Moving to Singapore from Delhi: Quick Overview
If you are moving to Singapore from Delhi and love history, food and culture, expect a familiar intensity of city life with far more order, efficiency and personal safety. Singapore offers Delhi expats a cleaner, tightly regulated environment, strong Indian communities, and a stable property market that platforms like Homejourney make easier and safer to navigate.
This guide is a focused cluster to support our main pillar on relocating to Singapore for foreigners , written from the perspective of someone who has lived in both Delhi and Singapore. It explains how Delhi’s history-rich, food-obsessed culture translates into life in Singapore, and how to choose the right neighbourhood, rental or investment safely with Homejourney.
From Delhi to Singapore: Lifestyle, History, Food & Culture
Delhi India is a layered city – Old Delhi’s Mughal heritage, New Delhi’s broad boulevards, and NCR’s modern malls – and many Singapore-bound expats are drawn to its history, street food and dense social life.
Singapore feels more compact but equally multicultural. Where Delhi travel is about exploring Chandni Chowk, Humayun’s Tomb and Connaught Place, your Singapore weekends quickly shift to walking Chinatown, Kampong Gelam, Little India, and the Civic District around the Padang and National Gallery.
If you enjoy Delhi’s food culture, you will find comfort in Tekka Centre in Little India (for dosa, biryani and sweets), and in budget-friendly hawker centres islandwide. A typical hawker meal ranges from SGD 4–8, comparable to a mid-range Delhi India lunch once you factor in currency exchange.
For a deeper feel of Delhi before you move, explore our detailed city guides: Delhi Travel Guide: History, Food & Culture | Homejourney Delhi Travel Guide: History, Food & Culture | Homejourney , Budget Travel Guide to Delhi: History, Food & Culture | Homejourney Budget Travel Guide to Delhi: History, Food & Culture | Homejourney , and Best Food & Restaurants in Delhi: History, Culture & Tips | Homejourney Best Food & Restaurants in Delhi: History, Culture & Tips | Homejourney .
Relocating to Singapore from Delhi: Visas, Jobs & Cost of Living
Key visa options for Delhi professionals
Most Delhi expats moving for work use one of Singapore’s work passes, administered by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The most relevant passes for Indian citizens include the Employment Pass (EP) for professionals, managers and executives, usually with a fixed monthly salary above a MOM-set threshold and acceptable qualifications, and the S Pass for mid-level skilled staff with lower salary thresholds and quota controls.[1][5]
Accompanying family members may use a Dependant’s Pass (spouse and children) or Long-Term Visit Pass (parents or de-facto partners, subject to rules).[1][2] For short-term visits (house-hunting, business meetings or tourism), many Indian travellers obtain a Short-Term Visit Pass via pre-arranged visa, usually valid for up to 30 days.[2]
Always refer to official MOM guidance for current eligibility and salary criteria, as these change periodically and are strictly enforced.[2]
Employment opportunities for Delhi expats
Professionals from Delhi India commonly find roles in IT, banking, fintech, consulting, logistics, healthcare and engineering, often in CBD areas like Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar, Marina Bay and in business parks such as one-north and Changi Business Park.[1][5]
Compared with New Delhi, Singapore’s job market is smaller but more niche and high-skilled. Many Delhi-based multinationals also maintain Singapore regional HQs, easing internal transfers. It is normal to secure a job offer before your Employment Pass is approved; employers usually apply on your behalf using verified documents.[1][2]
Cost of living: Delhi vs Singapore
Cost of living is substantially higher in Singapore than Delhi, especially for housing and cars. However, public transport, public healthcare subsidies (for PRs and citizens), and hawker food help keep day-to-day expenses manageable.[4][6]
Indicative differences:
- Rental: A typical 3-bedroom flat in central Delhi may cost less than SGD 1,000 equivalent per month, whereas a similar condominium unit near an MRT in Singapore can range from SGD 4,000–7,000 per month, depending on district and project.[4][6]
- Car ownership: Common in Delhi, but heavily taxed in Singapore. Most expats rely on MRT, buses and ride-hailing because of high COE and parking costs.[4][5]
- Daily food: Street food in Delhi is cheaper, but Singapore hawker centres still offer value at SGD 4–8 per meal, far below restaurant prices.[4][6]
Homejourney helps you model realistic housing budgets using verified listings and financing tools like our mortgage rate comparison Bank Rates .
Property Options for Expats from Delhi: Renting & Buying Safely
Types of property foreigners can buy
Unlike in Delhi where freehold independent houses and builder floors are common, Singapore’s market is dominated by high-rise apartments, both public and private.[5][6] For foreigners (including most new arrivals from Delhi India), the main options are private condominiums and apartments, and executive condominiums after the Minimum Occupation Period, subject to approval.
Foreigners generally cannot buy new HDB flats directly from HDB and face restrictions on landed property unless they obtain approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit.[5] The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) provides the regulatory framework, so always check URA and HDB guidance or use a vetted agent through platforms like Homejourney’s agent directory before committing.
ABSD and buyer’s stamp duties for foreigners
Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) applies to foreign buyers on top of standard Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) and can be significant. Rates differ by buyer profile and may change with cooling measures, so always refer to the latest IRAS information and seek professional tax advice before purchase.[6][7]
Homejourney helps minimise risk by clearly flagging ABSD implications in our project pages Projects Directory and connecting you to independent professionals where necessary. This transparency is central to our safety-first approach.
Popular Singapore neighbourhoods for Delhi expats
After years of working with Indian and Delhi-born expats, several neighbourhood patterns are clear:
- Little India / Farrer Park: Walkable access to temples, gurdwaras, Mustafa Centre, and authentic North Indian restaurants. Feels closest to Delhi’s atmosphere, but much cleaner and with strict noise and cleanliness rules.
- East Coast / Marine Parade: Favoured by families who want sea breezes, parks and international schools. Commute by East-West Line or Thomson-East Coast Line (staged opening) to CBD is generally 25–35 minutes.
- Alexandra / Queenstown / Buona Vista: Convenient for one-north and CBD offices, strong mix of HDB and condominiums.
- Orchard / River Valley: Premium rents, but offers quick access to top malls, embassies and many Indian dining options.
Use Homejourney’s verified property search Property Search to filter by MRT proximity, school catchments and budget – critical for Delhi expats used to planning around metro lines and school runs.
Rental market: What Delhi expats should know
Compared to Delhi’s often informal rental market, Singapore’s is highly structured. Standard tenancy agreements, two-month security deposits for 2-year leases, and clear inventory lists are normal.[4][6] Most expats from New Delhi start with a 1–2 year lease in a condominium near work and schools.
Insider tips from long-term residents:
- View units at different times of day to check noise from nearby expressways or construction.
- Ask for recent aircon service records – common in Singapore’s climate and something Homejourney supports with trusted providers Aircon Services .
- Confirm if utilities and internet are included; they usually are not.
- Insist on seeing the stamped tenancy agreement and the landlord’s proof of ownership before transferring deposits.
Practical Settling-In Guide for Delhi Expats
Banking, finances & currency
Opening a bank account typically requires your passport, work pass, proof of local address and sometimes your employment contract.[2][7] Major banks like DBS, UOB and OCBC have extensive ATM networks and mobile apps.
