Relocating to Singapore
Singapore is a bustling city-state, with a diverse culture and rich cuisine. The total population in Singapore is about 5.5 million with 1.5 million expatriates from all over the world. The vibrant economy, together with the clean, efficient, and safe living environment, makes Singapore one of the top expat destinations in the world.
Relocating internationally can be a daunting task. Here, we hope to provide some useful information to help navigate this process. There are also many other useful resources such as this.
Contents
Cost of Living
Singapore offers a very high standard of living but some aspects of life can come at a hefty price. The median monthly income for Singapore residents aged 25-30 is about SGD 3.5k. The salary of a graduate student or a research assistant in CQT is comparable to this. The income tax is very low in Singapore compared to the US and Europe (~7% for this income bracket). In general, one can live comfortably on this salary.
Rental costs can be high, they are comparable to any major cities in the world (think NYC or London). More details about different housing options are in the section below.
Alcohol is also expensive. It is taxed at a high rate, people who like to visit bars and clubs will find that maintaining a social life can be costly. Duty-free alcohol can be purchased before exiting Changi Airport. It’s common practice to acquire your favourite spirit or wine this way to make it more affordable. Go to this link for information on the limit of duty-free alcohol one can purchase.
Thankfully, other necessities in life are generally more affordable. On the whole, food and groceries are very reasonably priced. Cooked meals at local hawker stalls and shopping mall food courts are very cheap. The hawker food is also extremely good, several of the stalls have actually been awarded a Michelin Star. The public transportation network is extensive and costs very little.
Accommodation
Rental costs in Singapore can be high due to the high population density. The majority of the younger expats, who do not have a family yet, choose to live in shared apartments to reduce the cost. In general, it’s possible to find a nice living environment shared with one or two flatmates for around S$ 1000/month. When choosing a place to live, it’s important to consider the following few factors:
Types of flats
In Singapore, there are generally three types of housing – the HDBs, the condominiums, and landed properties. The HDBs are public apartment blocks constructed by the Housing Development Board. Although this is public housing, it does not have the same association as their counterparts do in Europe. Up to 80% of Singapore residents live in HDBs, they are generally quite affordable to rent and are meticulously and routinely maintained by public agencies. They are typically close to public transportation and amenities such as shopping malls, open-hair markets, hawker centres, libraries, and community gyms, etc.
Condominiums (condos for short) and landed houses are private properties. Condos are gated properties with shared amenities such as swimming pools, BBQ pits, etc. They are popular among expats due to the availability of these amenities and the greater privacy due to the lower density of apartments. The apartments typically have two to three bedrooms. Master bedrooms are usually more spacious and have an en-suite bathroom. Hence, they tend to cost more than other regular bedrooms. Renting a condo with a few flatmates is very common among expats. Typically, a lease for the whole place is signed with the landlord/management agency and the specific rental division is decided by the occupants.
It is also possible to rent a landed house as a bigger group. The houses tend to have more bedrooms and offer more spacious living/dining areas. However, landed properties tend to be further away from public infrastructure, such as bus/MRT stops, malls, hawker centers, etc.
There are two commonly used websites for property hunting: propertyguru (link) and 99.co (link). Many of the listings are managed by property agents. They usually represent the owners and will not charge an agent fee from the tenants. It’s a good idea to make sure this is the case when liaising with them. Finally, the rental prices in Singapore are kept very transparent. To have a sense of what is a reasonable offer, you can look up the past rental prices for the specific property on the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s website (link).
Location
Singapore is quite small and compact, with an efficient public transport network. The MRTs and buses are the main modes of travel for daily commute. The closest MRT station to the university is Kent Ridge (CC24), on the circle line. To keep your commute below 30 minutes one-way, it’s best to pick a location somewhere within 10 MRT stops with at most one change of line. The MRT is generally more frequent and reliable than buses as it is not subjected to traffic conditions.
Common areas for expats that are reasonably close to the university are Holland Village (CC21), Farrer Road (CC20), Botanic Gardens (CC19), Little India (NE7/DT12), Harbour Front (CC29), Tiong Bahru (EW17), etc. These areas tend to have access to things such as bakeries, bars, and cafes that are popular amongst young expats.
Flatmates
Finding flatmates that you can get along with is an important factor to having a fun and pleasant living arrangement. As there are a large number of expats in Singapore, it’s relatively easy to find potential flatmates. There are numerous Facebook groups, such as Flat & Flatmates in Singapore, that allows you to look for like-minded people to live with. This can also be a great way to make some new friends! It’s important though, to make sure you are duly registered as a resident of the flat. A proof of residential address is often required for things such as opening a bank account, starting a mobile phone contract, etc.
Other costs
Apart from the rental cost, tenants are usually responsible for covering their utility costs. While the cost of water and gas is relatively low, the usage of electricity can be rather high due to the perpetual summer we are in. A typical total cost of utilities for a three bedroom flat can come to around S$400-500/month, assuming air-conditioning is used in all three bedrooms every night. It’s important to factor this in when planning your budget. Maintenance of the flat is another potential expense. Typically, the landlords are responsible for major repairs in the apartment. In case a repair is required, tenants usually will pay for the first S$150 or S$200 of the cost and the remaining amount will be covered by the landlord. This should be negotiated and clearly specified when signing a lease.
Grownup things
Some information on practical things one will need in Singapore.
Bank account
Banking services in Singapore are relatively straightforward. In essence, bank accounts and credit cards are all linked to the visa.
The process to get a basic bank account, which provides a standard debit card (Visa or Master) and a savings account with standard interest without monthly fees, is quite simple. It can usually be done online with a valid proof of residence (internet/utility bills, lease, etc.), a salary slip, and the student or work pass. The services you get will be relatively similar across all banks for this type of account. One consideration for choosing a particular bank over another could be the availability of ATMs. In this aspect, DBS/POSB bank could be a good option as their ATMs are available in every neighborhood and shopping mall. The NUS campus has pretty much become cashless, with a variety of payment options such as QR codes or instant online transfers. However, many smaller shops in Singapore are still reliant on cash payments, especially in hawker centres and food courts.
Medical care
All students and staff are covered by the NUS medical insurance. The exact details of the coverage may vary, so it’s important to look through this information carefully when you receive your official package.
There is an on-campus health centre where students and staff can make appointments with GPs, have health check-ups, and get common prescription medication. For more specialised care, a referral letter from a GP is usually needed before one can visit a specialist. The insurance also covers visits to a procured lists of GP clinics spread across the island. It’s generally rather easy to find one on the list in or near every residential neighbourhood. It’s useful to find a covered one before making an appointment to avoid unnecessary charges.
Food!
Food is a very important part of life in Singapore. The island is known for both its wide selection of international cuisines and unique local delicacies. There are numerous local restaurant guides and food bloggers that provide very comprehensive reviews on most of the food establishments. Here we will try to give a very general overview and some money-saving tips to satisfy your cravings.
Markets
Generally speaking, there are two types of markets in Singapore where you can buy fresh produce – supermarkets and wet markets. Supermarkets are essentially the same as what you would find in the rest of the world. There are a few main brands: Cold Storage, NTUC, Sheng Siong, and Giant. Cold Storage has more international ingredients (such as cheese and charcuterie) and is generally a little pricier. A useful tip for buying cheese at Cold Storage is to keep a look out for ‘Reduced to Clear’ items. These are a bit close to their best-by date, and often offers a significant discount from their usual price tag. NTUC is probably the most present brand, it offers an affordable selection of both regional and international products. Sheng Siong and Giant are typically located in the large residential areas, and provide a wide range of products for Asian cuisine.
Wet Markets (or Pa Sat in Singlish) are covered markets that provide a great variety of fresh produce, seafood, and meat. The vendors will usually sell out for the day by late morning, so if you wish to get the best catch-of-the-day, it’s important to go early. In particular, tropical fruits and seafood are generally of better quality at the wet markets than at the supermarkets. In a few larger ones, such as the Tekka Wet Market in Little India, one can also find more exotic things such as venison or lobster at relatively affordable prices.
Hawker Centres
The Hawker culture is a very unique part of the Singapore heritage. Hawker centres are open-air food courts with a large collection of small individual stalls, offering primarily local and regional dishes. Each stall usually specialises in only one type of food and does it really really well! Hawker food is delicious, affordable and provides a really convenient place to grab a nice meal without breaking the bank. Some great Hawker Centres to check out are Chomp Chomp, Maxwell Food Centre, East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Old Airport Road Food Centre, etc.
Recreation
Singapore offers a wide range of activities all year round. With our fast-paced city life, it’s important for everyone to find their own refuge to relax and recharge. There are a few categories of things one could explore in and around Singapore.
Public green space
While Singapore is usually known for its bustling city landscape, our little island actually has many beautiful parks and hiking trails. You can find general information about these locations at the National Parks Board website (link). In particular, the Botanic Gardens and the Southern Ridges are two very accessible options for a nice long walk right in the heart of the island. To venture a bit further out, there are also several nature reserves off-shore, such as the Pulau Ubin island, and Coney Island. The east coast park is also a great spot for a relaxing day out by the beach.
Weekend getaways
Singapore is well-connected to other countries in South East Asia by several budget airlines such as Scoop and Silkair. It’s possible to hop over to Bangkok, Krabi, Bali, etc, with a short 2-3 hour flight. This is a great way to escape the city briefly and explore other outdoor or cultural activities. South East Asia has many top-notch diving spots, with crystal clear water, colourful tropical fishes and corals reefs. Many beautiful islands in Malaysia and Indonesia offer affordable diving lessons at various levels.
Cultural activities
There are quite a number of museums and galleries in Singapore that offer a great way to learn about the history, culture, and arts scene in Singapore and the region. They also regularly bring international exhibitions and organise themed activities. Timeout Magazine has a great guide on this (link). The Esplanade theatre also hosts a wide selection of musicals, concerts, and other performances at relatively affordable prices.
Special events
One can find exciting events taking place in Singapore pretty much all year round, from food/wine/beer/sake festivals to public talks on tech-related topics (by organisers such as SGInnovate, French Tech, etc). Some good resource to keep up to date with the latest events are Timeout Magazine and The Honeycombers.
Interest groups
For people looking to take part in group activities, a large selection of interest groups (sports, food, arts, etc, etc) can be found on Meetup.com. It’s a great way to meet new friends and explore what Singapore has to offer together!