Moving to Singapore from New Zealand campervan and road trip life is a big shift: you are trading open roads and freedom camping for a compact, vertical city where owning a car or campervan is rare and housing decisions matter far more than vehicle choices. This Homejourney Expat Guide gives New Zealanders who love the NZ campervan and road trip lifestyle a practical roadmap for visas, cost of living, housing options, and trusted property search in Singapore, with a clear focus on safety and verified information.
This article is part of Homejourney’s wider relocation and international travel pillar, and complements our New Zealand content such as the Ultimate NZ Campervan & Road Trip Guide Ultimate NZ Campervan & Road Trip Guide | Homejourney and budget-focused campervan guides. Here we zoom in on what happens when you step off the road in Aotearoa and settle into urban expat life in Singapore.
From NZ Campervan & Road Trip Life to Singapore City Living
If you are used to long road trips across NZ, freedom camping, and driving NZ’s scenic routes, Singapore will feel like the complete opposite: dense, efficient, and built around public transport rather than campervan hire or private vehicles. You cannot drive or register a campervan as a resident vehicle in Singapore – armoured vehicles, camper vans, caravan trailers and minibuses with cooking and sleeping facilities are not allowed on Singapore roads under foreign-vehicle rules.[2][3]
Instead of choosing between DOC campsites, holiday parks, and freedom camping spots, your key decisions in Singapore will be about neighbourhoods, MRT access, and building facilities. Where you once compared powered sites and dump stations, you will now compare condo pools, aircon systems, and commute times to the CBD.
New Zealanders are often drawn to Singapore because of tax efficiency, regional career opportunities, and a safe, family-friendly environment, even if it means leaving the NZ campervan lifestyle for weekend flights around Asia instead. Many expats who once did a long road trip New Zealand every summer now use Singapore as a base for quick trips to Malaysia, Thailand, or back to NZ.
Relocating from NZ Campervan Life: Visas, Work, and Costs
Visa and Work Permit Options for New Zealanders
Most New Zealanders moving from an NZ campervan lifestyle into Singapore will come on an employment pass sponsored by an employer or on a related dependent pass. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) sets the criteria and salary thresholds, which vary by pass type and are updated periodically. Always confirm latest requirements directly with MOM or a licensed relocation advisor; Homejourney focuses on housing guidance rather than immigration advice.
If you previously worked seasonal jobs while road tripping and freedom camping in NZ, you will find Singapore far more regulated. You typically need a firm job offer and approved work pass before relocating; casual on-arrival job hunting, common in backpacker and campervan circles, is not realistic here.
Employment Opportunities and Sectors
Kiwi expats often move from campervan-lean seasons into professional roles in finance, tech, logistics, aviation, agri-tech, and tourism management. If your background is in hospitality or tourism from working around popular NZ campervan hubs like Queenstown or Rotorua, you may pivot into hotel management, F&B, or regional travel roles based in Singapore.
Singapore’s work culture is more formal and urban than the laid-back NZ road trip scene. Long commuting distances are replaced by short MRT journeys, and instead of planning your next coastal drive, you may be planning business trips around Asia.
Cost of Living: Campervan vs Condo Life
One of the biggest shocks for Kiwis moving from NZ campervan or road trip life is the cost of accommodation. In New Zealand, you might pay NZD 30–70 per night for a powered campsite, or stretch freedom camping rules to keep costs low. In Singapore, monthly rent will be your largest expense.
As a rough orientation (not a quote), an average one-bedroom condo near an MRT in city-fringe areas like Queenstown, Redhill, or Paya Lebar can easily cost several thousand Singapore dollars per month, depending on project, size, and age. For current, verified listings, always use Homejourney’s property search Property Search , where we prioritise transparent pricing and listing verification.
On the other hand, transport and daily convenience can be cheaper or more predictable than owning or hiring an NZ campervan. You avoid fuel, road-user charges, and campsite fees, replacing them with EZ-Link / SimplyGo public transport fares and the occasional ride-hail trip.
Property Options for Kiwis: From Wheels to Keys
What Foreigners Can Buy in Singapore
Unlike booking a campervan hire in NZ where choices are flexible, Singapore has strict rules on what non-residents can buy. As a New Zealand citizen without Singapore PR, you are generally classified as a foreigner under the Residential Property Act.
- Private condominiums and apartments: Freely purchasable by foreigners, subject to stamp duties.
- Executive condominiums (ECs): Possible for purchase only after the 10th year (when fully privatised), and still subject to ABSD.
- Landed properties (e.g., terrace, semi-D, bungalow): Typically require special approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU) and are rarely approved for non-PRs.
- HDB flats: Generally not available for direct purchase by non-resident foreigners; certain conditions apply if you later obtain PR.
ABSD for Foreign Buyers
In addition to Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD), foreign buyers pay Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) on residential purchases. Rates change over time and are tiered by residency status and property count; you must always check the latest figures on IRAS or with a conveyancing lawyer before committing.
Because ABSD can add a very significant amount to your purchase cost compared to buying a small NZ house or using your savings to upgrade a campervan, Homejourney strongly recommends running the numbers with our mortgage and bank rates tools Bank Rates and speaking to a qualified mortgage advisor before signing any Option to Purchase.
Popular Neighbourhoods for Former Campervan Travellers
Many Kiwis who used to love quiet NZ campsites gravitate to city-fringe or greener neighbourhoods in Singapore that offer a bit more breathing room:
- West Coast / Clementi / Queenstown: Good access to parks, the Rail Corridor, and cycling routes; many expats working in one-north or the West choose this cluster.
- East Coast / Katong / Siglap: The closest analogue to waking up by the sea. East Coast Park’s coastal path offers long, flat cycling and running routes that appeal to former road-trippers.
- Bukit Timah / Holland: Leafier, with nature reserves nearby. Prices are higher but the vibe is quieter and more residential.
- Paya Lebar / Aljunied / Kallang: Urban but well-connected, with growing expat communities and relatively faster MRT access for airport runs back to NZ.
For a data-driven look at specific condos and projects, use the Homejourney projects directory Projects Directory , where we aggregate verified transaction data and project details so you do not have to guess based on listings alone.
Rental Market Overview
Most Kiwis moving straight from NZ campervan or road trip life into Singapore will rent first. Standard tenancy agreements are usually 1–2 years, and landlords often expect two months’ security deposit for a 2-year lease.
Key checks Homejourney recommends before you sign:
- Ask for recent transaction comparables (we surface this in our listings where available).
- Clarify what is included: aircon servicing (often quarterly) can be tenant’s responsibility; you can budget this using Homejourney’s aircon services resources Aircon Services .
- Confirm furniture and whitegoods – you can negotiate similar to choosing fit-out in a campervan.
- Check MRT and bus access in real walking time – many locals use the 5–7 minute rule from nearest station as a comfort benchmark.
Use Homejourney’s property search Property Search to filter for verified landlords and agents, and cross-check asking rents with actual caveats in our projects directory Projects .
Settling In: Banking, Healthcare, Schools, and Transport
Banking and Finances for NZ Arrivals
Coming from an NZ campervan lifestyle where you might pay cash at campgrounds and small town cafés, Singapore’s financial system is fully digital. Opening a bank account usually requires your passport, work pass approval, and proof of address; some banks allow pre-arrival account setup.
