Moving to Singapore from Brooklyn Complete: Expat Guide starts with one key idea: if you enjoy dense, walkable city living in Brooklyn NYC—think Williamsburg, DUMBO, and the Brooklyn Bridge waterfront—you will likely feel at home in many central Singapore districts, provided you plan visas, housing, and costs carefully.
This cluster guide sits under Homejourney’s main Singapore expat and property pillar , and focuses specifically on New Yorkers and Brooklyn-based expats comparing life in Brooklyn versus Singapore, with tactical steps to relocate safely and confidently.
From Brooklyn to Singapore: What Life Really Feels Like
Living in Brooklyn NYC usually means good coffee downstairs, subway access within 10 minutes, and a mix of historic streets and new developments; central Singapore offers a similar city energy but with cleaner streets, lower crime, and a tropical climate all year.
If you love Williamsburg’s cafes and nightlife, you may gravitate toward Tiong Bahru, Tanjong Pagar, River Valley, or Joo Chiat in Singapore—low-rise, character neighborhoods with strong food and cafe scenes.
If DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge Park are your weekend spots, the Singapore equivalents are Marina Bay, Robertson Quay, and the East Coast Park waterfront—great for morning runs, cycling, and city-skyline views.
Many Brooklyn residents consider Singapore for three reasons: competitive regional jobs, safer streets (especially for kids and late-night commutes), and a more strategic base for Asia travel while still enjoying a modern, English-speaking city.
Relocating to Singapore: Visas, Work & Cost of Living
Visa and work pass options for Brooklyn-based expats
Most Brooklyn expats will be US citizens, so the typical Singapore work and stay options include:
- Employment Pass (EP) – for professionals and managers; the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) currently requires a minimum qualifying salary (around the mid-SGD 5,000s, higher for older and financial roles) plus passing the COMPASS points framework.[8]
- S Pass – for mid-level staff with lower salary thresholds than EP but quotas and levies apply to employers.[8]
- Dependant’s Pass / Long-Term Visit Pass – for spouses and children of EP/S Pass holders, or certain common-law and step-children arrangements.[2][8]
- EntrePass / Investor schemes – if you are starting a venture or investing in Singapore, you may qualify under business or investor programs.[3][6]
Short visits (for viewing properties or interviews) are usually covered by a Short-Term Visit Pass for US citizens, but long-term stays always require the right work pass; you should confirm current rules via the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Singapore Embassy in Washington.[1][7]
Homejourney recommends speaking with an employer-side HR or licensed relocation consultant when choosing a pass, as requirements and minimum salaries change over time and mistakes can delay your move.
Cost of living: Brooklyn vs Singapore
As someone used to Brooklyn rents, you will find Singapore housing expensive in the central core, but healthcare, public transport, and some local food can be cheaper than New York when used wisely.
Key comparisons (approximate, for context only):
- Rent: One-bedroom in a central condo (e.g. River Valley, Tanjong Pagar) can range from SGD 3,500–5,000/month; further out near MRT nodes (e.g. Queenstown, Paya Lebar) you may find SGD 2,500–3,500/month, depending on age and size of the property.
- Utilities: Plan SGD 150–250/month for a one- to two-bedroom unit, higher if you run aircon all day.
- Food: Local hawker meals (chicken rice, noodles, nasi lemak) are often SGD 4–7, but cafe brunches and wine are similar to or pricier than Brooklyn.
- Transport: An adult MRT/bus commute within city areas can easily stay under SGD 150/month with a stored-value card, much lower than a typical NYC monthly MetroCard plus rideshares.
To benchmark costs by neighborhood and building, use Homejourney’s verified data via the projects directory Projects Directory , which aggregates recent transactions, project age, and amenities to help you avoid overpaying.
Employment and community for Brooklyn expats
Brooklyn-based professionals often land in sectors like finance, tech, media, law, and marketing—roles that cluster around the CBD (Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar), Marina Bay, and one-north.
International and American chambers of commerce, industry associations, and coworking hubs (e.g. in Tanjong Pagar and Orchard) are key networks for expats seeking roles or freelance opportunities.
There are active American and New Yorker communities in Singapore, including alumni groups and special-interest clubs; many organize events near Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay, or Holland Village, which are convenient for socializing without a car.
Property for Brooklyn Expats: Buying, Renting, and Safety
What foreigners can buy in Singapore
Unlike renting in Brooklyn, where you rarely worry about citizenship restrictions, foreign buyers in Singapore face clear rules overseen by the Singapore Land Authority and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
- Generally allowed: Private condominiums and apartments, strata-titled offices and shops, and some landed properties in approved zones (with prior approval).
- Restricted or typically not allowed without approval: HDB BTO flats, most resale HDB flats (except under narrow schemes), and most landed residential property on mainland Singapore for foreigners.
Foreign buyers are also subject to Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), which is imposed on top of standard Buyer’s Stamp Duty and has been revised several times in recent years; always verify current ABSD rates via IRAS or a qualified conveyancing lawyer before committing.
For financing, banks in Singapore assess foreign borrowers strictly, including income source, existing debt, and loan-to-value ratios; check indicative mortgage packages via Homejourney’s bank rates tool Bank Rates before viewing units so you understand your safe budget range.
Popular neighborhoods for ex-Brooklynites
Based on what long-time Brooklyn residents typically look for, these Singapore areas tend to resonate:
- Tiong Bahru – Art Deco walk-up vibe, independent cafes, and bakeries; think "Brooklyn pre-war" meets Asian wet market. A 10–15 minute MRT ride to the CBD.
- Tanjong Pagar / Duxton – Shophouses, rooftop bars, and plenty of Korean and Japanese food within walking distance of Grade A office towers; similar energy to a DUMBO-meets-FiDi overlap.
- River Valley / Robertson Quay – Riverside running routes, restaurants, and dog-friendly spots; feels like living near Brooklyn Bridge Park but in a compact, highly walkable zone.
- East Coast / Joo Chiat – Peranakan shophouses, beachside cycling at East Coast Park, and strong local food; many New Yorkers like its slightly more laid-back, neighborhood feel.
- Holland Village / One-north – Popular with families and researchers/tech workers; village-style center with easy MRT access.
Use Homejourney’s property search Property Search to filter rentals and sales by MRT line, travel time to your office, and verified project safety features, so you do not rely solely on listing photos.
Rental market expectations and safety checks
In Singapore, standard private condo leases are often 12–24 months, with a security deposit of one to two months’ rent; shorter leases can be harder to secure and may come at a premium.
Important safe-renting practices that Homejourney emphasizes:
- Verify that the person you are dealing with is a licensed agent via CEA’s public register or use Homejourney’s trusted agent directory .
- Check that the landlord is the legal owner using official property records or via your lawyer.
- Insist on a written Tenancy Agreement outlining rent, inclusions (furnishings, aircon servicing), diplomatic clause, and early-termination rules.
- Budget for periodic aircon servicing—usually every 3 months in Singapore’s climate—and book vetted vendors via Homejourney’s aircon services page Aircon Services for transparent pricing and safety.
Practical Settling-In Guide: From Banking to MRT
Banking and finances
New arrivals from Brooklyn often start with a multi-currency account or US-based card, but you will quickly want a local account for salary crediting and GIRO payments (utilities, telecom).
