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 received plenty of nice info 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 places throughout town meant I received to discover a lot and was capable of uncover many cool spots which can be typically missed. Let’s get began!
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About Singapore
Singapore is a full of life Southeast Asian city-state, situated simply south of Malaysia. It’s small however filled with thrilling sights, making exploring simple.
Well-known for being clear and protected, Singapore has a unbelievable public transport system and is house to iconic spots together with the Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. You’ll discover breathtaking, towering skyscrapers, plenty of greenery, and expansive parks throughout town.
This place additionally celebrates its roots, with neighborhoods like Chinatown and Little India making a cultural combine. It’s a mix of previous 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. Apart from 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 clear and sometimes flaunted.
There are ample probabilities to loosen up and discover town with nice climbing alternatives and plenty of websites of historic and cultural significance to take pleasure in. One among my favourite issues to do was to go to cool streets like Haji Lane, a preferred and full of life strip of bars, cafes, and eating places.
Take a look at my Home Sitting Information to Singapore to learn all about my expertise dwelling in Singapore as a digital nomad.
Is Singapore Protected?
Singapore is likely one of the most secure locations I’ve visited thus far, with low crime charges and a welcoming ambiance towards guests and vacationers. Throughout my home sits, I felt comfy strolling canines in any respect hours, because the streets are well-lit and CCTV is all over the place. I had no security issues throughout my keep.
Whereas critical crime is uncommon, it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to be cautious of minor scams. Widespread points resembling overcharging can happen in tourist-heavy areas, nevertheless, that is simply prevented by utilizing respected providers. Singapore’s strict legal guidelines assist preserve order.
All of the neighborhoods I traveled to felt protected, but it surely’s sensible to keep away from unfamiliar areas late at evening, simply as I’d advise in any huge metropolis. Staying conscious of your environment and following fundamental security suggestions will higher your possibilities of having a snug and protected expertise.
Greatest Areas to Stay in Singapore
Being a digital nomad in Singapore opened up alternatives for me to discover completely different areas of town. Getting round is straightforward and there are many thrilling methods to spend your downtime. Listed below are 5 nice areas to think about dwelling in Singapore:
1. Bugis
Bugis is a busy part of town middle recognized for having nice city-wide hyperlinks, quite a few stylish spots, and tons of facilities. It’s my favourite location in Singapore, and as a digital nomad, it’s a terrific place to be located because of the encircling cafes, coworking areas, and lodging choices.
It’s near every thing, with simple MRT entry, nice purchasing choices, and the close by Bugis Avenue Market. There’s all the time one thing to do after work, whether or not it’s having fun with the evening market or exploring Haji Lane just some minutes stroll away.
2. Queenstown
Queenstown is a extra laid-back space, with lots of inexperienced areas and a relaxed, residential vibe. It’s ultimate for many who take pleasure in a quieter spot however nonetheless need fast entry to town middle. 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, ultimate for getting by way of your workload with out distractions. With locations like Alexandra Canal and the native hawker facilities close by, there’s a lot to discover after shutting down the laptop computer for the day.
3. Chinatown
I’ve visited many Chinatowns all over the world however Chinatown Singapore was a novel expertise. It’s a part of town the place historic custom meets the fashionable world with startling contrasts all over the place.
My high 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 comfortable hours on the town – to not point out unimaginable views of the skyscrapers!
4. Tiong Bahru
Tiong Bahru is certainly one of Singapore’s oldest neighborhoods, well-known for its artwork deco buildings and hip, inventive scene. It’s a terrific place for unbiased bookstores and informal cafes that double up as comfy 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 ambiance, relaxed vibe, and distinctive mix of previous and new Singapore.
5. Katong
Katong is a residential neighborhood outdoors of the principle 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 town.
Katong has a gradual 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 superb place to go to the tze char stalls and to pattern some frog porridge (if you happen to fancy!).
How one can 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 provides one thing distinctive, so you’ll be able to select what most closely fits your wants and finances.
1. Airbnb: At all times a preferred 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 thing from finances rooms in individuals’s houses to luxurious flats, many with reductions for weekly or month-to-month stays.
2. Trusted Housesitters: If you’d like a novel, 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 lively Fb teams together with ‘Rooms For Hire Singapore‘. These teams provide direct entry to locals and ex-pats with lodging to lease, often reducing out the intermediary.
4. Reserving.com: A trusty and dependable selection for short-term stays, Reserving.com has a large number of accommodations, serviced flats, and hostels. It’s particularly helpful if you happen to want flexibility, as many choices include free cancellation.
Value of Dwelling in Singapore
I’ve to confess, Singapore is likely one of the dearer cities I’ve visited. Costs weren’t insane, however virtually every thing value a bit 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 count on in most main cities. Inside the common margin, a weekly store in Singapore doesn’t differ too a lot from my present digital nomad spot – Austin, Texas.
Dwelling in Singapore supplies the complete scope of eating prospects; from native hawker markets and avenue meals stands costing a couple of dollars a meal to the very best of high-end choices. However, for a median meal out for 2 in a pleasant place, you’ll be able to count on to pay round $70.
Lodging Prices
Lodging prices in Singapore could be considerably greater than in lots of cities, with long-term leases round 30% dearer than in a significant US metropolis. Renting an condominium in central Singapore will value round $2500 earlier than utilities.
Quick-term stays on platforms like Airbnb provide a spread of lodging and sometimes have good offers on month-long or prolonged stays. Nonetheless, costs can range broadly relying on the situation you need and the facilities you require.
The common value per evening of a lodge room in Singapore is $212, one thing to concentrate on if you happen to’re planning to remain within the metropolis for some time. Think about home sitting alternatives or negotiating reductions with Airbnb hosts to save lots of prices.
Transportation Prices in Singapore
Life in Singapore runs fairly easily because of a community of environment friendly buses, trains, and taxis. The MRT (Mass Speedy Transit) is likely one of the greatest I’ve seen all over the world thus far – among the underground stations themselves are even good locations to go to!
You’ll be able to merely scan any lively credit score or financial institution card when hopping on and off the buses or going by way of 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 Information
Selecting up a SIM card is straightforward to do, as even in a chaotic market you’ll see stalls providing offers on knowledge plans. Most are official retailers for giant operators resembling SIMBA, the community I utilized in Singapore and extremely suggest.
You will get a very good quantity of information for an inexpensive value and have the SIM card put in and activated proper in entrance of you, which means you’ll be able to relaxation assured every thing is working earlier than you allow. I received 10GB for $15 which lasted me 30 days and it labored rather well.
When you plan to hotspot or use a knowledge plan for distant work, think about upping your month-to-month allowance. Costs are extra affordable the upper up you go. If unsure, discover a native retailer, as the bulk communicate nice English and are comfortable to have a chat about your wants whereas within the metropolis.
Cash Saving Ideas for Singapore
Listed below are a number of suggestions to assist preserve prices down in Singapore;
- Use Public Transport: Singapore’s MRT and buses are environment friendly, reasonably priced, and canopy most components of town.
- Eat on the Hawkers: For budget-friendly, genuine meals, strive Singapore’s well-known hawker stalls like Maxwell or Lau Pa Sat.
- Get pleasure from Free Points of interest: 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 climbing alternatives and loads of contemporary air to be present in Singapore’s parks and inexperienced areas.
- Safe a Home Sit: Trusted Housesitters is a superb choice if you happen to love animals and wish to save on lodging prices.
- Finances-Pleasant Lodging: Past home sitting, think about co-living areas or shared flats by way of Airbnb.
- Negotiate: Whether or not purchasing within the markets or renting an condominium, it’s all the time value haggling over a value.
- Restrict Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol is pricey in Singapore, so think about limiting nights out or ingesting at house.
- Discover Glad Hours: Glad hour is a well-liked factor in Singapore with many bars providing every day decreased 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 ultimate for digital nomads. WiFi speeds in cafes and public areas typically vary from 50 to 100 Mbps, whereas coworking areas can attain as much as 1 Gbps.
The WiFi connection is stable and infrequently has outages. Clean 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 number of choices for distant working:
1. The Hive
With 5 places in Singapore and a presence in 6 international locations globally, The Hive has been a helpful alliance to me by way of 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’ll be able to all the time be assured of a quiet desk to work from, glorious WiFi, and all of the services you can 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
Probably the most outstanding coworking house in Singapore must be WeWork, with 12 places within the metropolis. I’m not capable of touch upon all of them however my experiences with this well-established worldwide chain have all the time been constructive.
I can extremely suggest the Suntec Tower 5 location which is perched in a wonderful skyscraper and gazes out over town. It’s not the most cost effective at $35/day but it surely provides state-of-the-art services and is a brilliant cool place to work from.
3. The Work Boulevard
For one of the best working view in Singapore, head to The Work Boulevard at Collyer Quay. They’ve 3 places within the metropolis however this specific department seems out over the jetty and the long-lasting Marina Bay Sands – so far as places of work go, it’s nearly as good because it will get!
There’s ample house within the lovely 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 accessible.
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 filled with nice choices for us digital nomads, listed below are my high 3 picks:
- The Ebook Cafe: Combining my love of books and occasional, this nice choice is a refreshing however simply accessible distance from town middle. It’s a pleasant spot near the river that has loads of spacious tables, respectable WiFi, and a calming vibe.
- Free the Robotic: From breakfast to dinner, espresso to cocktails this robot-themed cafe has a unbelievable menu starting from breakfast sandwiches to fish and chips. It’s a full of life however enjoyable place to arrange together with your laptop computer.
- Enchanted Cafe Rangoon Street: An enthralling 24/7 cafe that seems like a classic tea room. There’s a tasty all-day brunch menu filled with every thing you can need and it has a pleasant ambiance 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 take advantage of versatile hours. Whether or not you’re free to discover in the course of the week or preserve weekends open, listed below 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 suggest a avenue meals tour. It’s an effective way to pattern plenty 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 completely different avenue meals and get to go to a standard 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 various, across the metropolis. The most effective was The Battlebox hidden below Fort Canning Park.
This free-to-visit exhibit is a must-visit for historical past lovers. It provides an immersive look into Singapore’s WWII historical past by way of an enormous underground command middle the place hourly excursions take you thru the historical past and tales. Donations are welcome so think about supporting if you happen to can.
3. Discover the Metropolis by Bike
A unbelievable 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 all over the world as one of the best drivers on the planet velocity alongside town’s roads at 200 mph.
Though every thing returns to regular after the busy weekend of racing, among the essential infrastructure is everlasting and open to the general public. You’ll be able to 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 out of doors areas, distinctive shows, and nightly gentle reveals. Don’t miss the long-lasting Supertree Grove, the place towering, plant-covered constructions gentle as much as music every night – it’s really spectacular.
For extra immersive experiences, discover the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in loads of unique vegetation and even a shocking indoor waterfall. It’s a peaceable escape proper within the coronary heart of 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 typically above 80%. Being near the equator, 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 sensible to maintain an umbrella helpful.
With excessive humidity and frequent rain, it will probably usually really feel hotter than the precise temperature. Many vacationers, digital nomads, and locals desire to remain indoors throughout peak noon warmth. February to April is the best time to go to to totally take pleasure in any out of doors actions.
Execs and Cons of Dwelling in Singapore
There’s little question that Singapore is a superb metropolis, however there are each execs and cons to think about as a digital nomad, earlier than selecting it as a base. Right here’s what I discovered from my expertise:
Execs of Dwelling in Singapore
- Environment friendly Public Transport: Singapore has an in depth and dependable public transport system, making it simple to get round.
- Security: Singapore is thought for its low crime fee and strict legal guidelines, so it’s a protected atmosphere for residents and guests alike.
- Multicultural Setting: The town is a melting pot of cultures, providing various meals, festivals, and experiences.
- Excessive High quality of Life: With glorious healthcare, schooling, and infrastructure, Singapore supplies a excessive lifestyle.
- Enterprise Focussed: As a monetary powerhouse, enterprise is prospering in Singapore – it’s completely arrange for digital nomads.
- Ex-Pat Neighborhood: There’s a big ex-pat neighborhood which may also help it really feel like a house from house.
- Proximity to Nature: Regardless of its city setting, Singapore has many great parks, gardens, and nature reserves.
- Westernized Facilities: Lastly, as a former British colony, Singapore has probably the most Westernized tradition I’ve seen in Asia.
Cons of Dwelling in Singapore
- Excessive Value of Dwelling: Working remotely in Singapore could 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 typically results in intense humidity and warmth, which could be uncomfortable if it’s not one thing you’re conversant in.
- Strict Rules: Whereas legal guidelines contribute to security, strict rules can really feel limiting and appear overbearing at instances.
- Quick-Paced Life-style: The fast-paced metropolis life could 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 can 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, climbing the value by 15%-20%.
- Development: My ultimate home sit in Bugis was slighted by the quantity of in depth building taking place on the skyscraper throughout the road. Constructing work is widespread throughout town.
Digital Nomad Visa for Singapore
Singapore doesn’t at the moment provide a particular digital nomad visa, which might make it difficult for distant staff seeking to stay there long-term. As a substitute, 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. Nonetheless, all guests want to make sure their passport is legitimate for at the least six months past their date of entry.
This short-term association is nice for month-long visits however not ultimate for digital nomads in search of 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 need to think about it as a distant working location. Amongst many different qualities, it’s additionally a super base for additional exploration, particularly throughout Southeast Asia.
The town’s various foodie scene and infinite thrilling actions will guarantee that you’ve a lot to deal with your self to when you’ve served your time on the laptop computer! As a digital nomad in Singapore, it’s unattainable to not be impressed by this type of dynamic ambiance and welcoming atmosphere.
