Read below to find out how to make a move and what it is like to be living in Singapore in 2023. "If I go on any further, either my staff are not paid or I have to close down some stores and that's not what we want to do.". I would rate it higher than that of middle-class South Africa. Many women remark on how safe they feel and are walking around the city (even late at night) on their own. We're past those now, but for 2+ years, life in Singapore sucked. A Complete Guide to Living in Singapore (2022) This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This guide supports future and current expats, helping with everything from the visa youll need in Singapore to sorting healthcare and building a social network. Being here means I can travel around extensively. A: Quality of life in Singapore would be hard to beat anywhere else in the world. Life in the Lion City: An American expat on relocating to Singapore Singapore's endless pursuit of cleanliness - BBC Travel Historically, Singapore hasnt been a warring nation, so the excess manpower in the military is assigned to civil work. These latest price rises are due to higher energy costs, which affect food and fertiliser production, with global supply chain issues compounding the problem. Similarly, they start each class by verbally acknowledging their teachers. Pros And Cons Of Moving To Singapore - Adam Fayed Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Bilingual Public Maternelle School in Paris? Asian in general are known for their appetite in technology and gaming. How savings on international school tuition can benefit your family during the Covid-19 pandemic, Interview with Scott a South African expat living in Singapore, Singapore International School Fees 2020/2021, Interview with Danielle B - a New Yorker in love with Singapore, How Global Indian International School is using technology to change the face of teaching, Interview with JH - A British expat living in Singapore, One World International School: A thoughtfully priced education, a lifelong impact, Expat life in Singapore: the benefits of raising children in the city, Routine adult physical examinations Access to a full suite of physical examinations including BMI, cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure tests, Cancer screenings Including bowel, prostate, breast, lung, skin, and cervical cancer, Telephonic Wellness Coaching Access to a personal coach to support your nutrition, fitness, sleep, stress, weight management, or tobacco cessation goals, Life Management Assistance Programme access 24/7 client service access to Life Coaching and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. (Singapore regularly ranks in first place on various Most Expensive Places To Live lists.) Here comes the end of our living in Singapore pros and cons list, are there any major ones that we have missed out? I dont want to waste my limited time and resources in places that doesnt make me better. However Singapore is located a few degrees from the equator and receives direct sunlight, and high levels of UV radiation. In the Philippines, for example, liberalisation of rice imports has allowed the supply of rice to improve which has kept prices low. Landed homes (similar to single family homes in the US) can be found in the suburbs. The quality of life is what you make it as the city caters to all tastes and price levels. Expat wives, husbands and children embrace Singapore life by using community forums and joining summer camps to help children make friends. Im more concerned with being scammed on Facebook Marketplace if Im being honest! Aside from this fact, the country offers train, light rail, and bus services to get you around. Becoming a member of an expat club or society, such as the American Association or the British Club, is another great way to find out whatson in Singapore. On Facebook groups, you will find questions and the answers to the how tos on a multiple of topics. The people are also very friendly. It's just for general information, and we don't provide professional advice on moving abroad (we're an expat insurance provider). Please try again later. So what are yours about Singapore? and our You can register with a general practitioner (GP) in person at a public or private clinic and for some medical needs, such as vaccinations, you might need to head to a polyclinic. Singapore is a great country with great people, and it certainly has many pros - the low income tax rate is the biggie. Before the pandemic, office workers would make their way to their headquarters on a regular Monday Friday schedule. Our trusted partner Cigna Global is very aware of all the difficulties that expats can face when it comes to healthcare in a new location, so they have created a range of international health insurance plans specifically designed for expats. See our guide on getting a vaccine as an expat and COVID passports for expats for further details. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 5 Pros and Cons Living in Singapore - Abiel Corporate Housing The tax is tiered based on salary earned that averages 5%. Not to mention the taxes, and ERP, the convenience of having a car comes at a really high price. The social circles that we have made are so diverse and continue to be a big factor on why we love living here. If you continue to use this site I assume that you're happy with this. We live in a one-bedroom in the CBD and utilities average $100 (GBP $55, US $74) per month and groceries can be $450 (GBP $247, US $333). All posts are for informational purposes only, and do not constitute legal, financial or medical advice. Lysher was a 10-year-old girl. Unlike most schools, Singapore mandates curriculum on empathy and cultural understanding. Singapores Changi airport is an efficient hub, with easy access to Southeast Asia and Oceania. A curated selection of branded home goods, Speak with our consultants for your buying/selling needs. Singapore is an incredibly popular expat destination because of its diverse mix of cultures. HDB Master bedrooms (bedroom with attached toilet/bathroom): anywhere from $1300 to $1900. In comparison to the States and UK, Singapore is extremely safe. In 2001, Singaporean student, Lysher Loh made national news after committing suicide. While maize prices rose 44% last year and wheat by 31% , rice prices dropped 4% . See our full guide to renting in Singapore. If you want to live in the main central region, do not expect to live in big apartments. The main benefits of the module are : Sirelo has a network of more than 500 international removal companies that can move your furniture and possessions to your new home. Besides shopping on Orchard Road and enjoying the nightlife at Marina Bay, expats often join social clubs such as the American Association or the British Club to make connections. The upside is that you can get almost anywhere around the country in less than an hour. The suicide rate in Singapore is rising at an unprecedented 29% a year. Singapore is an exceptionally safe country with low crime rates and a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs. And thats if youre allowed back into the country (you have to apply for entry to Singapore). VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. Moving abroad can be a difficult process, and if you have done so before, youd know that every country has its pros and cons. 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. In 2001, Singaporean student, Lysher Loh made national news after committing suicide. Dont get me wrong, Im a lowkey sun worshipper. These fines, and the culture that they help to produce, comprise a large portion of the reason why the city remains so clean and welcoming. This is in contrast to Singaporean citizens and PR (permanent residences) who are covered by the universal healthcare. Living in Singapore: An expat's essential checklist | Honeycombers Last month, the government declared that all workers living in dormitories had recovered or were tested to be Covid-19 free. Singapore has a lot of expatriates, who are eager to meet, and are your biggest welcome wagon. How is life in Singapore : r/singapore - Reddit Because Singapore is a hub of industry and commerce, job opportunities are usually in abundance. Even forthose without access to the city-state's subsidised system, healthcare in Singapore is still reasonably priced as long as expats are insured. These cookies do not store any personal information. If expats are looking to get away for a weekend, Singapore is an ideal jumping-off spot for travel in Southeast Asia. A: Sometimes the humidity can be too much to take! Crime rates are extremely low, and you can walk in the streets late at night and not have to worry much about getting mugged. They spend most of their time on the roads and should be . Pros and cons of moving to Singapore with children - Cadogan Tate Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala. With all that said, I hope well soon be in a place where restrictions can be lifted. What to expect from life in Singapore in 2023? Petty theft isnt too much of a concern either. Expat Guide To Moving And Living In Singapore In 2023. High School Scholarship in Singapore / Living alone in Singapore as a teenager? I would say Singapore is expensive in general. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The biggest downer (of everyones lives) is Covid. You can opt out of some, or all, of these categories. I truly appreciate these groups and the enormous amounts of people who engage in them. There are an incredible amount of amazing places in the world. In fact, many companies will expect you to speak English as a first language. Probably the number one thing that most tourists would remark among landing in Singapore. The Economist Intelligence Unit Worldwide Cost of Living 2021 report lists Singapore as the second most expensive city in the world. Lack of seasons - life gets stagnant and limiting with the steady humidity and rain. Q: What do you enjoy most about Singapore, hows the quality of life? Sarah and I bonded over our shared pains to find a reasonably priced apartment in our foreign lands. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The island is no stranger to gastronomy delights. 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. I do miss the theatre, ballet and the West End shows. Please note that opting out of having non-essential cookies stored on your browser may affect your browsing experience. The quality of life is superb and the only downside to live in Singapore compared to Perth is the humidity. Alongside our highly thriving "Global Business Center", people living in Singapore can barely afford rising housing prices & living expenses. For more on life in Singapore and beyond, follow Sarah at sarahwithasmile.com. Even more train lines are expected to be added to the already extensive network, making even the furthest corners of the island easily accessible. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. Then there are others differences that I like to call the unwritten rules. The Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) allows entrepreneurs to enter Singapore, while the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) allows high-earning candidates to apply directly. If this is the case, the patient is expected to pay for the consultation and any other services provided at the time of visit up front, including prescriptions for medication. Even with all the Covid restrictions, life is great here. Singapore, a sovereign nation in Southeast Asia, has a reputation for expat life - in 2018, it was ranked the world's best destination for expats by HSBC. Swapping political uncertainty for Singapores shores has been a key priority for some, leaving prime Singaporean property in high demand. High costs of car ownership. What I miss the most about South Africa - samosas, koeksisters, Table Mountain, and of course, my family. Have you also applied for a visa for your spouse and/or family? Quality of life is extremely high. In Singapore, people simply do as they should do. What is it like living in Singapore as a foreigner?! - Reddit Expats will find that good quality healthcare is readily available inSingapore, regardless of health insurance. The food scene is unreal. Singapore, a sovereign nation in Southeast Asia, has a reputation for expat life in 2018, it was ranked the worlds best destination for expats by HSBC. William Russell Europe SRL is a mandated underwriter for AWP Health & Life SA. Lysher was a 10-year-old girl. By the way, can I quickly address the chewing gum myth?!