Tom Singapore. Just the sound of its name evokes dreams of a lush, tropical island paradise. In reality, it comes pretty close to matching the hype. Singapore remains a draw for the adventurous – there are approximately 1.5 million non-permanent residents currently living in the city-state today.
If you’re contemplating a move to Singapore, there are things you need to understand before you take the plunge; do some research on the place before you pack up your belongings and hop a jet. Properly preparing before you move will make the transition into the Singaporean way of life much easier.
Singapore
Singapore is an island just south of the Malay Peninsula and is an independent city-state.
Singapore lies in the equatorial monsoon region of Southeast Asia. Hence, it is hot and humid year round. If you’re coming from a relatively dry area, and one that experiences seasons, you should consider visiting the island before moving, to see if you can adapt to the climate. It rains frequently in Singapore, and the rains during the monsoon seasons are torrential; while the temperatures range from 77 F in January up to 94 F in June, the humidity makes a huge difference.
Singapore is ideally suited for tourism – the island has an excellent international airport, lots of hotels, a variety of attractions, such as the zoo and the botanical gardens, and duty-free shopping at a number of shopping centers.
The island has a well-networked system of highways and roads, but heavy traffic at peak hours is a serious issue. Better stick to the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and the buses; the rail system is designed for commuter traffic from the housing developments to the business districts and centers of employment.
Things to Consider
Work
If you don’t already have a job in Singapore, get one before you go; competition for jobs is intense, so have a solid job lined up waiting on you. Many expatriates work in banking, finance, oil as well as information technology as well.
Living
Budget carefully when you move to Singapore. Singapore is known to be one of the most expensive cities in the world for expatriates. Costs you need to plan for include:
Housing
Housing in Singapore is expensive. Most of the residents live in Housing Development Board (HDB) high-rise apartment buildings; there are, however, non-HBD condominiums available as well. The HBD flats are cheaper whereas condos, though more expensive, come with facilities such as swimming pool and gym within the condo complex. Wherever you live, budget for a higher housing expense than you’re used to.
Cars
Cars are extremely expensive in Singapore. The need for Certificate of Entitlement (COE) increases cost of ownership of cars in Singapore. Not only that, there is a tax on having a car on the island, gas runs around $7 a gallon, you have to drive on the left side of the road, and left-hand drive cars are not permitted. As the city has such as developed public transportation system, it would be wise to use the mass transit system for your transportation needs.
Food, Clothing, and Sundries
Purchasing food to cook yourself is not as expensive as eating out, so stock up your kitchen, and enjoy meals at home. The hawker centres are relatively inexpensive, so eating out there is well within most budgets, and if you go for foods you can’t cook yourself, eating at the hawker centres becomes an adventure as well.
Clothing is more expensive in Singapore, so bring most of what you need with you when you relocate. Recently, shopping online is a viable option to traditional brick-and-mortar shopping – which also help to bring down costs.
Personal items such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, hygiene products, toothpaste, etc. are higher in Singapore. But if you know where to look, cheaper options are still available in the island-state.
Electronics
As a major manufacturer of electronics, laptops, handphones and TVs are still relatively affordable in Singapore. To save on costs, getting your news and entertainment from the Internet is a great option.
Banking and Finance
Opening a bank account is easy – just choose your bank, walk in, and open your account. Singapore is a strong financial center, so you can easily find a trusted financial partner in the Asian city-state.
Exchange rates favour the US dollar – one US dollar is worth about $1.40 in Singapore, so this helps when you set up your account initially with money from the States.
Culture Shock
Singapore is a diverse city, with Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians living in harmony. Major religions in Singapore include Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and many others.
While Singapore is a modern city, with many Western influences, it retains an Asian conservatism; the city has numerous laws, strictly enforced, and many etiquette restrictions as well. Research the laws and customs of Singapore before you set foot on the island – not doing so can literally cost you your life. Singapore imposes the death penalty for having even small amounts of illegal drugs, so know what the city considers legal and illegal drugs before you arrive.
Final Thoughts
Singapore is an exotic destination; it is also one of the cleanest cities in the world, with first-class health care and a high standard of living. It is not, however, everyone’s cup of tea – the climate can be a shocker, especially if you come from cooler parts. Plan a visit to Singapore before you pack up and move there – see if Singapore can indeed be your “home away from home”, before you head over.
