Q: Any negatives? They wonder whether higher prices, rather than being transitory, will linger on just as the pandemic has. The Bad. My global nature stems from my family. There will also be legal fees for signing tenancy agreements and often an agency introductory fee equivalent to 50% of one months rent to take into account. State schools in Singapore are accessible for expat children since the primary education language is English. High costs of car ownership. "A thousand dollar electrical bill for a chicken rice store really is not sustainable," he says. Housing Singapore is well known for expensive real estate, but at that pricing level you can expect to have a good standard of living as well. 600K subscribers in the singapore community. What are the three best and worst things about living in Singapore The tax is tiered based on salary earned that averages 5%. In a thronging nation of skyscrapers where temperatures rarely dip below 77F, its easy to find your place in the crowd, whether youre a single expat or relocating to Singapore as a family. Hi everyone, I'm looking for info about life in Singapore. In South East Asia you don't get much more of a staple food than chicken rice. Probably 80% of Singapore's professional foreign workforce lives in HDB common rooms. To burst this bubble, I will correct the statement and say, it is not illegal to chew gum in Singapore! "When the pandemic hit our first thought was this was a short-term emergency - six months, maybe a year - so we held [prices] for as long as we can because we were hoping for the whole thing to be over.". A: Quality of life is great, cost of living is high, but you get what you pay for. It is also on our list of best countries for American expats. Just make sure you are well prepared, with a job offer secured, international health insurance prepared and an apartment ready to help you settle in quickly. The social circles that we have made are so diverse and continue to be a big factor on why we love living here. For expats, the biggest expenses will be school tuition and housing. From the beginning, government officials declared that they would do whatever was necessary to survive as an independent nation. My spouse and I are considering moving there from the US. This adds more to the already established multicultural nation. Sending money to Europe, InstaReM or TransferWise? The nicer clubs and bars sell drinks at a premium. Unfortunately this is a common theme amongst expatriates. So, for those expats who are still hovering on the fence and weighing up the positives and negativesofrelocating to the Lion City, here's a helpful list of some of the pros and cons of moving to Singapore. As you know, Singapore is not a big country at all. Samaritans of Singapore (SOS): http://www.samaritans.org.sg/ It's sad how taxi drivers are just out to make a living but have been labelled generally as some of the worst drivers in Singapore with their sudden braking and lurching, and aggressive driving on the roads. . Office hours vary between companies and fluctuate between individual contributors and C-suite executives. Its worth knowing that the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system is efficient in Singapore, so you wont necessarily need a car but if you decide for wheels is best for your family, youll need to convert your licence after 12 months. It is a safe country that provides a good quality of life. It usually doesn't take new arrivals long to make friends in Singapore, be they expat or local. Even in a wealthy nation like Singapore, it means that the number of families seeking help has increased. For 30 years, we have helped expats like you move and settle into their new lives overseas, with the peace of mind of knowing their families are covered by a comprehensive and flexible health insurance policy. "So rice being the main staple in many Asian economies contributed to a food price inflation being lower in the region," he says. It's just for general information, and we don't provide professional advice on moving abroad (we're an expat insurance provider). A: Compared to most cities that Ive lived Singapore is remarkably clean and safe. Pros and Cons of Moving to Singapore | Expat Arrivals Speak to us todayto find out more about how international health insurance could benefit you and your family andgood luck moving to Singapore! Its no wonder that so many expats move to Singapore: it is a place with some of the worlds strongest happiness indicators, including for GDP, social support and health. Sdfghjklkjhgfdsdfghjkllkjhgfdsdfghjkl;lkjhgfdsasdfghjklkjhgfxzxcghjkl;lkjhgfdsasdfghjkl;;lkjhgfdsxdcfvghjkl..,nbvcxzxcvbhjkllkjhgfxzxcvbnm, omg we speak the same language bvbvduvoerbxzqbwroug c yt489 qheviyeyefyvccgsdwtdwtrw7gbccsgcf8et8egcbdyugeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeegfvyewobiebrvrrrrrrrrew8, My name is Sean and our goal is to help home buyers and sellers in Singapore make the best decision for themselves. If youre starting out on your expat journey, I believe Singapore is a great starting point. Daily life was convenient, but it was only the bare minimum of living. Singapore is very safe. On a girls night out, the topic of dating is at the forefront (and the stories are entertaining!). The neighbourhoods are built for families as well. And be aware that as a guest, its customary to gift a generous amount of cash presented in a red envelope. The city is clean, easy to get around, English-speaking, has a large expat population and the opportunities for serious travelling, whether you like beaches, cold weather and slopes or adventure travel, are endless. Last month, the government declared that all workers living in dormitories had recovered or were tested to be Covid-19 free. In essence, everything went right. However, the reliable and inexpensive broadband services entail that expatriates can easily overcome this obstacle. While I do not employ anyone myself, I understand that on top of fees, employers would be expected to pay for annual flights to their home country. Im Sarah, a traveling expat blogger. Moving to another country can be challenging, but you can ensure peace of mind by making sure you have the rightinternational health insurance. What do you miss most about home? I think international children have such a unique experience in Singapore. Although as of now the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) is at a low, owning a car in Singapore is still seriously expensive. Teams are spread around the world. If you cant find the answer to your particular situation, theres always someone who has already experienced it and can help guide you through. But when his electricity bills also jumped, Mr Tan decided it was time to raise prices. Singapore is an incredibly popular expat destination because of its diverse mix of cultures. Group social distancing is in place too, so you cant meet up in groups like before. Don't trust the places like numbeo and cost of living comparisons because they are only half correct. Ive also been contacted by friends of friends who visit Singapore during their Southeast Asia tour. They serve a dual purpose protection from the sun and rain. I dont know how the statement, you will get caned for chewing gum in Singapore became such a repeated and misconstrued remark! Sometimes its even cheaper to do this compared to a weekend of entertainment, food, and drinks in Singapore. Life in Singapore: the good and the bad? : r/expats - Reddit Since the pandemic hit, travel has taken a bit of a back seat as well. Singapore was founded with an extreme sense of the necessity of survival. Weekend jaunts to such beautiful places like Bali or Borneo are the norm. Expat Guide To Moving And Living In Singapore | William Russell Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. I wish we would stop the emphasis that light skin color is more beautiful than others. Cost of Living in Singapore Sean has a writing experience of 3 years and is currently with Stacked Homes focused on general property research, helping to pen articles focused on condos. Housing prices are contingent on region, the type of housing, and the view. The latest FAO report shows more than 375 million people in Asia faced hunger in 2020, an increase of 54 million from the previous year. Others are for statistical or marketing purposes. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Making sure your outgoings match up with your salary and expat relocation package is therefore often a key step. Crime rates are extremely low, and you can walk in the streets late at night and not have to worry much about getting mugged. Nevertheless, all serial expats will attest thatevery city and country have their own pluses and minuses. sure SG education has its own problems but parents play a part in helping the kid nurture into a society contributor; cost of living is high for sure but thats everywhere unless you are willing to move to a smaller place where your family's exposure to worldly things will be Add to this safety and the quality of education, and Singapore is very attractive for families. Even those that live in a freestanding home will find that backyards are rarities, but there are lots of green spaces and parks around the island to make up for it. Getting around Singapore by bus or MRT is a piece of cake. In western tradition a wedding ceremony is over within hours and the whole reception within a single day. If your property is unfurnished, have you found a company that can supply your home with essential furniture ahead of your arrival? Plus marketing really pushes for pale skin. So we meet for a quick lunch/tour, with enough time for them to get back to the airport and make their next flight. Singapore is well known for expensive real estate, but at that pricing level you can expect to have a good standard of living as well. Even forthose without access to the city-state's subsidised system, healthcare in Singapore is still reasonably priced as long as expats are insured. and our So these these type of classes are a way to socialise. The biggest downer (of everyones lives) is Covid. Probably the number one thing that most tourists would remark among landing in Singapore. Sending money to Europe, InstaReM or TransferWise? By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which theyre relying with the relevant authorities. Cookie Notice What are the three best and worst things about living in Singapore? Singapores leaders set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to grade their governments performance, and within 50 short years surpassed them all. Please note that opting out of having non-essential cookies stored on your browser may affect your browsing experience. "If global prices continue to rise, there will be an impact, especially for lower income families who spend bigger proportion of their income on food.". By filling in a form, youll get up to 5 quotes from recommended movers. For the first time, open letters to the heads of education are going viral on Facebook, and political critiques are spreading on YouTube. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Condominiums in Singapore have many facilities that really elevate the lifestyle, private swimming pools, gyms and tennis courts. In the Philippines, for example, liberalisation of rice imports has allowed the supply of rice to improve which has kept prices low. Everything is so convenient being in a city. The beaches are not very scenic here. A few other negatives to consider: (1) It is tiny. Mostly, because of the obvious reason for space and reasonably priced housing. Singapore is a very pretty city. Living in Singapore Pros and Cons: Should you move? - Stacked Homes Theres no change of seasons, and the sun rises and sets at the same time. So if you are working in the CBD area and want to stay near work, expect to pay a sizeable sum in rent. Speaking of families, its very common to hire a domestic helper. (idea from /r/london). My con list is weather and the ongoing Covid restrictions. This article is part of our series of guides to expat life. All this requires a lot of admin, time, and money. Heres all you need to know about expat health insurance in Botswana. Lysher was a 10-year-old girl. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This is a huge benefit for those who come to work here. Found in almost every food court and hawker centre, it is considered one of Singapore's national dishes.