Moving from Kaohsiung to Singapore: Expat Property Guide | Homejourney

Moving to Singapore from Kaohsiung Harbor City Complete: Expat Guide means trading South Taiwan’s laid-back harbor lifestyle for one of Asia’s most fast-paced, safe, and well-regulated cities, and Homejourney is built to make that transition smoother and safer for you.

If you love strolling around Kaohsiung Taiwan’s Pier-2 Art Center or cycling by Lotus Pond yet are now exploring Singapore for work, family, or investment, this guide gives you a practical, step-by-step view of visas, cost of living, property options, and everyday life—written from the perspective of someone who has lived in both Kaohsiung and Singapore and navigated these differences first-hand.

From Kaohsiung Harbor City to Singapore: What Changes?

Kaohsiung Harbor City offers wide streets, sea breeze, and easy access to Kaohsiung attractions like Pier-2 Art Center, Lotus Pond and Cijin Island—plus generally lower rents and food prices compared with Singapore.

Singapore, by contrast, is denser and more vertical, with extremely reliable public transport, strict safety regulations, and one of Asia’s most expensive property markets, but also some of the strongest job markets and schooling options in the region.[5][7]

Key similarities include hot, humid weather, strong night market and hawker food cultures, and convenience (24-hour shops, efficient public transport), while key differences are cost of housing, car ownership (very expensive in Singapore), and a more rules-focused urban environment.

This cluster article supports Homejourney’s main pillar guide on relocating to Singapore, so you can read this Kaohsiung-focused piece for specifics and then dive deeper into broader Singapore relocation strategy via .

1. Relocating from Kaohsiung to Singapore: Visas & Work Passes

If you are used to flying in and out of Kaohsiung International Airport for trips around South Taiwan, moving to Singapore is a different level of paperwork—especially if you plan to work or invest.

Key Singapore passes for Kaohsiung expats

For most professionals coming from Kaohsiung, these are the most relevant passes:

Employment Pass (EP) – For foreign professionals, managers, and executives earning at least S$5,600/month, with Singapore’s COMPASS points framework used to assess salary competitiveness, qualifications, and company profile.[3][7]
S Pass – For mid-level skilled workers earning at least S$3,000/month, with quota and levy requirements for employers.[1][7]
Work Permit – For semi-skilled workers in specific sectors; typically not used by white-collar expats.[7]
Short-Term Visit Pass – For tourism or short business trips (usually 30–90 days depending on nationality).[5][6]

Applications are normally submitted by your Singapore employer via the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) portal, and approvals can take around 1–3 weeks for standard cases.[1][7]

Pathway to permanent residency

Many Kaohsiung expats who settle in Singapore long term eventually apply for Permanent Residence (PR) under the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) scheme after holding an EP or S Pass and working in Singapore for at least two years.[4][8]

PR gives you more stability (you can live, work, and enter/exit Singapore without separate visas) and may influence long-term property decisions.[4][8] However, approval is discretionary and based on factors like length of stay, income, contributions, and integration, so professional immigration advice is recommended for complex profiles.[4][8]

2. Cost of Living: Kaohsiung vs Singapore

If you’re used to Kaohsiung’s night markets and affordable rents around the Kaohsiung Main Station area, you should plan carefully for Singapore’s higher costs.

Housing and daily expenses

Rent: In Kaohsiung, a central one-bedroom near MRT stations might cost the equivalent of S$500–S$900/month. In Singapore, a similar one-bedroom condominium near an MRT (for example, around Queenstown or Paya Lebar) can easily range from S$2,800–S$4,000/month, while a room in an HDB flat might start from around S$900–S$1,500/month depending on location and condition.
Food: Hawker food in both cities is affordable, but Singapore hawker centre meals usually cost S$4–S$7 per dish, compared to cheaper prices at Kaohsiung night markets.
Transport: Singapore’s MRT and buses are highly efficient, with typical daily commuters spending roughly S$80–S$120/month if they live near an MRT line; car ownership is significantly more expensive than in Kaohsiung due to taxes and Certificates of Entitlement (COE).

Homejourney encourages users to budget conservatively and use our verified listings and data tools from Projects Directory to understand actual median rents and sale prices by neighbourhood before committing.

3. Property Options for Expats from Kaohsiung

This section is where many Kaohsiung expats and investors need clarity: what can foreigners actually buy, and what taxes apply?

What foreigners can buy in Singapore

Private condominiums and apartments: Foreigners can freely buy most private condos (including new launches and resale units), which is the most common route for Kaohsiung investors.
Landed properties: Generally restricted; foreigners usually need approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU) to buy landed residential properties.
HDB flats: Non-PR foreigners cannot buy HDB resale flats directly. Even PRs face eligibility conditions and cannot buy new Build-to-Order (BTO) flats as sole foreigners.

These rules are set by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Housing & Development Board (HDB) to maintain affordability and balanced ownership for citizens and PRs.

ABSD (Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty) for Kaohsiung buyers

Foreigners buying residential property in Singapore must pay Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) on top of standard Buyer’s Stamp Duty. The exact ABSD rate and any changes are published by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), and can be significant, so it is crucial to check the latest figures before committing.

Many Kaohsiung investors structure their purchase via a Singapore company or wait until obtaining PR to adjust their ABSD exposure—this is an area where you should get tax and legal advice tailored to your situation.

Popular Singapore neighbourhoods for Kaohsiung expats

Based on actual expat patterns and my own experience hosting Kaohsiung friends in Singapore, these areas often appeal:

Tanjong Pagar / Outram / Chinatown: Central, walkable, with a mix of offices and food streets; feels a bit like combining Kaohsiung’s Liuhe Night Market energy with modern CBD convenience.
Queenstown / Redhill / Buona Vista: Good mix of greenery, newer condos, and easy MRT access; popular with professionals working in one-north and the CBD.
Paya Lebar / Kembangan / Eunos: More local feel with good food and relatively more affordable rents than downtown, somewhat similar to staying near Kaohsiung’s Fengshan or Zuoying—urban but less touristy.
East Coast / Katong: Close to the sea, with a relaxed lifestyle that resonates with Kaohsiung harbor city residents who value waterfront walks and cafes.

To explore verified listings, you can start with Homejourney’s property search at Property Search , where we prioritise transparent data, safety checks, and user reviews.

Rental market overview

Many Kaohsiung expats choose to rent first for 1–2 years before buying, using that period to understand neighbourhoods, commute times, and school locations.

Typical lease terms are 12–24 months, with a security deposit of one to two months’ rent.
Agents typically charge half a month’s rent (or more) for shorter leases if they represent the tenant.
Most condos come partially furnished (white goods like fridge, washer), but not always fully furnished, unlike many Kaohsiung rentals.

Homejourney’s agent directory at helps you connect with licensed, vetted agents who are familiar with Taiwanese clients and can explain English contracts clearly.