Moving to Singapore from Swiss Ski Resorts: Expat Guide | Homejourney

Moving to Singapore from Swiss Ski Resorts – whether you spend your winters in Zermatt, Verbier or St Moritz – means swapping the Alps for a tropical, ultra-urban lifestyle, but with equally high standards of safety, infrastructure and international connectivity. This Moving to Singapore from Swiss Ski Resorts: Best Slopes and Resorts: Expat Guide by Homejourney walks you through visas, cost of living, neighbourhoods, property rules for foreigners and how to keep close links with Switzerland while you build a safe, trusted base in Singapore.

This guide is a focused companion to our main pillar on moving to Singapore and buying property as a foreigner, and is written for skiers, expats and investors who know Swiss skiing and Switzerland ski resorts like Zermatt, Verbier and St Moritz – and now want the same quality and predictability in Asia.

From Zermatt & Verbier to Singapore: Lifestyle Shift Explained

Life in Swiss ski resorts such as Zermatt, Verbier and St Moritz is built around seasons, altitude and snow conditions, with days planned around first lifts, piste conditions and après-ski.[1][4][5] In Singapore, the rhythm is different: it is a year-round, equatorial city with consistent 27–32°C temperatures, no snow, and a focus on efficient work-life balance, food and travel rather than seasons.

What many long-term Switzerland ski resort regulars appreciate in Singapore is the similar emphasis on safety, reliability and rule of law. Trains and MRTs run on tight schedules, tap water is drinkable across the city, and crime rates are among the lowest globally (as reported by Singapore Police Force statistics and international indexes). The trade-off is that you lose doorstep access to the slopes, but gain Changi Airport as a regional hub for weekend escapes across Asia.

Both environments are used to international crowds. Zermatt and Verbier draw a large global expat and seasonal worker population each winter.[1][5] Likewise, Singapore’s population is roughly 30% non-resident, with strong communities from Europe and Switzerland, and English widely used for work and daily life.

Relocating to Singapore: Visas, Work & Cost of Living

Key visa and work pass options

Most expats coming from Swiss ski resort regions will enter on one of the following Ministry of Manpower (MOM) passes (always verify current rules on MOM’s official site before applying):

• Employment Pass (EP) – For foreign professionals with a local job offer in Singapore; minimum qualifying salary usually starts around the mid-S$5,000 range and scales up with age and sector (exact thresholds are updated regularly by MOM).
• S Pass – For mid-level skilled staff; slightly lower salary requirements but subject to quotas.
• EntrePass – For entrepreneurs who want to build a venture-backed or innovative business in Singapore.
• Dependant’s Pass / Long-Term Visit Pass – For spouses and children of main pass holders, subject to MOM conditions.

Unlike seasonal work permits common in Swiss ski towns, Singapore work passes are typically tied to full-time employment contracts rather than winter seasons. If you are used to splitting your year between St Moritz winters and another base, you will need to structure your Singapore relocation with that in mind.

Employment opportunities for Swiss ski resort expats

Many people who spend time around Swiss skiing transition to roles in:

• Finance and wealth management – Using experience with high-net-worth clientele in resorts like Zermatt and Verbier.
• Luxury travel, hospitality and lifestyle brands – Singapore is a regional HQ for many global hotel chains and tour operators.
• Sports, outdoor and retail brands – Regional roles managing Asia-Pacific distribution and marketing.
• Remote roles – Some professionals keep Europe-based roles but base themselves in Singapore for Asian time zones and travel connectivity.

To assess sector demand and salaries, combine official data from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower and job portals with on-the-ground networking via chambers of commerce (for example, the SwissCham Singapore) and LinkedIn groups.

Cost of living: Swiss ski towns vs Singapore

Swiss ski resorts like St Moritz and Verbier are among the most expensive places in Europe for accommodation, dining and services, particularly in peak season.[4][5][6] Singapore is also high-cost, but the pattern differs. Broadly:

• Housing – Monthly rents in popular central Singapore districts often match or exceed typical long-stay rents in premium Swiss resorts, but you pay them year-round instead of seasonally.
• Transport – Public transport (MRT and buses) is far cheaper than Swiss trains or resort ski buses; owning a car is deliberately expensive due to COE (Certificate of Entitlement) rules.
• Food – Hawker centre meals start from around S$5–S$8, significantly cheaper than dining on-mountain in Zermatt; however, imported wine, cheese and restaurant dining can feel similar to Swiss prices.
• Leisure – You lose the cost of ski passes, but may spend more on travel around Asia; gym memberships and private clubs add to monthly budgets.

Homejourney encourages new arrivals to map out their monthly budget honestly, including school fees, insurance and savings, and to cross-check against detailed, up-to-date cost of living data from official statistics and reputable market reports such as those covered in Business Times Property and Straits Times Housing News .

Property in Singapore for Expats from Swiss Ski Resorts

Buying or renting a home in Singapore as a foreigner is very different from renting a ski apartment in Zermatt or buying a chalet in Verbier. Homejourney’s role is to provide transparent, verified information so you can make decisions confidently and safely.

What foreigners can buy in Singapore

Under the Residential Property Act (RPA) administered by the Singapore Land Authority, foreigners face restrictions on certain housing types. As a general guide (always cross-check with official SLA and URA sources):

• Private condominiums and apartments – Foreigners can usually buy without prior approval.
• Executive Condominiums (ECs) – Foreigners can buy EC units only after the 10-year MOP (Minimum Occupation Period) when they become fully privatised.
• HDB flats – Public housing. Non-permanent residents generally cannot buy resale HDB flats; even PRs have specific eligibility conditions set by HDB.
• Landed property – Foreigners need prior approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU), and approvals are typically strict.

To explore real-time listings that match what foreigners can buy or rent, start with Homejourney’s verified search: Property Search . For deeper project-level market data, including new launches and resale performance, use the projects directory: Projects Directory or Projects .

ABSD for foreigners

Singapore levies Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)

Because ABSD can be substantial on a multi-million-dollar condo – particularly for buyers coming from high-end Swiss ski towns where property values are already elevated – Homejourney strongly recommends early tax planning and cashflow calculations. Our mortgage and bank rate tools help you see your total exposure clearly: Bank Rates and Mortgage Rates .