Welcome to my digital nomad information to dwelling in Singapore. If like me, you spend your life on the highway, laptop computer in hand, hopping from nation to nation, I’ve obtained a number of nice data for you about The Lion Metropolis.
Throughout my first go to to Singapore, I spent a month home sitting and loved each second. Being based mostly in three areas throughout the town meant I obtained to discover loads and was capable of uncover many cool spots which can be usually missed. Let’s get began!
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About Singapore
Singapore is a energetic Southeast Asian city-state, positioned simply south of Malaysia. It’s small however full of thrilling sights, making exploring simple.
Well-known for being clear and protected, Singapore has a improbable public transport system and is residence to iconic spots together with the Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. You’ll discover breathtaking, towering skyscrapers, a number of greenery, and expansive parks throughout the town.
This place additionally celebrates its roots, with neighborhoods like Chinatown and Little India making a cultural combine. It’s a mix of outdated and new and is regarded by many as a monetary powerhouse and gateway to Southeast Asian enterprise and finance.
Digital Nomad in Singapore: Private Expertise
I accomplished 3 back-to-back home sits while in Singapore, which helped me immensely with lodging prices. Other than taking good care of some pretty properties and pets, feeling settled allowed me to crack on with loads of distant work.
Dwelling and dealing in Singapore was a breeze as a full-time digital nomad. It’s such a contemporary and bustling metropolis that its very nature motivates you to be productive. It’s a spot the place monetary prowess is obvious and sometimes flaunted.
There are ample probabilities to loosen up and discover the town with nice mountaineering alternatives and plenty of websites of historic and cultural significance to take pleasure in. One in all my favourite issues to do was to go to cool streets like Haji Lane, a well-liked and energetic strip of bars, cafes, and eating places.
Try my Home Sitting Information to Singapore to learn all about my expertise dwelling in Singapore as a digital nomad.
Is Singapore Secure?
Singapore is among the most secure locations I’ve visited to this point, with low crime charges and a welcoming environment towards guests and vacationers. Throughout my home sits, I felt snug strolling canines in any respect hours, because the streets are well-lit and CCTV is in every single place. I had no security issues throughout my keep.
Whereas severe crime is uncommon, it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to be cautious of minor scams. Widespread points comparable to overcharging can happen in tourist-heavy areas, nevertheless, that is simply prevented through the use of respected providers. Singapore’s strict legal guidelines assist preserve order.
All of the neighborhoods I traveled to felt protected, however it’s clever to keep away from unfamiliar areas late at night time, simply as I’d advise in any large metropolis. Staying conscious of your environment and following fundamental security suggestions will higher your possibilities of having a cushty and protected expertise.
Greatest Areas to Dwell in Singapore
Being a digital nomad in Singapore opened up alternatives for me to discover totally different areas of the town. Getting round is simple and there are many thrilling methods to spend your downtime. Listed below are 5 nice areas to contemplate dwelling in Singapore:
1. Bugis
Bugis is a busy part of the town heart identified for having nice city-wide hyperlinks, quite a few fashionable spots, and tons of facilities. It’s my favourite location in Singapore, and as a digital nomad, it’s an incredible place to be located due to the encompassing cafes, coworking areas, and lodging choices.
It’s near every part, with simple MRT entry, nice purchasing choices, and the close by Bugis Avenue Market. There’s at all times one thing to do after work, whether or not it’s having fun with the night time market or exploring Haji Lane just some minutes stroll away.
2. Queenstown
Queenstown is a extra laid-back space, with a number of inexperienced areas and a relaxed, residential vibe. It’s superb for many who take pleasure in a quieter spot however nonetheless need fast entry to the town heart. Public transport is dependable, environment friendly, and reasonably priced making it simple to get round.
There are many laptop-friendly cafes to arrange store from, superb for getting via your workload with out distractions. With locations like Alexandra Canal and the native hawker facilities close by, there’s loads to discover after shutting down the laptop computer for the day.
3. Chinatown
I’ve visited many Chinatowns around the globe however Chinatown Singapore was a singular expertise. It’s a part of the town the place historical custom meets the trendy world with startling contrasts in every single place.
My prime issues to do have been to take a look at the hawker meals stalls and eat for subsequent to nothing, or discover historic temples and markets earlier than heading to bars which have among the greatest blissful hours on the town – to not point out unimaginable views of the skyscrapers!
4. Tiong Bahru
Tiong Bahru is one in every of Singapore’s oldest neighborhoods, well-known for its artwork deco buildings and hip, artistic scene. It’s an incredible place for impartial bookstores and informal cafes that double up as snug spots for distant work.
It’s a quieter space with a cool, retro really feel, good for unwinding after a workday. Many digital nomads I do know love Tiong Bahru for the pleasant environment, relaxed vibe, and distinctive mix of outdated and new Singapore.
5. Katong
Katong is a residential neighborhood outdoors of the primary metropolis limits. Right here, you’ll discover colourful shophouses and heritage colonial bungalows which provide a stark distinction to the towering metropolis skyscrapers. It feels extra homely on this a part of the town.
Katong has a sluggish tempo offering loads of alternatives for distant work. Foodies will love the standard eateries serving spicy laksa and different native specialties. Close by Geylang is a good place to go to the tze char stalls and to pattern some frog porridge (if you happen to fancy!).
The right way to Discover Lodging in Singapore
Listed below are some tried-and-true strategies for locating lodging in Singapore, whether or not you’re planning a brief keep or an extended one. Every choice presents one thing distinctive, so you possibly can select what most accurately fits your wants and finances.
1. Airbnb: At all times a well-liked choice for brief to mid-term stays, use Airbnb if you happen to’re in search of a totally furnished place. Yow will discover every part from finances rooms in individuals’s properties to luxurious flats, many with reductions for weekly or month-to-month stays.
2. Trusted Housesitters: In order for you a singular, low-cost option to keep in Singapore strive Trusted Housesitters. From private expertise, home sitting is a perfect choice for animal lovers and permits you to immerse your self within the metropolis like an area with out rental prices.
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3. Fb: Singapore has a number of energetic Fb teams together with ‘Rooms For Lease Singapore‘. These teams provide direct entry to locals and ex-pats with lodging to hire, often reducing out the intermediary.
4. Reserving.com: A trusty and dependable selection for short-term stays, Reserving.com has an enormous number of inns, serviced flats, and hostels. It’s particularly helpful if you happen to want flexibility, as many choices include free cancellation.
Price of Dwelling in Singapore
I’ve to confess, Singapore is among the dearer cities I’ve visited. Costs weren’t insane, however virtually every part value slightly greater than different locations I’d been to – it didn’t assist that I arrived straight from tremendous low cost Vietnam!
Eating places and Groceries
Grocery purchasing costs are pretty aligned with what I’d anticipate in most main cities. Throughout the ordinary margin, a weekly store in Singapore doesn’t differ too a lot from my present digital nomad spot – Austin, Texas.
Dwelling in Singapore gives the total scope of eating prospects; from native hawker markets and road meals stands costing a couple of dollars a meal to the best of high-end choices. However, for a mean meal out for 2 in a pleasant place, you possibly can anticipate to pay round $70.
Lodging Prices
Lodging prices in Singapore will be considerably greater than in lots of cities, with long-term leases round 30% dearer than in a serious US metropolis. Renting an condo in central Singapore will value round $2500 earlier than utilities.
Brief-term stays on platforms like Airbnb provide a spread of lodging and sometimes have good offers on month-long or prolonged stays. Nevertheless, costs can differ extensively relying on the placement you need and the facilities you require.
The typical value per night time of a lodge room in Singapore is $212, one thing to pay attention to if you happen to’re planning to remain within the metropolis for some time. Contemplate home sitting alternatives or negotiating reductions with Airbnb hosts to save lots of prices.
Transportation Prices in Singapore
Life in Singapore runs fairly easily due to a community of environment friendly buses, trains, and taxis. The MRT (Mass Speedy Transit) is among the greatest I’ve seen around the globe to this point – among the underground stations themselves are even good locations to go to!
You possibly can merely scan any energetic credit score or financial institution card when hopping on and off the buses or going via the metro turnstiles. A bus journey prices round $1.50 and a brief taxi trip utilizing a ride-share app like Seize will run you round $10-$15.
SIM Playing cards and Knowledge
Selecting up a SIM card is simple to do, as even in a chaotic market you’ll see stalls providing offers on knowledge plans. Most are official shops for giant operators comparable to SIMBA, the community I utilized in Singapore and extremely advocate.
You will get a superb quantity of knowledge for an inexpensive value and have the SIM card put in and activated proper in entrance of you, that means you possibly can relaxation assured every part is working earlier than you allow. I obtained 10GB for $15 which lasted me 30 days and it labored very well.
In case you plan to hotspot or use a knowledge plan for distant work, contemplate upping your month-to-month allowance. Costs are extra cheap the upper up you go. If doubtful, discover a native retailer, as the bulk converse nice English and are blissful to have a chat about your wants whereas within the metropolis.
Cash Saving Suggestions for Singapore
Listed below are a couple of suggestions to assist hold prices down in Singapore;
- Use Public Transport: Singapore’s MRT and buses are environment friendly, reasonably priced, and canopy most components of the town.
- Eat on the Hawkers: For budget-friendly, genuine meals, strive Singapore’s well-known hawker stalls like Maxwell or Lau Pa Sat.
- Take pleasure in Free Sights: Extra on this later, however relaxation assured there are many free points of interest to take pleasure in.
- Get Again to Nature: There are some fabulous mountaineering alternatives and loads of contemporary air to be present in Singapore’s parks and inexperienced areas.
- Safe a Home Sit: Trusted Housesitters is a good choice if you happen to love animals and wish to save on lodging prices.
- Price range-Pleasant Lodging: Past home sitting, contemplate co-living areas or shared flats via Airbnb.
- Negotiate: Whether or not purchasing within the markets or renting an condo, it’s at all times value haggling over a value.
- Restrict Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol is dear in Singapore, so contemplate limiting nights out or ingesting at residence.
- Discover Comfortable Hours: Comfortable hour is a well-liked factor in Singapore with many bars providing every day diminished costs on drinks.
- Store Good: Keep away from premium supermarkets and store at native markets or locations like FairPrice.
Coworking Areas in Singapore and WiFi Velocity
Singapore has among the quickest and most dependable web speeds on the earth, making it superb for digital nomads. WiFi speeds in cafes and public areas usually vary from 50 to 100 Mbps, whereas coworking areas can attain as much as 1 Gbps.
The WiFi connection is strong and infrequently has outages. Easy video calls, uploads, and different on-line work with out interruptions create dream circumstances for digital nomads. There are additionally many glorious coworking areas, right here’s a couple of choices for distant working:
1. The Hive
With 5 areas in Singapore and a presence in 6 nations globally, The Hive has been a helpful alliance to me via years of traversing the world. I included a Vietnam Hive in my earlier article – Digital Nomad Information to Dwelling in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
You possibly can at all times be assured of a quiet desk to work from, glorious WiFi, and all of the services you could possibly require. Costs begin at $22/day with entry from 8 am – 6 pm. There are nice reductions and extra advantages for longer stays.
2. WeWork
Essentially the most outstanding coworking area in Singapore must be WeWork, with 12 areas within the metropolis. I’m not capable of touch upon all of them however my experiences with this well-established worldwide chain have at all times been optimistic.
I can extremely advocate the Suntec Tower 5 location which is perched in a wonderful skyscraper and gazes out over the town. It’s not the most cost effective at $35/day however it presents state-of-the-art services and is a brilliant cool place to work from.
3. The Work Boulevard
For the most effective working view in Singapore, head to The Work Boulevard at Collyer Quay. They’ve 3 areas within the metropolis however this specific department seems to be out over the jetty and the enduring Marina Bay Sands – so far as places of work go, it’s pretty much as good because it will get!
There’s ample area within the stunning lounge for hot-desking and devoted places of work for many who search a extra everlasting residence or some remoted work time. Costs begin at $22/day with 24/7 entry out there.
Greatest Cafes to Work From in Singapore
As a digital nomad dwelling in Singapore, it’s helpful to know the place the laptop-friendly cafes are. Fortunately, Singapore is full of nice choices for us digital nomads, listed here are my prime 3 picks:
- The E book Cafe: Combining my love of books and low, this nice choice is a refreshing however simply accessible distance from the town heart. It’s a pleasant spot near the river that has loads of spacious tables, first rate WiFi, and a calming vibe.
- Free the Robotic: From breakfast to dinner, espresso to cocktails this robot-themed cafe has a improbable menu starting from breakfast sandwiches to fish and chips. It’s a energetic however enjoyable place to arrange together with your laptop computer.
- Enchanted Cafe Rangoon Highway: A captivating 24/7 cafe that looks like a classic tea room. There’s a tasty all-day brunch menu full of every part you could possibly need and it has a pleasant environment which makes for a peaceable spot for distant work.
Actions and Issues to Do in Singapore
Dwelling in Singapore as a digital nomad means there are many methods to unwind after work or benefit from versatile hours. Whether or not you’re free to discover in the course of the week or hold weekends open, listed here are some nice methods to totally take pleasure in Singapore:
1. Take a Personalised Meals Tour
If you wish to dive headfirst into the native meals scene I extremely advocate a road meals tour. It’s an effective way to pattern a number of native delicacies in locations off-the-beaten-track that many vacationers merely wouldn’t in any other case uncover.
This customized tour with an area host tailors the expertise to your tastes and explores well-known spots together with the Chinatown Meals Complicated. You’ll style as many as 8 totally different road meals and get to go to a conventional working moist market. Click on right here for particulars.
2. Go to The Battlebox
My husband’s Grandfather was taken prisoner in Singapore throughout WWII so we made some extent to go to as lots of the poignant websites, of which there are lots of, across the metropolis. Probably the greatest was The Battlebox hidden beneath Fort Canning Park.
This free-to-visit exhibit is a must-visit for historical past fanatics. It presents an immersive look into Singapore’s WWII historical past via an enormous underground command heart the place hourly excursions take you thru the historical past and tales. Donations are welcome so contemplate supporting if you happen to can.
3. Discover the Metropolis by Bike
A improbable option to uncover Singapore is on a guided half-day bike tour. The town streets are bicycle-friendly and it’s a cool place to discover on two wheels.
This guided tour takes you thru historic areas together with Chinatown, Little India, and Marina Bay plus many hidden treasures – what higher option to get to know Singapore? Click on right here for extra details about this glorious small-group tour.
4. Stand in Pole Place
Yearly one of many greatest Method 1 races of the season descends on the streets of Singapore. The Singapore Grand Prix is a large occasion that draws guests from around the globe as the most effective drivers on the planet pace alongside the town’s roads at 200 mph.
Though every part returns to regular after the busy weekend of racing, among the principal infrastructure is everlasting and open to the general public. You possibly can head to the pit lane, the beginning grid, and even jog or cycle alongside the primary few corners of the observe. Discover it right here.
5. See the Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is an awe-inspiring spot to unwind after a busy day, with a number of free outside areas, distinctive shows, and nightly gentle reveals. Don’t miss the enduring Supertree Grove, the place towering, plant-covered buildings gentle as much as music every night – it’s actually spectacular.
For extra immersive experiences, discover the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories the place you possibly can take pleasure in loads of unique vegetation and even a surprising indoor waterfall. It’s a peaceable escape proper within the coronary heart of the town. Click on right here for instructions.
Climate in Singapore
Singapore’s climate is heat and humid year-round, with temperatures averaging 23°C to 32°C (73°F to 90°F) and humidity usually above 80%. Being near the equator, the town experiences little seasonal variation.
Rain is widespread, particularly from November to February in the course of the Northeast Monsoon, when downpours are frequent and intense. Throughout my keep, I skilled a number of sudden, heavy rainstorms, so it’s clever to maintain an umbrella helpful.
With excessive humidity and frequent rain, it will possibly usually really feel hotter than the precise temperature. Many vacationers, digital nomads, and locals want to remain indoors throughout peak noon warmth. February to April is the perfect time to go to to totally take pleasure in any outside actions.
Professionals and Cons of Dwelling in Singapore
There’s little doubt that Singapore is a superb metropolis, however there are each execs and cons to contemplate as a digital nomad, earlier than selecting it as a base. Right here’s what I discovered from my expertise:
Professionals of Dwelling in Singapore
- Environment friendly Public Transport: Singapore has an intensive and dependable public transport system, making it simple to get round.
- Security: Singapore is thought for its low crime price and strict legal guidelines, so it’s a protected atmosphere for residents and guests alike.
- Multicultural Surroundings: The town is a melting pot of cultures, providing numerous meals, festivals, and experiences.
- Excessive High quality of Life: With glorious healthcare, schooling, and infrastructure, Singapore gives a excessive way of life.
- Enterprise Focussed: As a monetary powerhouse, enterprise is prospering in Singapore – it’s completely arrange for digital nomads.
- Ex-Pat Group: There’s a big ex-pat neighborhood which will help it really feel like a house from residence.
- Proximity to Nature: Regardless of its city setting, Singapore has many fantastic parks, gardens, and nature reserves.
- Westernized Facilities: Lastly, as a former British colony, Singapore has essentially the most Westernized tradition I’ve seen in Asia.
Cons of Dwelling in Singapore
- Excessive Price of Dwelling: Working remotely in Singapore will be costly, with excessive lodging and eating prices.
- Restricted House: Many flats and dwelling areas are compact, which can really feel cramped for some.
- Humidity and Warmth: The tropical local weather usually results in intense humidity and warmth, which will be uncomfortable if it’s not one thing you’re conversant in.
- Strict Laws: Whereas legal guidelines contribute to security, strict rules can really feel limiting and appear overbearing at occasions.
- Quick-Paced Way of life: The fast-paced metropolis life will be overwhelming, particularly for newcomers or these with rural roots.
- Restricted Visa Size: I’ll cowl this in additional depth within the subsequent part however there isn’t a digital nomad visa for Singapore at current.
- The Hidden Prices: This shall be much less of a difficulty for US residents who’re used to including tax and tip however most locations in Singapore add tax and tip to the marketed value, mountaineering the value by 15%-20%.
- Building: My remaining home sit in Bugis was slighted by the quantity of intensive building occurring on the skyscraper throughout the road. Constructing work is widespread throughout the town.
Digital Nomad Visa for Singapore
Singapore doesn’t presently provide a selected digital nomad visa, which might make it difficult for distant employees trying to stay there long-term. As an alternative, most digital nomads are capable of enter Singapore on a vacationer visa, which permits stays of as much as 30 days.
For American, Canadian, and Australian residents, no visa is required for visits of as much as 90 days. Nevertheless, all guests want to make sure their passport is legitimate for at the very least six months past their date of entry.
This non permanent association is nice for month-long visits however not superb for digital nomads searching for a extra everlasting base. All vacationers are additionally required to fill in an SG Arrival Card 3 days earlier than arriving in Singapore.
For the most recent entry necessities and updates, seek advice from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore.
In Conclusion
I hope my digital nomad information to Singapore has highlighted why you must contemplate it as a distant working location. Amongst many different qualities, it’s additionally a perfect base for additional exploration, particularly throughout Southeast Asia.
The town’s numerous foodie scene and infinite thrilling actions will guarantee that you’ve loads to deal with your self to when you’ve served your time on the laptop computer! As a digital nomad in Singapore, it’s unimaginable to not be impressed by this sort of dynamic environment and welcoming atmosphere.