compensate for the difference and he has not even started on the quality vof life. He has migrated to AU.