Moving to Singapore from Causeway Bay: Shopping, Dining & Entertainment Expat Guide
If you love the buzz of Causeway Bay Hong Kong – neon-lit malls, late-night suppers, and packed streets – moving to Singapore can feel both familiar and refreshingly calmer. This guide explains how life in Singapore compares, where to live, and how to enjoy shopping, dining, and entertainment here, while using Homejourney’s safe, verified tools to plan your property move with confidence.
This is a focused cluster guide within Homejourney’s main Singapore relocation pillar, designed specifically for people who know districts like Times Square HK, Victoria Park, and Hong Kong’s shopping streets and are now considering a long-term base or investment in Singapore. For a full end‑to‑end relocation playbook, you can refer to our main pillar guide .
From Causeway Bay to Singapore: What Life Really Feels Like
Living in Causeway Bay Hong Kong means dense crowds, vertical malls, and a lifestyle built around shopping, dining, and entertainment.[1][2] Singapore offers a similar mix of malls, food, and nightlife, but with more greenery, wider pavements, and stricter urban planning by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).Business Times Property In practice, most Causeway Bay residents adapt very quickly – the city feels like a more spacious, organised version of what you already know.
Key similarities you will notice on arrival:
- Air‑conditioned mega-malls directly connected to MRT stations, just like Times Square HK and Hysan Place.
- High street and luxury brands concentrated in core areas such as Orchard Road and Marina Bay.
- Late-opening dining options, especially in Orchard, Clarke Quay, and key heartland malls.
Key differences:
- Crowds feel more controlled – you rarely experience the shoulder‑to‑shoulder rush of Causeway Bay on weekends.[1]
- Singapore’s hawker centres offer cheaper everyday meals than equivalent Causeway Bay sit‑down spots.
- Nightlife is more regulated – bars and clubs close earlier than in Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong.[4]
Relocating to Singapore: Visas, Work & Cost of Living
Visa and Work Pass Options
Most professionals moving from Hong Kong to Singapore will use one of these Ministry of Manpower (MOM) passes:
- Employment Pass (EP) – for professionals, managers, and executives with a qualifying salary and recognised qualifications (employer-sponsored).
- S Pass – for mid-skilled staff at a lower qualifying salary than EP.
- ONE Pass – for top global talent meeting high salary and track-record criteria.
Visa rules are updated regularly; always verify specific requirements on the official MOM website before making commitments, and consider engaging a licensed relocation or immigration specialist if your case is complex.
Employment Opportunities for Causeway Bay Professionals
If you are used to working in Hong Kong’s retail, finance, tech, or hospitality sectors around Causeway Bay, you will find parallel opportunities in Singapore’s CBD, Marina Bay, Orchard, and one‑north business parks. The city is a regional hub for banking, asset management, trade, and fast-growing tech and e‑commerce firms.Straits Times Housing News
Insider tip: Many Hong Kong–trained professionals are valued for regional experience and Cantonese/Mandarin skills. Start with Singapore-based teams of companies that already have a Hong Kong office – they are often more familiar with transferring staff between both cities.
Cost of Living: Causeway Bay vs Singapore
If you currently rent a compact flat in Causeway Bay, Singapore’s cost of living will feel comparable or slightly lower in rent, but similar in dining and entertainment, depending on your lifestyle.[1][4]
- Rent: A small two‑bedroom in Causeway Bay averages around HKD 31,000/month.[1] In Singapore, an equivalent condo near Orchard or Marina Bay can cost roughly SGD 4,500–7,000/month, with suburban locations significantly cheaper.EdgeProp Property News
- Food: Hawker meals from SGD 4–7 undercut a typical Causeway Bay cha chaan teng, but mid-range and fine-dining restaurants are similar in price.
- Transport: MRT and buses are slightly cheaper than MTR, and you will rarely need a car.
For a deeper property cost comparison, review live listings and historical data in the Homejourney projects directory Projects Directory and use our verified rental data to benchmark against your current Causeway Bay rent.
Property in Singapore for Expats from Causeway Bay
Homejourney’s priority is safety and transparency, so all our property listings are verified and structured so that newcomers can understand rules, taxes, and risks before they commit. If you are coming from Hong Kong’s mostly freehold private market, Singapore’s mix of HDB, private condos, and landed homes will feel new but very manageable once you grasp the basics.
What Foreigners Can Buy
As a non‑Singapore citizen and non‑PR, you can typically:
- Buy private condominiums and apartments (no special approval required).
- Buy selected landed properties only with approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU), which is rarely granted for non‑PRs.
- Not buy HDB resale flats in your sole name, unless you qualify under specific schemes (e.g., as part of a Singapore citizen/PR couple, subject to HDB rules).
Because regulations change, always cross‑check with HDB and URA, or consult a licensed property professional via the Homejourney agent directory before signing any Option to Purchase.
ABSD (Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty) for Foreigners
Singapore imposes Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) on top of standard Buyer’s Stamp Duty when foreigners purchase residential property. Foreign individual buyers currently face some of the highest ABSD rates globally, designed to keep the market stable and discourage speculative demand.CNA Property News
If you already own property in Hong Kong and are considering Singapore as a second investment home, factor ABSD into your budget early. Always verify the latest ABSD rates on IRAS and use Homejourney’s tools, or consult a tax professional, before committing.
Where to Live in Singapore if You Love Causeway Bay
If you enjoy the energy of Hong Kong shopping streets around Times Square HK and SOGO, consider these Singapore neighbourhoods:
- Orchard / Somerset – Singapore’s equivalent of Causeway Bay: flagship malls (ION Orchard, Ngee Ann City), international brands, and direct MRT access. Many condos sit just behind the main road yet feel surprisingly quiet.
- Marina Bay / Downtown – high-end apartments integrated with office towers and malls (Marina Bay Sands, Marina One). Ideal if you work in finance and want a short commute.
- Bugis / City Hall – blend of heritage shophouses, malls (Bugis Junction, Suntec), and easy access to the CBD.
- Novena / Newton – one stop or a short drive to Orchard, with hospitals, malls, and established condo estates.
Use Homejourney’s property search Property Search to filter for units near MRT stations, malls, and international schools, and to compare safety, building age, and maintenance information across different projects.
Rental Market Overview
Singapore rents rose strongly in recent years but have started to stabilise as more supply enters the market.EdgeProp Property News Compared with Causeway Bay:
- Central condos command a premium but usually provide better facilities (pool, gym, security) than older Hong Kong towers.
- There is strong demand for smaller 1–2 bedroom units, similar to Hong Kong, but more choice if you are willing to live a few MRT stops outside Orchard.
- Tenancies commonly run for 1–2 years with diplomatic or early termination clauses by negotiation.
Homejourney verifies listing details, landlord representation, and building information to reduce the risk of scams or misrepresentation, giving Causeway Bay expats a safer on‑ramp into the Singapore market.
