Population
~5.9 million
What people learn after moving
Four things newcomers say matter most about life in Singapore
Official languages
English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
Currency
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Work week
Monday–Friday
Cost of living in Singapore
Typical newcomer prices
SGD1-bed apartment (center)S$3,000–5,000 / mo
Meal, mid-range restaurantS$18–35
Hawker centre mealS$4–7
Coffee (café)S$5–7 (kopi at a kopitiam ~S$1.50)
Est. single-person monthlyS$1,500–2,000 (excl. rent)
Check your eligibility
Can you move to Singapore?
Pick your passport to see entry rules and the long-stay routes we have researched.
Pick your passport to see whether you can enter Singapore — and what it takes to stay.
Your move, in order
Getting set up in Singapore
1
Legal & IDHigh confidence
Work pass & residency (EP / S Pass, FIN)
There is no physical national ID card for foreigners here — your identity is a Foreign Identification Number (FIN) plus your work pass. Your employer applies through MOM; the pass and FIN gate banking, a SIM, a lease, and almost everything else.
2
DrivingMedium confidence
Convert your driving licence
Your foreign licence only carries you for a limited window, and converting it means passing the Basic Theory Test (BTT) first. Here's the real sequence via the Traffic Police e-Services and an approved driving centre.
3
BankingMedium confidence
Open a bank account
Once you have your work pass and FIN you can open a Singapore-dollar account. DBS/POSB and OCBC let you apply online (often pre-filled via Myinfo with Singpass), while UOB usually wants a branch visit. Watch the minimum balance and fall-below fees on each account.
4
HealthMedium confidence
Health insurance & healthcare
Foreigners are outside Singapore's MediSave/MediShield Life system. Work Permit and S Pass employers are legally required to buy you medical insurance (at least S$60,000/year); EP holders usually get employer cover but it is not mandated, so most expats top up with a private or international plan. Public polyclinics and restructured hospitals exist alongside private care, but non-residents pay unsubsidised rates.
5
TelecomMedium confidence
Get a SIM card & mobile plan
Coverage and speeds are excellent and data is cheap. Buy a prepaid tourist SIM on your passport to land running, then move to a low-cost SIM-only plan from an MVNO (Circles.Life, GOMO, giga) once you have your work pass. The three networks are Singtel, StarHub, and M1; the budget brands ride on top of them. eSIM is widely supported.
6
TaxMedium confidence
Personal income tax (IRAS)
Singapore taxes residents at gentle progressive rates — 0% on the first S$20,000, rising to a 24% top marginal rate only above S$1,000,000 of chargeable income. Tax residency hinges on the 183-day rule; non-residents pay a flat 15% on employment income (or resident rates, whichever is higher). You file once a year with IRAS, e-filing by 18 April. No capital gains tax, and foreign-sourced income is generally exempt.
Each guide has verified costs, timelines, required documents, and the non-obvious gotchas — sourced from official government pages. Last verified June 2026.
Language
Essential English phrases
lahSocial
ends a sentence, e.g. "ok lah"
Softener / emphasis particle — makes a statement friendlier or more final.
lorSocial
ends a sentence, e.g. "like that lor"
Resigned acceptance — that's just how it is.
can / cannotDaily life
kahn / kahn-not
Yes that works / no that doesn't — the all-purpose yes-no of Singlish.
chopeDaily life
chope (rhymes with hope)
To reserve a seat — usually by leaving a packet of tissues on the table.
makanFood
MAH-kahn (Malay)
Food / to eat — "go makan?" means let's grab a meal.
shiokFood
shee-OK
Delicious / awesome / deeply satisfying.
tabaoFood
dah-BAO
Takeaway / to pack food to go.
kiasuWork
KYA-soo
Afraid to lose out — the competitive, grab-it-first mindset.
kopiFood
KOH-pee
Coffee — order "kopi o" (black, sugar) or "kopi c" (evaporated milk) at a kopitiam.
terima kasihGreetings
t'REE-ma KA-seh (Malay)
Thank you.
xie xieGreetings
shyeh-shyeh (Mandarin)
Thank you.
alamakEmergency
ah-lah-MAK
Oh no! / oops — an exclamation of surprise or dismay.
Reading a list isn’t learning it. Globe Quest turns these into a trainer — hear each phrase spoken, drill them with spaced repetition, and get scored as you say them out loud.
Culture
What to know before you go
Chewing gum is banned — and littering is fined
CriticalSelling or importing chewing gum is illegal (therapeutic gum aside), and littering, spitting, or dropping a cigarette butt draws fines from S$300 upward. Singapore is genuinely strict about this.
No eating or drinking on the MRT
CriticalEating, drinking (even water), or carrying durian onto trains and stations is prohibited and fined up to S$500. Finish your kopi before you tap in.
Chope your seat with a tissue packet
ImportantAt hawker centres and food courts, a packet of tissues left on a seat or table means it's taken. Respect it, and use it yourself to hold a table before you queue for food.
Clear your own tray at hawker centres
ImportantReturning your tray is now required at hawker centres and food courts, with fines for repeat offenders. Stack plates at the tray-return points, sorted where bins are marked.
Jaywalking is an offence
Good to knowCross at signalised crossings or within 50m of one. Crossing against a red man or mid-road can be fined, and enforcement is real.
Racial and religious harmony is taken seriously
ImportantSingapore is multi-racial (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian) and multi-faith. Casual remarks that mock a race or religion can cross legal lines under harmony laws — keep it respectful.
Work
Top industries & employers
Finance & Wealth Management
DBS, OCBC, UOB, Standard Chartered
Asia's top financial centre and a magnet for family offices and private banking.
Technology (APAC HQs)
Google, Meta, ByteDance/TikTok, Stripe
Default regional headquarters for global tech across Southeast Asia.
Biotech & Pharma
GSK, Novartis, Thermo Fisher
Biopolis and Tuas anchor a strong life-sciences and manufacturing cluster.
Maritime & Logistics
PSA International, Maersk, Kuehne+Nagel
One of the world's busiest container ports and a global shipping hub.
Semiconductors
Micron, GlobalFoundries, AMD
A significant slice of global chip output is fabricated and tested here.
Commodities & Trading
Trafigura, Glencore, Vitol
A leading hub for global commodity trading desks and treasury operations.
Explore
Where to go in Singapore
Tiong Bahru
Hidden gemNeighborhood · Central
Art-deco walk-up estate turned hip enclave of indie cafés, bookshops, and a beloved wet market.
Local tip: Skip brunch queues and eat upstairs at Tiong Bahru Market — the chwee kueh and lor mee are the real draw.
Maxwell Food Centre
Food · Chinatown / Tanjong Pagar
Classic hawker centre famous for Tian Tian chicken rice and old-school stalls.
Local tip: Go before noon — the famous stalls sell out and the lunch crowd is brutal.
MacRitchie Reservoir
Nature · Central Catchment
Rainforest trails and the TreeTop Walk suspension bridge minutes from downtown.
Local tip: Start at 7am to beat the heat and humidity; watch for cheeky long-tailed macaques — don't feed them.
Gardens by the Bay
Landmark · Marina Bay
Futuristic Supertree grove plus the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories.
Local tip: The outdoor Supertree light show is free — catch the 7:45pm or 8:45pm slot.
Joo Chiat / Katong
Culture · East Coast
Peranakan heart of Singapore — pastel shophouses, Nyonya food, and Katong laksa.
Local tip: This is where residents go for laksa and kueh, not the tourist strip; pair it with a cycle along East Coast Park.
Haji Lane
Hidden gemNightlife · Kampong Glam
Narrow lane of bars, street art, and indie boutiques beside the golden Sultan Mosque.
Local tip: Bar-hop here on a weeknight; weekends get packed, and the rooftop spots nearby have the best views.
Safety
Emergency numbers in Singapore
999
Police
995
Ambulance & Fire (SCDF)
1777
Non-emergency ambulance (1777 closes 1 Jan 2027; then NurseFirst 6262 6262)
+65 6222 3322
Singapore General Hospital
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