Moving to Singapore
A step-by-step guide for people who actually plan to stay in Singapore, Singapore. Not a vacation itinerary.
Monthly cost
$3,298
solo, city centre
Livability
69/100
decent
Safety
83/100
Boringly safe
PR timeline
2 yrs
citizenship: 4y
How to move to Singapore
Visas, residency, and the paperwork you can't avoid
Singapore Tech.Pass
Bring a lawyerDuration: 2 years (renewable)
Top tech talent: salary ≥ SGD $22,500/mo or notable tech achievements. Highly selective.
Visa difficulty by nationality
2 years
to permanent residency
4 years
to citizenship
⚠️ No formal language requirement — evaluated on economic contribution and community integration.
Work permit accessibility: moderate
What it costs to move to Singapore
First-month sticker shock, decoded
Day-one setup cost
$2,696
1-bed, city centre / mo
Cheaper than 8% of 97 cities
$5,517
3-bed, city centre / mo
Monthly burn (solo)
$3,298/moRent + groceries + transport + utilities. No avocado toast budget.
Housing friction
Hard2–6 weeks, fast-moving market
- •Stamp duty on rental agreements (0.4% of total rent)
- •2 months' deposit standard, 1 month agent fee
- •Diplomatic clause only for 2+ year leases
- •High rents: ~SGD 3,000–4,000 for central 1-bed
First month in Singapore
The to-do list nobody gives you at the airport
- ☐
Apply for Singapore Tech.Pass
2 years (renewable). Top tech talent: salary ≥ SGD $22,500/mo or notable tech achievements. Highly selective.
- ☐
Open a local bank account
Bring your passport and proof of address
- ☐
Get a local SIM card
~$13/mo for 10GB+
- ☐
Find an apartment
Expect 2–6 weeks, fast-moving market. Housing friction: Hard.
- ☐
Have $7,761 ready for move-in costs
First month + 1mo deposit + furniture
- ☐
Register with local authorities
Most countries require address registration within 30 days
- ☐
Get health insurance
Private insurance ~$150/mo until residency kicks in
Language in Singapore
Can you order coffee without pointing?
English
primary language
Very High
English proficiency
English is the primary language. You'll be fine. One less excuse not to move.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, freedom, and regime vibes
6.2/10
democracy index (EIU)
🏚️ Flawed democracy
regime type
#6 of 163
Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful)
Travel advisory: Level 1 — Exercise normal precautions
Is Singapore safe?
Crime stats for people who read footnotes
😴
Boringly safe
0.1
homicides per 100k
Crime index: 23/100
Low crime. You'll probably worry more about sunburn.
Weather in Singapore
What the thermometer actually says
31°C
summer highs
25°C
winter lows
279 Mbps
average download speed
If you get sick
Healthcare access for new arrivals
System: Excellent private and public facilities; MediShield for citizens/PRs only
Before residency: MediShield and MediSave for citizens/PRs only. Foreigners: employer-provided or private insurance required (~$130/mo). Emergency care always provided, billed at unsubsidized rates. Singapore healthcare is world-class but priced accordingly without insurance. (private insurance ~$150/mo)
Specialist wait time: 1–3 weeks
The honest take
What we'd tell a friend
Going for it
- ✓ Singapore: 0.1/100k homicide rate. Boringly safe.
- ✓ 31°C summers plus Singapore's coast. Not a drill.
- ✓ 279 Mbps in Singapore. Video calls just work.
Think twice about
- ✗ $2696/mo rent in Singapore. Budget accordingly.
- ✗ Singapore: 6.2/10 — "flawed" democracy band. Singapore's institutions wobble.
This is the settler summary. For the full data dump:
Full Singapore profile →