LIVING IN SINGAPORE 2020 Guide to - EDB
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2020 Guide to LIVING IN SINGAPORE
Living in Singapore | 2
Table Of Contents
Introduction 3
Asia’s Most Liveable City 4
Snapshot of Living Expenses 7
Housing, in Brief 9
Think About the Children 11
Getting Around Singapore 13
Play in Singapore! 16
Conclusion 17Living in Singapore | 3
Introduction
Best place for expats to live and work in Asia for five years in a
row, according to banking and financial services company HSBC.
Safest country with the highest quality of living in Asia, according
to global human resources (HR) consulting firm Mercer.
Most liveable city for Asian expats for 15 years running, according
to HR consultancy ECA International.
These are just some accolades that Singapore regularly receives. But this comes at
a price. The city-state where clean streets, green highways and towering skyscrapers
coexist, is also known for, well, being expensive. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s
worldwide cost of living report in 2020, for instance, puts Singapore as the world’s
costliest place to live in.
While Singapore is also frequently lauded as a great place to build a life – it is efficient,
stable, and a safe space where diverse cultures live in harmony – some critics have said
that the country is so peaceful that it can get boring.
Is Singapore truly a great place to live in? Is it easy to settle in? Are there things to
explore and experience? Can I afford it? If you are thinking of moving to Singapore,
there are probably many questions weighing on your mind. This guidebook developed
by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) hopes to answer some of these
questions.
Read on to discover:
• Why Singapore is #1 for liveability in Asia
• How the country stacks up when it comes to living expenses
• More details on housing and education for your children
• A sneak peek of things to do in the city-state
About EDB
A government agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, EDB is responsible for
enhancing Singapore’s position as a global centre for business, innovation, and talent.
We also work with other government agencies to ensure that companies here are
supported by a positive business environment and a strong workforce in Singapore.
We look forward to partnering you on your journey and hope you will find this guide helpful!Living in Singapore | 4
Asia’s Most Liveable City
Singapore is consistently ranked by various reports as one of the best places for expats
to live, work and play. Here’s what some of these reports say.
SINGAPORE IS MOST LOVED BY EXPATS
HSBC’s 2019 Expat Explorer global report surveyed expats around the world on their life
overseas.
For the fifth year running, Singapore beat countries such as Japan and South Korea to
emerge as the leading destination in Asia for expats. The reason for Singapore’s appeal?
A combination of strong ratings in areas such as business, housing and education..
Source: HSBC’s 2019 Expat Explorer Global ReportLiving in Singapore | 5
SINGAPORE IS FIRST IN ASIA FOR QUALITY OF LIVING
Recreation, housing, economic environment, consumer goods availability, public
services and transport, political and social environment, natural environment, socio-
cultural environment, school and education, medical and health considerations.
These factors are evaluated by global HR consulting firm Mercer in its Quality of
Living City Ranking reports, which offer city-to-city comparisons for nearly 500 global
destinations. Singapore is ranked first in Asia.
Take a look at who else made the top 10 in 2019!
Top 10 countries in Asia
Rank Location
1 Singapore
2 Kobe, Japan
3 Tokyo, Japan
4 Yokohama, Japan
5 Osaka, Japan
6 Nagoya, Japan
7 Hong Kong
8 Seoul, South Korea
9 Taipei, Taiwan
10 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Source: Mercer’s 2019 Quality of LivingLiving in Singapore | 6
SINGAPORE IS MOST LIVEABLE FOR ASIAN EXPATS
Updated annually since 2005 by HR consultancy ECA International, these location ratings
examine the most liveable locations for Asian expats.
Factors evaluated include housing and utilities, access to a social network and leisure
facilities, political tensions and air quality, among others. Singapore has topped the
ratings every year since the rankings began in 2005.
“A number of factors make Singapore the ideal location, such as
access to great facilities, low crime rates, good quality healthcare
and education, as well as a large expat population already living
in Singapore.”
Lee Quane, Regional Director of Asia at ECA International
Top 10 most liveable locations for Asian expats
Rank Location
1 Singapore
2 Brisbane, Australia
3 Sydney, Australia
4 Nagoya, Japan
5 Osaka, Japan
6 Tokyo, Japan
7 Adelaide, Australia
8 Wellington, New Zealand
9 Copenhagen, Denmark
10 Yokohama, Japan
Source: ECA InternationalLiving in Singapore | 7
Snapshot of Living Expenses
Is Singapore really expensive? The answer is likely to vary depending on individual
lifestyle and preferences.
We got some estimates from Numbeo, an online database of user-data of cost of living
around the globe. Take a look and make some comparisons!
Common expenses for dining and groceries
City Cost of Meal Imported Meal at Cigarettes 12 Eggs
(Inexpensive Beer Mcdonalds (Marlboro)
Venue) (1 Bottle)
Singapore S$14.50 S$12.00 S$8.00 S$14.00 S$3.02
Bangkok S$3.11 S$6.67 S$7.67 S$6.67 S$2.48
Frankfurt S$15.70 S$6.28 S$12.56 S$10.05 S$3.26
Hong Kong S$9.17 S$9.17 S$7.33 S$11.00 S$5.09
Kuala Lumpur S$3.90 S$6.50 S$4.88 S$5.79S S$1.84
London S$26.05 S$8.68 S$10.42 $20.84 S$3.65
New York City S$33.41 S$12.08 S$13.50 S$21.32 S$5.37
Seoul S$9.18 S$6.89 S$8.02 S$5.16 S$4.18
Sydney S$17.91 S$5.99 S$11.31 S$33.00 S$4.28
Tokyo S$10.49 S$7.87 S$9.18 S$6.69 S$3.25
Source: NUMBEO, information accurate as of May 2020.Living in Singapore | 8
Transportation
City Public Transport Gasoline Taxi
(1 Way) (1 litre) (Normal Charge, 1km)
Singapore S$1.80 S$2.26 S$0.63
Bangkok S$1.65 S$1.33 S$0.44
Frankfurt S$4.32 S$2.28 S$3.14
Hong Kong S$1.83 S$3.19 S$1.57
Kuala Lumpur S$0.88 S$0.70 S$0.87
London S$4.86 S$2.25 S$3.49
New York City S$3.91 S$1.10 S$3.56
Seoul S$1.43 S$0.38 S$0.90
Sydney S$4.24 S$1.43 S$2.07
Tokyo S$2.62 S$1.83 S$5.60
Source: NUMBEO, information accurate as of May 2020.
Note: Figures quoted in imperial system were converted to the metric system.
Try out EDB’s Cost of Living Calculator to estimate
how much it will cost to live in Singapore!Living in Singapore | 9
Housing, in Brief
Your next questions might revolve around housing. How much does it cost to rent a
home? How about owning property?
RENTING A HOME
Foreigners may choose to rent either public or private housing. Public housing in
Singapore is managed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), under temporary
leaseholds for 99 years only. About 80 per cent of all Singaporeans live in HDB flats.
About a fifth of Singapore’s resident population live in private housing, which include
strata-managed condominiums, and landed property.
To find out more about renting HDB flats, including eligibility conditions and guidelines,
visit the HDB website here.
If you are looking to rent private properties in Singapore, you might want to check out
procedures for rental by Singapore Expats, a property portal dedicated to the expat
community in Singapore.
Cost of rental in Singapore compared with the rest of the world
City Apartment Apartment Apartment Apartment
(1 bedroom (1 bedroom (3 bedrooms (3 bedrooms
in city centre) outside city in city centre) outside city
centre) centre)
Singapore S$2,822.30 S$1,881.48 S$5,317.28 S$3,192.71
Bangkok S$952.97 S$477.52 S$2,849.39 S$1,238.60
Frankfurt S$1,635.70 S$1,273.64 S$3,134.87 S$2,329.82
Hong Kong S$3,259.20 S$2,254.31 S$7,046.27 S$4,501.49
Kuala Lumpur S$730.26 S$419.57 S$1,265.32 S$699.64
London S$3,048.72 S$2,171.44 S$5,359.01 S$3,585.82
New York City S$4,752.18 S$2,873.30 S$9,410.55 S$5,189.51
Seoul S$1,089.89 S$742.50 S$3,026.16 S$1,577.06
Sydney S$2,478.81 S$1,745.87 S$4,441.25 S$2,867.67
Tokyo S$1,687.55 S$1,011.18 S$4,159.58 S$2,064.69
Source: NUMBEO, information accurate as of May 2020.Living in Singapore | 10 BUYING A HOME AS A FOREIGNER According to the Singapore Land Authority, a foreigner is any person who is not the following: • a Singapore citizen • a Singapore company • a Singapore limited liability partnership • a Singapore society What can foreigners buy? • Only Singapore nationals and permanent residents can purchase public housing by the HDB. • While there is no limit to in the quantity of private apartments and condominiums that foreigners can buy, the Residential Property Act stipulates that foreigners need to apply for approval with the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) if they want to buy restricted properties. These include most landed properties, such as terrace houses, semi-detached houses, bungalows, as well as shop-houses for non-commercial uses. For more information on foreign ownership of property, click here. Property taxes • To find out about the duty that must be paid as a buyer of a property in Singapore, visit the website of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) here. • Most foreigners also have to pay higher Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD). To find out more about ABSD, click here.
Living in Singapore | 11
Think About the Children
OVERVIEW OF SINGAPORE’S EDUCATION SYSTEM
Singapore has a world-renowned education system. As a reflection of this quality, two
of our local universities – the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang
Technological University (NTU) – are consistently ranked among the top 20 universities
in Asia Pacific. In the 2020 QS World University Rankings, NUS was ranked first and NTU
second in Asia, and both were ranked joint 11th in the world.
Singapore’s 15-year-olds have also consistently topped mathematics, science, and
reading rankings by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
The PISA study is done every three years, and run by the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) to measure how well students use their knowledge
and skills to solve real-world problems.
Lessons are taught in English at all of Singapore’s mainstream schools, and students
are required to study a second language, which is also their mother tongue. The most
common second languages are Chinese, Malay and Tamil, and foreign students can study
their mother tongues at language schools, be it Hindi, German or French.
Some useful links from Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) to check out:
• Infographic overview of the country’s education system from primary,
secondary to post-secondary
• Details on Singapore’s education system, including private education,
special education and syllabuses
• Admissions exercise for international studentsLiving in Singapore | 12
2020 school fees for public schools in Singapore
Level Nationality: Monthly Monthly Monthly
Permanent School Fee Miscellaneous Total Fee
Resident (PR) Fee** (Maximum)
or International
Student (IS) (S$) (S$) (S$)
Primary Singapore PR 205 13 218
IS (ASEAN) 465 13 478
IS (Non-ASEAN) 750 13 763
Secondary Singapore PR 380 20 400
IS (ASEAN) 780 20 800
IS (Non-ASEAN) 1,400 20 1,420
Pre-University Singapore PR 460 27 487
IS (ASEAN) 1,040 27 1,067
IS (Non-ASEAN) 1,750 27 1,777
* IS: International Students
** Similar to Singapore Citizens, all Singapore Permanent Residents and International Students are required
to pay miscellaneous fees in addition to school fees
Source: MOE
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
If you would prefer exploring international schools instead of local schools in Singapore,
you will find yourself spoilt for choice. There are more than 50 international schools in
Singapore, offering various curricula and programmes.
Incorporation and corporate secretarial services provider Hawksford have put together a
comparison of international school fees in Singapore. Check it out here!Living in Singapore | 13
Getting Around Singapore
Singapore has one of the best and most affordable public transport systems in the world.
A 2018 report on public transport systems by consulting firm McKinsey, for example,
ranked Singapore first of 24 countries for public transport affordability. The city state also
performed well in transport efficiency, safety and sustainability.
Here are three options for getting around Singapore!
• Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system
- Singapore’s rail system moves more than 2 million passengers daily.
- There are more than 90 MRT stations in Singapore, with trains operating between
5.30am to about midnight daily. Operating hours are usually extended during festive
periods. See all the stations here.
- To find about fares and how to go about buying travel cards, visit the Land Transport
Authority LTA’s website here.
• Buses
- Singapore’s buses complement the rail system and bring commuters
closer to their destinations.
- For bus fares and ticketing, read on here.
• Taxis
- Fares in Singapore are metered and based on flag down rate and distance travelled.
TAXIS
Taxi Company Telephone Email
Numbers
Comfort Transportation Pte 6552 4525 feedback@cdgtaxi.com.sg
Ltd
CityCab Pte Ltd 6552 4525 feedback@cdgtaxi.com.sg
SMRT Taxis Pte Ltd 6555 8888 taxisfeedback@smrt.com.sg
Trans-Cab Services Pte Ltd 6555 6666 feedback@transcab.com.sg
Premier Taxis Pte Ltd 6476 3033 feedback@premiertaxi.com
Prime Car Rental & Taxi 6778 0808 primetaxi@singnet.com.sg
Services Pte Ltd
HDT Singapore Taxi Pte Ltd 6258 8888 feedback_taxi@hdt.com.sg
Source: LTALiving in Singapore | 14
Basic Unit Charges
Taxi Type Standard Taxis Premium Taxis
Flag-Down Fare S$3.20 to S$3.90 S$3.90 to S$5.00
Distance Rate Beyond first KM and up 22 to 25 cents every 30 to 33 cents every
to tenth KM 400 metres 400 metres
After tenth KM 22 to 25 cents every 30 to 33 cents every
350 metres 350 metres
Waiting Time Rate 22 to 25 cents every 30 to 33 cents every
45 seconds 45 seconds
Time-Based Surcharges
Peak Period Surcharge
(i) Weekdays starting at 6am and ending before 9.30am, 25% of meter fare
excluding Public Holidays
(ii) Any day including Public Holidays starting at 6pm
and ending before 12 midnight
Late Night Hiring Surcharge
Starting at 12 midnight of a day and ending before 6am the 50% of meter fare
next day
Source: LTA. Click on the link for more information on other surchargesLiving in Singapore | 15 RIDE-HAILING APPS • Bigger players are Singapore-based Grab, and Indonesian player GOJEK • Other names: blockchain-driven app Tada and carpooling app Ryde DRIVING LICENSES According to the Singapore Police Force, foreigners staying in Singapore for a short period – for example, through a short-term social visit pass – do not need to convert to a Singapore licence to drive in Singapore. However, you must possess a valid foreign licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by an authorised body in your own country. If an IDP is not available, an official translation of your foreign licence in English is required. Drivers from ASEAN member countries only require a valid driving licence issued by their licensing authority, and can drive in Singapore without an IDP. If you want to continue driving in Singapore after 12 months of staying here from the date of your last entry into the country, you need to obtain a valid Singapore driving licence. To convert your driving licence, click here.
Living in Singapore | 16
Play in Singapore!
Now that you know how to get around in Singapore, it’s time to have fun and enjoy what
Singapore has to offer.
Eat and drink because Singapore is where foodies meet
• Michelin Guide selections showcase local chefs, iconic hawker centres,
wine bars and mega clubs
• Singapore Tourism Board (STB)’s guide offers tips on to where to eat
and drink in the city
Shopping: our island packs in more malls per square mile
than any other country in the world
• Major shopping precincts: Singapore’s retail stretches —
Orchard Road, City Hall, Marina Bay
• Cultural shopping enclaves: Kampong Glam, Chinatown, Little India
• Hip ‘hoods: Bras Basah, Tiong Bahru
• Duty-free shopping: Changi Airport, ranked best airport in the world by
London-based research firm Skytrax for the eighth straight year in 2020
• On a budget: IMM for outlet shopping, City Plaza for second-hand items
Arts & Culture
• Heritage: Museums and national institutions
• Art: National Gallery Singapore, Singapore Art Museum
UNESCO World Heritage Site
• The 161-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens, the world’s first and
only tropical botanic garden on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List
Festivals and events
• Check out STB’s calendar of events here!Living in Singapore | 17
Conclusion
We hope you have gained a better idea of what it is like to live in Singapore!
Through our role in facilitating local and regional economic development, EDB has built
up a wealth of business insights and a comprehensive network of contacts that new
companies setting up in Singapore can leverage.
To read the latest trends and insights about the Asian business landscape, sign up here.
To connect with EDB’s curated network of partners through our online service
Connections Concierge, click here. Our partners can provide services in immigration,
banking, legal and taxation matters.
If you are looking for business and innovation events, EDB’s events calendar will also
come in handy!Living in Singapore | 18 Legal Disclaimer Thank you for reading the 2020 Guide to Living in Singapore. The Economic Development Board (EDB) makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the contents of the document. The information contained in the document is strictly for educational purposes, and does not constitute any financial or other professional advice. EDB shall not be liable for any damage or loss of any kind, howsoever caused as a result (direct or indirect) of the use of the document, including but not limited to any damage or loss suffered as a result of reliance on the information contained in or available in the document. EDB is not responsible for the information in any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. The hypertext links provided herein are provided only for convenience and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by EDB of the referenced site. EDB reserves the right to update or modify the document from time to time. © 2020 Economic Development Board. All rights reserved. This document or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form whatsoever.
Living in Singapore | 19 CONTACT US Singapore Economic Development Board 250 North Bridge Road #28-00 Raffles City Tower Singapore 179101 If you plan to set up business operations in Singapore, do connect with us here, or sign up here to receive the latest updates on the Asian business landscape.
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