Moving to Singapore from Thailand: Expat Food Guide

Expats moving from Thailand to Singapore can easily find authentic Thai food, Thai street food, and regional Thai cuisine at hawker centres and restaurants, blending familiar flavours with Singapore's multicultural food scene.[1][2]

This cluster article, part of Homejourney's Ultimate Expat Relocation Guide to Singapore, helps Thai expats settle in while enjoying pad thai, tom yum, and more. Homejourney prioritizes your safety and trust with verified property insights and transparent advice for a smooth transition.

Why Thai Expats Love Singapore's Food Scene

Thailand's vibrant street food culture finds a perfect match in Singapore's UNESCO-listed hawker centres, where affordable, authentic eats thrive. Thai expats appreciate the proximity—direct flights from Bangkok to Singapore take just 2.5 hours—and the abundance of Thai dishes alongside local favourites like Hainanese chicken rice and laksa.[1][6]

Key similarities include spicy, fresh flavours in both cuisines, but Singapore offers cleaner, air-conditioned options and multilingual menus. Insider tip: Many hawker stalls accept cashless payments via PayLah or GrabPay, easing the switch from Thailand's LINE Pay.[2]

Must-Try Thai Food and Street Food in Singapore

Singapore boasts excellent Thai street food replicas. Start with pad thai at Sawasdee Thai Restaurant near Boat Quay—stir-fried noodles with prawns, tofu, and peanuts for S$12-15, matching Bangkok's zest.[1]

Tom yum soup shines at Tian Tian Fisherman’s Pier Seafood, with fresh prawns and lemongrass in a spicy broth (S$18+). For regional Thai cuisine, try green curry or som tam at hawker stalls in Golden Mile Complex, a hub for Thai groceries and eats.[1]

Pad Thai: Sawasdee Thai or hawker versions at Maxwell Food Centre (Michelin Bib Gourmand nearby).[1][5]
Tom Yum Goong: Authentic at Numb Restaurant @ Marina One, with numbing Sichuan-Thai fusion (S$15).[1]
Northern Thai Khao Soi: Rare find at specialist stalls in Little India; check Homejourney's Best Thai Food in Singapore 2025 for updates.

Local tip: Visit Lau Pa Sat after 7pm for satay street—its peanut sauce echoes Thai gai yang, just S$0.80 per skewer.[1][2]

Top Hawker Centres for Thai Expats

Hawker centres are Singapore's safe, affordable dining heart—over 100 citywide, with prices S$3-10 per dish.[7] Thai expats flock to these for familiarity and value.

Maxwell Food Centre (Chinatown MRT, Exit A, 5-min walk): Tian Tian Hainanese chicken rice (S$5.50, queues form early); nearby Thai stalls offer pad thai.[1][2]
Lau Pa Sat (Raffles Place MRT, 2-min walk): Satay Street alive nightly; Thai-inspired seafood.[1]
Old Airport Road Food Centre (Dakota MRT, 10-min walk): Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow (Michelin Bib Gourmand, S$5-8, smoky wok hei).[5]
Golden Mile Food Centre (Beach Road MRT, 5-min walk): Shiok Hokkien Mee and Thai options; Thai community hub.[1]

Pro tip: 'Chope' seats with tissues—a local custom. Homejourney verifies these spots for hygiene, aligning with our user safety focus.[2]

Relocating from Thailand: Property and Practical Tips

As you explore Thai cuisine in Singapore, consider property. Foreigners pay 60% ABSD on purchases over S$1.5M but can rent freely (S$3,000-8,000/month for 2-3 bed condos).Projects Directory

Popular for Thai expats: Geylang (near Paya Lebar MRT, Thai eateries galore), Orchard (central, S$5,000+ rent), or East Coast (Katong laksa rivals tom yum).[1] Use Homejourney's property search for verified listings with currency conversion from THB— we support Thai Baht seamlessly.

Visa: Employment Pass for professionals (min S$5,000 salary); processing 3 weeks via MOM.gov.sg. Cost of living: Singapore 20-30% higher than Bangkok, but hawker meals keep food costs low (S$5 vs 100 THB).Straits Times Housing News

Settling In: Actionable Steps for Thai Expats

Step 1: Open a DBS/POSB bank account (Thai ID accepted, OCBC for multi-currency incl. THB). Link to Homejourney bank rates for mortgage insights.

Step 2: Healthcare: Affordable at polyclinics (S$15 consult); private like Mount Elizabeth for expats. Transport: MRT efficient (S$1-3/ride), LTA EZ-Link card like Thailand's Rabbit Card.

Step 3: Join Thai Singaporean Association events or Facebook groups for community. Flights: Daily Scoot/AirAsia from BKK (S$100 one-way).

For property maintenance post-move, check Homejourney aircon services. Link to our pillar: Ultimate Thai Food Guide.

Success Stories from Thai Expats

"From Bangkok streets to Singapore hawkers—pad thai here hits home, and Homejourney found us a safe Geylang condo," shares expat chef Somchai. Many thrive in finance/tech, with Thai networks in CBD.Business Times Property