Moving to Singapore from New Zealand Wine Regions: Expat Guide is about trading Marlborough vineyards, Central Otago hills, and Hawke’s Bay cellar doors for a compact, fast-paced Asian hub—with very different property rules, climate, and costs. This guide walks New Zealand wine-region expats through visas, housing, day-to-day life, and how to use Homejourney’s trusted tools to safely navigate the Singapore property market.
This cluster article supports our main pillar on relocating to Singapore and buying property as a foreigner, and is tailored specifically to Kiwis coming from NZ wine hubs such as Marlborough, Central Otago, and Hawke’s Bay who love Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and wine tours—but now want to live, work, or invest in Singapore.
Life in New Zealand Wine Regions vs Singapore
If you are used to life around NZ wine regions—quiet roads, big skies, and weekends doing wine tours between Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir estates—Singapore will feel dense, ultra-urban, and highly convenient. New Zealand wine towns typically offer detached houses, big sections, and a slower pace; Singapore centers on high-rise living, top-tier public transport, and world-class food and retail within minutes of home.
Many New Zealanders from Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, and Central Otago consider Singapore because:
- It is a regional business hub for finance, logistics, tech, and agrifood related roles.
- It offers strong flight connectivity back to New Zealand for family and wine trips.
- The rule of law, safety, and cleanliness are on par with or better than most global cities, which appeals to those used to safe NZ communities.
- It provides an excellent base to explore Asia’s wine and food scene—including rising interest in New Zealand wines in Singapore’s restaurant sector[1][2].
What is similar? Both places value outdoor lifestyles (in Singapore that means parks, waterfront promenades, and sports clubs), have strong English-speaking environments, and pride themselves on food and wine culture. The main difference is scale: instead of driving through vineyards, you will be walking from an MRT station to a hawker centre or rooftop bar.
Relocating from NZ Wine Regions: Visas, Work & Cost of Living
Visa and work permit options for New Zealanders
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) manages work passes and visas. Always check the official MOM site for the latest rules and salary thresholds.
- Employment Pass (EP): For professionals, managers, executives; typically requires a job offer from a Singapore employer and meeting a minimum qualifying salary (which scales with age and sector).
- S Pass: For mid-skilled staff; lower salary threshold than EP but subject to quotas by employer.
- EntrePass: For entrepreneurs starting innovative, investor-backed businesses.
- Dependent’s Pass / Long-Term Visit Pass: For spouses and children of eligible pass holders.
As a New Zealander from Marlborough or Hawke’s Bay moving into wine trade, agritech, logistics, tourism, or F&B, EP is the most common route. Many wine professionals relocate with roles tied to Asia-Pacific export, brand representation, or hospitality management.
Employment opportunities for NZ wine-region professionals
If your background is in NZ wine (vineyard management, cellar door sales, export sales, or wine tourism), in Singapore you will more likely work in:
- Regional sales or brand management for NZ wine labels or global distributors.
- Hospitality management and F&B, especially in wine-focused restaurants, hotels, and private clubs.
- Food & beverage import/export and logistics using Singapore as a Southeast Asia hub.
- Events and trade fairs such as Vinexpo Asia or ProWine Singapore, which spotlight NZ wines in the region[1][3][4].
Unlike NZ’s vineyard-based jobs, most wine-related roles in Singapore are commercial, hospitality, and logistics focused rather than production-based.
Cost of living: Marlborough vs Singapore
Expect a higher cost of living overall, especially for housing and cars, but lower or comparable costs in some services and dining if you use local options.
- Housing: Rents for a central 2-bedroom condo can easily exceed SGD 4,000–6,000 per month, while suburban HDB flats can be cheaper.
- Cars: Expensive due to Certificates of Entitlement (COE) regulated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Most expats rely on MRT, buses, and ride-hailing instead.
- Food: Hawker centres and local coffeeshops offer very affordable meals; high-end dining and alcohol (including NZ Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir) are pricey due to taxes.
Homejourney helps you compare rental and purchase options safely, with transparent listings and verified information via our Property Search and project data via Projects Directory .
Property in Singapore for Expats from NZ Wine Regions
What foreigners can buy
Singapore’s property rules for foreigners are governed by the Residential Property Act and administered by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). In practice, most New Zealand expats buy or invest in:
- Private condominiums and apartments (no special approval required).
- Executive Condominiums (ECs) that are more than 10 years old, which are treated as private property.
- Commercial property (e.g., shop units, offices), subject to commercial viability.
Foreigners generally cannot buy new HDB flats directly from HDB and can only buy certain resale HDB flats if they are a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) and meet HDB eligibility schemes. Landed houses typically require special approval and are usually out of reach for most new expats.
ABSD for foreigners
In addition to Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD), foreigners pay Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) on residential property purchases, with rates set by the Ministry of Finance and implemented via IRAS. As rates and policies can change, always verify on the official IRAS site before committing.
Because ABSD significantly affects your budgeting, Homejourney’s tools and partner advisors can help you estimate total acquisition costs before you even shortlist properties. For financing and bank loan comparisons, use our Bank Rates page to safely compare mortgage options without pushy sales tactics.
Popular neighborhoods for NZ wine-region expats
If you are used to the open spaces of Central Otago or Hawke’s Bay, you may prefer Singapore neighborhoods that balance greenery, amenities, and community feel:
- Holland Village / Chip Bee Gardens: Expat-friendly, walkable, with wine bars and bistros; about 5–10 minutes’ walk from Holland Village MRT. Great if you enjoy a social, village-style vibe.
- River Valley / Robertson Quay: High-rise condos along the river, close to CBD and wine-focused restaurants and bars. Ideal if you travel frequently and want quick access to city life.
- East Coast (Katong, Siglap): More laid-back, near the sea with park connectors; many families and long-term expats live here for the lifestyle and international schools access.
- Buona Vista / One-North: Near biotech, tech, and research clusters, with good access to parks and the rail network.
Use Homejourney’s Property Search to filter rentals or purchases by MRT line, budget, and property type, and our Projects data when you want deeper insights into specific developments.
Rental market overview
Most new arrivals from NZ wine regions rent for at least their first one to two years. Landlords typically expect:
- Lease terms of 12–24 months.
- Security deposit of one month’s rent per year of lease.
- First month’s rent payable in advance.
Insider tip: In Singapore, your lease often makes you responsible for minor repairs up to a specified amount per incident. Budget separately for air-conditioning servicing (typically quarterly); Homejourney can connect you with reliable providers via Aircon Services so you avoid unsafe or unlicensed vendors.
