12 Essential Considerations before Relocating to Singapore

Moving to Singapore offers you many exciting new opportunities - beautiful scenery, clean streets, safe neighborhoods, excellent healthcare, and a huge expat community.

This multicultural city has a lot to offer expats.

But before you pack your bags, make sure that check out our list of Singapore must-sees - whatever you want, just find out more or wake up before you move.

1. "Singlish" is very common: Foreigners who speak English should not roam around Singapore. The government of Singapore is one of the main languages of the country and requires that everyone living in the country speak English.

It is the most used language in schools, work, and government, and has even become a new language: " Singlish ". It all started with the British colonization of Singapore in 1819. Over time, over 150 years of influence from Mandarin, Hokkien, Malay, and Tamil made English the new single language.

2. Prepare for humidity: Because the island sits above the equator, Singapore's climate is about as tropical as it gets. Here you can expect 30°C weather all year round - that's right, 12 months of the year are drenched in the sun. Luckily, most homes have air conditioning to provide a welcome respite from the heat during peak summer hours.

3. You need a job before you move: Singapore has very strict visa and employment laws that govern who can and cannot work in the country. Basically, this means that most people need to get a job - or basically an offer “- before moving to Singapore. Once approved, you will receive a work permit from the Ministry of Manpower, Singapore.

4. Healthcare is state-of-the-art: You can expect excellent medical care in Singapore thanks to the universal healthcare system, which is funded by the government and the public.

The country's healthcare system has three components, known as the Three M’s: MediSave, MediShield Life, and MediFund. MediFund is only for citizens, while MediSave and MediShield Life are open to permanent residents or spouses, children, or parents of a permanent resident.

Unlike the NHS, this scheme is fee-based. The Singaporean authorities subsidize medical services and require the public to pay an equivalent amount each month into a health savings account, which they can then use to purchase these discounted services.

5. Everything is clean: As soon as you step off the plane, one of the first things you notice in Singapore is how clean everything is. The cleanliness of this city dates back to the 1980s when the founder of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew banned things like chewing gum and punished people who don't flush in public toilets. To this day, all litters are severely fined and punished. First-time offenders who throw small objects such as cigarette butts or candies will be fined S$300 (￡162).

6. Get used to using public transport: Like everything else in Singapore, public transport is in excellent condition - it's also cheap and efficient. Even a 20-minute delay can make national news. Due to its small size, the city-state has invested heavily in public transport infrastructure and is currently expanding the MRT (Singapore's version of the London Underground).

Also, buying a car in Singapore can be a bit more complicated than what you are used to. First, it's not as cheap as other countries - and if you can afford it, you also have to pay the government a Certificate of Entitlement (COE), which is almost the same price as the car itself!

7. Singapore is not cheap: When you visit Singapore, you realize how much more expensive everything is compared to other parts of Asia - and the rest of the world.

The average cost for context. Living in Singapore is 13% more expensive than in the UK.

Because of this, Singapore's million density (millionaires as a percentage of the total population) is the second highest in Asia at 5.5%.

8. But it can be affordable - if you know where to look: Yes, Singapore can be crazy, but it doesn't have to be. If you can live without high-end dining and luxury hotels with infinity pools, you'll find that Singapore can be quite cheap. If you want to get around, use public transport instead of splurging on a car. Not only are buses, taxis, and the MRT all very cheap, but they are also very efficient. Also, you can shop at the local grocery stores - although cheap, the quality of the food is most at these food stalls is excellent.

9. Look for a short-term rental before moving in: With many things in Singapore, property prices are particularly steep, with the average house costing S$1,183,375 (￡639,676). This can make the first few months a bit more stressful for foreigners and make it difficult for them to find the right place.

Many foreigners get around this problem by looking for temporary accommodation in Singapore for the first few weeks or months. This allows people to explore different areas and find out what works best for them and gives them a better chance at high prices.

10. Beware of fines: Singapore is famous for its large fines and penalties so do your best. It's worth familiarizing yourself with some of the basic laws before setting your foot on Singapore soil.

Although there are some reasonable rules - for example eating or drinking on the MRT is illegal, littering, hawking, or spitting. – Some are a bit stricter.

Do you want to feed the pigeons? No, unless you want to be fined. Thinking of importing chewing gum? No chance.

11. You can live a low-tax life: One of the most important aspects of living in Singapore is having a relatively low income. Tax residents (people who stay in the country more than 183 days a year) are taxed at a progressive rate of 0-22%, while non-residents are taxed at a flat rate of 15%. In addition, the standard GST rate is currently 7%.

12. Singapore is a safe city: Singapore came fourth in a survey of the world's safest countries, behind Iceland, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

Residents once again have the city's strict laws to thank for this level of security level. Penalties for breaking the law in Singapore can be severe - you can face corporal punishment (such as caning), imprisonment, and even death.

However, Singapore is more dangerous for some than others. Being gay is officially illegal in Singapore. It is also illegal to protest without a permit, which can further oppress vulnerable groups.

Summary: There you have it - 13 things you should know about Singapore before packing your luggage.

Feeling excited to start your life in The Garden City? Make your relocation process streamlined, call APML today!