Moving to Singapore from Saudi Arabia on a budget is absolutely possible if you plan your visa, housing, and day‑to‑day spending carefully, and use trusted platforms like Homejourney to compare real property options and costs in advance.
This focused guide is part of Homejourney’s broader international relocation pillar content, helping global buyers and expats understand Singapore’s property market, regulations, and cost of living before they commit. For a deeper dive into the full relocation process, you can always refer back to our main Singapore relocation and property investment pillar guide .
1. From Saudi Arabia Budget Life to Singapore: What Really Changes?
Many budget‑savvy expats in Saudi Arabia are used to relatively low fuel prices, tax‑free income, and car‑centric lifestyles. Singapore is different: income tax is low by global standards, but housing and car ownership are among the most expensive in the world, so your Saudi budget needs a full reset around rent and transport.[2][3][9]
Based on current 2025 data, a single expat in Singapore typically needs around SGD 3,500–6,000 per month to live reasonably comfortably, depending mainly on rent.[2] A highly frugal lifestyle with a room in an HDB flat, hawker food, and public transport can be closer to the lower end, while condo living and frequent dining out push you to the upper end.[2][3]
If you have been living on an affordable Saudi budget focused on saving money, expect housing to be your biggest shock in Singapore and the primary lever for save money Saudi style optimisation.
2. Visas & Work Permits: Entry Pathways from Saudi Arabia
Before thinking about housing with Homejourney, you must confirm your right to live and work in Singapore. Immigration regulations are handled by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Always verify the latest rules on their official sites before applying.
2.1 Main visa options for Saudi citizens and residents
- Employment Pass (EP): For professionals, managers and executives with a qualifying salary (commonly from around SGD 5,000+ depending on sector and experience). Your Singapore employer usually sponsors this.
- S Pass: For mid‑level skilled staff. Lower salary threshold than EP but subject to quotas per company and sector.
- Work Permit: For certain sectors (e.g., construction, marine, manufacturing). Typically handled directly by the employer.
- EntrePass: For startup founders with innovative businesses backed by recognised accelerators or investors.
- Student’s Pass: For full‑time study at approved institutions.
- Dependent / Long‑Term Visit Passes: For spouses, children and in some cases parents of eligible pass holders.
For budget planning, confirm your pass type early, as your employment pass level often determines your salary band and whether your employer covers housing, school fees, or flights—key to any cheap Saudi travel to Singapore relocation strategy.
3. Cost of Living: Saudi Budget vs Singapore Reality
To design a realistic Saudi budget for Singapore, break your monthly spending into rent, transport, food, healthcare, and schooling.
3.1 Housing: your biggest expense
In 2025, most expats report that rent is easily half their budget.[1][2][3] Recent data and on‑the‑ground experience show:
- Common room in an HDB flat (shared): From about SGD 500–1,200/month, depending on town and condition.[3]
- Whole HDB flat: Around SGD 2,250–2,500 for a 2‑room and SGD 3,500–4,000+ for a 5‑room, with prime units going higher.[3]
- Condo apartment: Central one‑bedroom can range from SGD 4,000–6,000+ today.[1]
Official HDB and URA portals provide transaction data for public and private housing, and Homejourney overlays this with verified listings on our property search tool Property Search and projects directory Projects Directory so you see market‑accurate asking rents instead of unrealistic ads.
3.2 Daily expenses: where you can still save
- Food: Cooking or eating at hawker centres can keep you near SGD 280–500/month if you avoid frequent restaurants.[3]
- Transport: A typical heavy public‑transport user may spend roughly SGD 130–230/month on MRT and buses, sometimes plus rideshares.[3]
- Utilities & mobile: Shared HDB utilities might be around SGD 70/month per person; mobile plans can be under SGD 30 if you choose SIM‑only options.[1][3]
Public sources like LTA and public transport operators publish fare structures; combining those with your expected commute lets you pre‑build a monthly affordable Saudi style budget for Singapore.
4. Property for Expats from Saudi Arabia: Buy or Rent?
Homejourney’s priority is safe, transparent property decisions, especially for foreigners navigating Singapore’s strict rules. As a non‑resident foreigner, your purchase options are limited and heavily regulated by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
4.1 What foreigners can buy
- Private condominiums & apartments: Freely purchasable by most foreigners, subject to Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD).
- Executive condominiums (ECs): Only after the 10‑year mark when they become fully privatised; restrictions apply before that.
- Landed property: Generally restricted; most foreigners need special approval from SLA to buy landed homes on the mainland.
- HDB flats: Foreigners (without PR) cannot buy HDB resale flats and cannot own BTO flats.
4.2 ABSD and other taxes
Foreigners currently face one of the highest ABSD tiers in Singapore. The exact percentage can change with government cooling measures, so always confirm via IRAS before committing. On top of ABSD, you pay Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) and legal fees, so budget conservatively and allow a buffer.
For financing, compare options on Homejourney’s mortgage and bank rates page Bank Rates . We aggregate rates from major Singapore banks so you can align your save money Saudi strategy with the most competitive packages, while staying within MAS loan‑to‑value and Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) caps.
4.3 Popular neighbourhoods for Saudi expats on a budget
From experience working with Middle Eastern clients, the following areas often strike the right balance between comfort and cost:
- Geylang / Paya Lebar: Older housing stock but good value for city‑fringe condos and HDBs; Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ) offers modern malls and offices.
- Tampines / Pasir Ris: Family‑friendly, with large malls and parks; ideal if you value space over central location and want lower rent.
- Jurong East / Lakeside: Growing regional centre with malls like JEM and Westgate; good for those working in the west and seeking more affordable Singapore housing.
- Woodlands / Yishun: Further north but connected by MRT; often some of the best value HDB rentals for tight Saudi budget planning.
Use Homejourney’s verified projects directory Projects to compare developments, historical trends, and amenities before you shortlist units in your target districts.
5. Renting Safely with Homejourney
Most new arrivals from Saudi Arabia will rent for at least 1–2 years. To protect your budget and safety:
- Shortlist neighbourhoods based on MRT lines serving your office or school (e.g., walking 8–10 minutes from an MRT station is normal and safe at night in most estates).
- Search verified listings on Homejourney’s property search Property Search , filtering by budget, travel time, and unit type.
- Check URA guidelines on minimum rental periods (whole units usually minimum 3 months) to avoid illegal short‑term arrangements.
