Move to Singapore
Everything a future Singapore settler needs to know. Residency, money, safety — the stuff the tourism board won't put on a poster.
Singapore at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Visa routes we know about
2 years
to permanent residency
4 years
to citizenship
⚠️ No formal language requirement — evaluated on economic contribution and community integration.
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
DP holders need own EP, S Pass, or Work Permit to work. LOC available for ONE Pass/Tech.Pass dependants.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in Singapore
One city, no paradox of choice
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$2,696
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 1 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$150,689
GDP per capita
17%
Corporate tax
2.8%
Unemployment
2.4%
Inflation
Moderate inequality — some neighborhoods will feel like different countries.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
6.18/10
🏚️ Flawed democracy
47
/100Freedom House score
#6 of 163
Global Peace Index
#123
Press freedom rank
Is Singapore safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Boringly safe. Your biggest danger is cycling accidents.
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
English
Primary language
Very High
English proficiency (#2 globally)
English is the main language. One fewer excuse not to move.
❓ Moving to Singapore — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Singapore?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Singapore ranks #1 in Singapore with a score of 69/100. City-centre rent starts around $2696/month.
How much does it cost to live in Singapore?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $2696 to $2696/month across our 1 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $3,298.
How do I get permanent residency in Singapore?▾
The path to permanent residency in Singapore typically takes 2 years. Citizenship is possible after 4 years. Note: No formal language requirement — evaluated on economic contribution and community integration.
Is Singapore a democracy?▾
Singapore scores 6.18/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Flawed democracy." It ranks #6 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is Singapore safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Singapore is 0.1 per 100,000 people. That's quite safe by global standards.