If you love weekends at Borough Market, late nights in Camden Market, and vintage hunts along Portobello Road, moving to Singapore can feel like trading one vibrant market city for another – just hotter, greener, and far safer.
This Moving to Singapore from London Markets: Borough, Camden and Portobello: Expat Guide is written specifically for Londoners who know their way around Southwark, Camden Town and Notting Hill, and are now comparing life in Singapore – whether for work, lifestyle, or property investment – with Homejourney as your trusted, safety‑first real estate partner.
This cluster guide connects back to our main pillar article on moving to Singapore from London and zooms in on the questions Borough, Camden and Portobello locals ask most about visas, housing, cost of living and daily life in Singapore.
Life in Borough, Camden & Portobello vs Life in Singapore
Living around London’s iconic markets means you’re used to dense, walkable neighbourhoods with character: warehouse conversions near Borough Market, student flats and terraces around Camden, and pastel townhouses off Portobello Road.
Singapore offers a similar city‑living intensity, but with some important differences:
- Climate: Think August on the Central line, but outdoors year‑round – 24–32°C, high humidity, and sudden downpours instead of drizzle.[2]
- Safety: Singapore consistently ranks among the safest cities globally; violent crime is rare and it’s normal to feel safe walking home from the MRT at midnight.[2]
- Urban form: Less period brick, more high‑rise condos with pools, gyms and BBQ pits; fewer basements, more sky gardens.
- Food culture: Where Borough’s artisanal cheese and Camden’s street food London stalls dominate your weekends, Singapore’s equivalent is hawker centres and kopitiams – Michelin‑listed chicken rice for around SGD 5–8 per meal.[1][2]
Insider tip from someone who’s swapped Saturdays at Broadway Market for Saturdays at Tiong Bahru Market: in Singapore, you’ll very quickly develop a mental map of the best laksa stall by MRT line the way you once memorised where to get the best bao or falafel wrap in Camden Lock.
Relocating to Singapore: Visas, Work & Cost of Living
Visa and Work Pass Options for Londoners
As a UK citizen, you can enter Singapore visa‑free for up to 90 days for tourism or short business trips, but you must hold a valid pass to live and work here long term.[1][2][3]
The main work passes, administered by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM), include:[2][4]
- Employment Pass (EP): For professionals, managers and executives with a job offer in Singapore and meeting minimum salary and qualification criteria.
- S Pass: For mid‑level skilled staff with a lower salary threshold than EP.
- EntrePass: For founders of venture‑backed or innovative startups.
- Dependent’s Pass & Long‑Term Visit Pass: For eligible family members of EP/S Pass holders.
Always confirm current pass requirements directly with MOM or a licensed relocation consultant, as salary thresholds and criteria are updated regularly.[2][4]
Employment Opportunities for Borough/Camden/Portobello Expats
Many professionals moving from London markets districts to Singapore work in:
- Financial services and fintech (Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Shenton Way)
- Tech & product roles (One‑North, Mapletree Business City, CBD)
- Creative, media & F&B – especially those with experience in London markets’ street food London scene, who often join or start concepts in Singapore’s bar and restaurant clusters such as Keong Saik or Joo Chiat
Insider tip: your experience curating concepts in Camden Market or managing a Portobello Road stall is genuinely valuable in Singapore’s fast‑evolving F&B ecosystem, where operators seek people who understand placemaking, brand storytelling and crowd management.
Cost of Living: Borough/Camden/Portobello vs Singapore
Both London and Singapore are high‑cost cities, but your spending patterns will shift.[1][2]
- Food: In Singapore, a good hawker meal starts from about SGD 5–8 (roughly the cost of a flat white near Borough).[1]
- Dining out: Mid‑range restaurants are often SGD 25–40 per person, similar to central London.[1]
- Transport: A typical monthly MRT/bus spend is around SGD 120, and the system is clean, air‑conditioned and very reliable.[1][3]
- Healthcare: Private GP visits are commonly SGD 50–80; specialists around SGD 120–200.[1]
Use Homejourney’s currency‑aware tools to compare your current Camden rent or Portobello Road mortgage directly in SGD and see what an equivalent budget unlocks in different Singapore districts.
Property in Singapore for London Market Expats
Singapore takes real estate regulation and ownership rules seriously, which is one reason foreign investors see it as a safe, stable market.[2]
What Foreigners Can Buy
In brief, most expats from Borough, Camden and Portobello can:
- Freely buy: Private condominiums and apartments, strata‑titled retail/office units, and some landed homes in approved areas, subject to financing rules and stamp duties.[2]
- Need approval to buy: Most landed residential property (e.g., bungalows, semi‑detached) under the Residential Property Act.
- Cannot directly buy subsidised HDB BTO flats as first‑time foreign buyers; certain HDB resale purchases are only allowed for Permanent Residents who meet minimum occupation and eligibility rules (check latest HDB policy before committing).
For detailed, project‑level data and verified listing information, explore the Homejourney projects directory.Projects Directory
ABSD (Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty) for Foreigners
On top of standard Buyer’s Stamp Duty, foreigners pay Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) when purchasing residential property in Singapore; rates are set by the Ministry of Finance and can change as cooling measures are adjusted.[2]
Because ABSD materially affects your return on investment, always:
- Check the latest ABSD tables from IRAS or a licensed solicitor before you sign any Option to Purchase.
- Use Homejourney’s bank rates and financing tools to model your total acquisition cost in both SGD and GBP.Bank Rates
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and not tax or legal advice; always seek independent professional advice before purchasing property.
Neighbourhoods London Market Expats Tend to Prefer
If you like the texture and energy of different London markets, these Singapore districts tend to resonate:
- Tiong Bahru: Art deco blocks, indie cafés and a beloved market and hawker centre – many Borough Market fans end up here for its mix of heritage and third‑wave coffee.[2]
- Joo Chiat / Katong (East Coast): Colourful shophouses, Peranakan food and a relaxed, beach‑adjacent vibe; often described as a sunnier mash‑up of Notting Hill and outer‑London seafront suburbs.
- Robertson Quay / River Valley: Riverside living, wine bars and family‑friendly condos – popular with professionals used to walking from London Bridge through Bankside at night.
- Bugis / Kampong Glam: Street art, independent boutiques and Middle Eastern eateries; a natural home for people who loved the creative edge of Camden.
Insider tip: when comparing areas, look first at the nearest MRT line and walking distance (under 8–10 minutes is ideal in the humidity), then shortlist condos or apartments using Homejourney’s property search.Property Search
Rental Market Snapshot
For most newly arrived expats from Borough or Camden, renting first is the safest move.[2]
