If you're planning on moving to Singapore from and Beyond: Expat, the key steps are: secure the right work visa, understand real housing costs and regulations for foreigners, compare cost of living, and choose safe, well-connected neighbourhoods close to work and schools. Homejourney helps you do this safely by verifying listings, surfacing reliable market data, and connecting you with trusted partners so you can relocate with confidence.
This guide is a focused cluster in our broader Singapore relocation series and links back to our main pillar article on moving to Singapore. If you're at the early research stage, we recommend reading the pillar guide after this for a complete end-to-end overview of visas, housing, and lifestyle in Singapore. Projects Directory
Life in and Beyond: Expat vs Singapore
Many people from and Beyond: Expat look at Singapore for its stability, strong rule of law, and clear pathways for professionals and investors. Compared with most regional cities, Singapore offers safer streets, stricter rental regulations, and a more transparent property market – all critically important if you're bringing a family or planning long-term investment.[1][7]
Day-to-day life in Singapore is compact and efficient. As someone who has lived between the East Coast and Queenstown for years, the first difference you feel is how close everything is: most residential areas are within a 5–10 minute walk of a hawker centre, supermarket and bus stop, and usually under 30 minutes by MRT to the CBD or Orchard. In many and Beyond: Expat cities, commuting can easily stretch to more than an hour each way.
There are similarities too. Both and Beyond: Expat and Singapore share English-friendly environments in business and education, vibrant food cultures, and increasingly international workforces. For expats already used to multicultural environments, Singapore’s mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian and global communities feels familiar rather than intimidating.[7]
Relocating to Singapore: Visas, Work & Cost of Living
Visa and work permit options
To live and work in Singapore, you will need an appropriate pass issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The most relevant options for professionals and investors from and Beyond: Expat are:
- Employment Pass (EP) – For professionals, managers and executives with a local employer sponsor. As of 2025, qualifying salaries start from around SGD 5,600 per month, higher for senior roles and financial services.[2][5]
- S Pass – For mid-skilled technical roles with a lower salary threshold but stricter quotas per employer.[5]
- EntrePass – For venture-backed or innovative entrepreneurs starting a business in Singapore.
- ONE Pass / Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) – For high-earning professionals seeking more flexibility to change jobs without reapplying.[1][7]
- Global Investor Programme (GIP) – For investors who commit significant capital into approved businesses or funds in Singapore, with a pathway to Permanent Residency.[1]
Family members typically come in on a Dependant’s Pass (spouse and children) or Long-Term Visit Pass (parents, older children), linked to your main work pass.[5] Processing times are commonly 3–8 weeks if documents are complete, but during peak hiring cycles it can take longer. Always confirm requirements directly on the MOM website for the latest rules.
Employment opportunities for and Beyond: Expat expats
Singapore’s strongest sectors for foreign professionals include financial services, technology, logistics, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and regional HQ roles.[1][7] If you have experience in these sectors from and Beyond: Expat, you may find:
- Regional roles covering Southeast Asia and sometimes wider Asia-Pacific.
- Hybrid work arrangements but usually with office presence in the CBD (Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar, Marina Bay) or business parks like one-north.
- Compensation packages that balance higher salaries with limited housing allowances compared with older expat packages.
Most professionals secure roles before relocating. LinkedIn, regional job portals, and specialist recruiters are common starting points. For senior hires, Singapore-based headhunters and internal regional mobility programs are more typical.[1][3]
Cost of living: and Beyond: Expat vs Singapore
Singapore consistently ranks as one of the more expensive cities globally, mainly due to housing and private schooling costs.[6][7] However, personal income tax is lower than in many Western and some Asian markets, which offsets part of the difference.[6]
As a practical reference based on 2025 market data and what Homejourney users report:
- Rental: A modern 2-bedroom condo near an MRT in city-fringe areas (Queenstown, Redhill, Kallang) typically ranges SGD 4,000–5,500 per month. In prime expat clusters like River Valley or Orchard, the same can reach SGD 6,000+ depending on facilities and floor.[1][2]
- Food: You can eat very well at hawker centres from SGD 5–8 per meal, while mid-range restaurants usually start around SGD 25–40 per person excluding alcohol.
- Transport: With MRT and buses, a typical working adult may spend SGD 120–180 per month on public transport, less if you live close to work.[3][7]
- Utilities: For a 2–3 bedroom apartment with regular aircon use, expect SGD 180–280 per month, depending on family size and habits.
When you compare with major and Beyond: Expat cities, rentals in Singapore may be higher for central, newer stock but offset by lower taxes, cheaper public transport, and very affordable street food. Homejourney’s verified listings and market insights help you benchmark what “fair rent” looks like across neighbourhoods.Projects Directory
Property for Expats from and Beyond: Expat
What foreigners can buy in Singapore
Singapore strictly regulates foreign property ownership, primarily through the Residential Property Act and Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD). For most private buyers from and Beyond: Expat:
- Allowed: Non-landed private residential properties (condominiums and apartments) without prior approval.
- Restricted: Landed homes (e.g., terrace, semi-detached, bungalows) generally require Singapore Land Authority approval and are rarely granted unless you are a Permanent Resident with exceptional economic contribution.
- Not allowed: Buying HDB resale flats directly as non-PR foreigners.
ABSD for foreigners is significant and changes over time via government cooling measures. Always check IRAS or consult a qualified lawyer or tax advisor before committing. Homejourney surfaces up-to-date ABSD tables in our purchase workflows to reduce the risk of costly mistakes.
Financing & bank rates for and Beyond: Expat buyers
Most international buyers rely on local bank loans. As a foreigner, you should expect:
- Maximum loan-to-value (LTV) typically up to 75% for your first property, lower if you have existing housing loans elsewhere.
- Stringent income and debt servicing checks (Total Debt Servicing Ratio framework).
- Rates that track SORA (Singapore Overnight Rate Average) with a bank margin on top.
Homejourney’s bank rate comparison tools help you see indicative mortgage packages side-by-side and in your home currency. Start with our financing hub here: Bank Rates . For a fast feel of monthly instalments, pair this with our verified price data on new projects: Projects .
Popular neighbourhoods for and Beyond: Expat expats
In practice, expats from and Beyond: Expat tend to cluster in areas with strong transport links, international schools, and established communities:
- River Valley / Robertson Quay – Walkable to the CBD, riverside dining, popular with young professionals and couples.
- Orchard / Newton – Prime central area with malls, international schools (e.g., ISS, Chatsworth nearby), convenient if you travel frequently.
- Holland Village / Buona Vista – Laid-back, more low-rise feel, close to One-North tech hub and international schools, with a strong expat social scene.
- East Coast (Katong, Marine Parade) – Family-friendly, near the beach and top local schools, with a rich Peranakan food scene. Travel time to the CBD is roughly 20–30 minutes via the Thomson-East Coast and Circle Lines.
From personal experience living in the East, having East Coast Park within a 10-minute cycle and Changi Airport about a 15–20 minute drive makes weekend getaways and morning runs incredibly easy. Homejourney’s property search lets you filter by MRT line, travel time to work, and school proximity, which is more helpful than just looking at postal districts. Property Search
