Welcome to my digital nomad information to dwelling in Singapore. If like me, you spend your life on the street, laptop computer in hand, hopping from nation to nation, I’ve acquired a number 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 primarily based in three areas throughout the town meant I acquired to discover lots and was capable of uncover many cool spots which might be typically missed. Let’s get began!
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About Singapore
Singapore is a energetic Southeast Asian city-state, situated 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 incredible 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 It’s a mix of outdated and new and is regarded by many as a monetary powerhouse and gateway to Southeast Asian enterprise and finance.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 caring for 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 infrequently flaunted.
There are ample probabilities to loosen up and discover the town with nice climbing alternatives and plenty of websites of historic and cultural significance to get pleasure from. Considered one of 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.
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 Secure?
Singapore is likely one of the most secure locations I’ve visited to this point, with low crime charges and a welcoming ambiance 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 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 averted through the use of respected companies. Singapore’s strict legal guidelines assist preserve order.
All of the neighborhoods I traveled to felt protected, nevertheless it’s clever to keep away from unfamiliar areas late at night time, simply as I’d advise in any massive metropolis. Staying conscious of your environment and following primary security ideas will higher your probabilities of having a cushty and protected expertise.
Finest Areas to Stay 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 middle 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 a fantastic place to be located because of the encompassing cafes, coworking areas, and lodging choices.
It’s near every little thing, 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 loads of inexperienced areas and a relaxed, residential vibe. It’s perfect for individuals who get pleasure from a quieter spot however nonetheless need fast entry to the town middle. Public transport is dependable, environment friendly, and inexpensive making it simple to get round.
There are many laptop-friendly cafes to arrange store from, perfect for getting by your workload with out distractions. With locations like Alexandra Canal and the native hawker facilities close by, there’s lots 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 singular expertise. It’s a part of the 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 finest pleased hours on the town – to not point out unbelievable 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 a fantastic place for unbiased bookstores and informal cafes that double up as snug spots for distant work.
It’s a quieter space with a cool, retro really feel, excellent for unwinding after a workday. Many digital nomads I do know love Tiong Bahru for the pleasant ambiance, relaxed vibe, and distinctive mix of outdated and new Singapore.
5. Katong
Katong is a residential neighborhood exterior 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 gradual tempo offering loads of alternatives for distant work. Foodies will love the normal 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 (when you fancy!).
Easy methods 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 provides one thing distinctive, so you possibly can select what most closely fits your wants and funds.
SEE ALSO: The place to Keep in Singapore (Finest Areas & Locations)
1. Airbnb: At all times a well-liked choice for brief to mid-term stays, use Airbnb when you’re on the lookout for a completely furnished place. You could find every little thing from funds rooms in individuals’s houses to luxurious residences, many with reductions for weekly or month-to-month stays.
2. Trusted Housesitters: If you’d like a singular, low-cost method to keep in Singapore strive Trusted Housesitters. From private expertise, home sitting is a perfect choice for animal lovers and lets you immerse your self within the metropolis like a neighborhood with out rental prices.
Goats On The Highway readers get a particular 25% low cost by clicking this hyperlink.
3. Fb: Singapore has a number of energetic Fb teams together with ‘Rooms For Lease Singapore‘. These teams supply direct entry to locals and ex-pats with lodging to lease, normally reducing out the intermediary.
4. Reserving.com: A trusty and dependable selection for short-term stays, Reserving.com has a large number of resorts, serviced residences, and hostels. It’s particularly helpful when you want flexibility, as many choices include free cancellation.
Price of Dwelling in Singapore
I’ve to confess, Singapore is likely one of the costlier cities I’ve visited. Costs weren’t insane, however virtually every little thing price a little 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 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 bucks a meal to the best of high-end choices. However, for a median meal out for 2 in a pleasant place, you possibly can count on 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% costlier than in a significant US metropolis. Renting an condo in central Singapore will price round $2500 earlier than utilities.
Quick-term stays on platforms like Airbnb supply a spread of lodging and infrequently have good offers on month-long or prolonged stays. Nonetheless, costs can range broadly relying on the placement you need and the facilities you require.
The typical value per night time of a resort room in Singapore is $212, one thing to pay attention to when you’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 because of a community of environment friendly buses, trains, and taxis. The MRT (Mass Fast Transit) is likely one of the finest I’ve seen all over the world to this point – among the underground stations themselves are even good locations to go to!
You may merely scan any energetic credit score or financial institution card when hopping on and off the buses or going by the metro turnstiles. A bus journey prices round $1.50 and a brief taxi experience utilizing a ride-share app like Seize will run you round $10-$15.
SIM Playing cards and Knowledge
Choosing 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 retailers for giant operators resembling SIMBA, the community I utilized in Singapore and extremely suggest.
You will get an excellent 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 little thing is working earlier than you permit. I acquired 10GB for $15 which lasted me 30 days and it labored rather well.
In the event you plan to hotspot or use a knowledge plan for distant work, take into account upping your month-to-month allowance. Costs are extra affordable the upper up you go. If doubtful, discover a native retailer, as the bulk converse nice English and are pleased to have a chat about your wants whereas within the metropolis.
Cash Saving Ideas for Singapore
Listed below are a couple of ideas to assist maintain prices down in Singapore;
- Use Public Transport: Singapore’s MRT and buses are environment friendly, inexpensive, and canopy most elements 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 get pleasure from.
- Get Again to Nature: There are some fabulous climbing alternatives and loads of recent air to be present in Singapore’s parks and inexperienced areas.
- Safe a Home Sit: Trusted Housesitters is a superb choice when you love animals and wish to save on lodging prices.
- Finances-Pleasant Lodging: Past home sitting, take into account co-living areas or shared residences by Airbnb.
- Negotiate: Whether or not purchasing within the markets or renting an condo, it’s at all times price haggling over a value.
- Restrict Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol is dear in Singapore, so take into account limiting nights out or ingesting at residence.
- Discover Joyful Hours: Joyful hour is a well-liked factor in Singapore with many bars providing each day diminished costs on drinks.
- Store Sensible: Keep away from premium supermarkets and store at native markets or locations like FairPrice.
Coworking Areas in Singapore and WiFi Pace
Singapore has among the quickest and most dependable web speeds on the earth, making it perfect 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. 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 by 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 may at all times be assured of a quiet desk to work from, glorious WiFi, and all of the amenities 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 distinguished coworking house in Singapore needs to 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 suggest the Suntec Tower 5 location which is perched in a superb skyscraper and gazes out over the town. It’s not the most affordable at $35/day nevertheless it provides state-of-the-art amenities and is an excellent 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 areas within the metropolis however this explicit department seems out over the jetty and the enduring Marina Bay Sands – so far as workplaces go, it’s pretty much as good because it will get!
There’s ample house within the lovely lounge for hot-desking and devoted workplaces for individuals who search a extra everlasting residence or some remoted work time. Costs begin at $22/day with 24/7 entry obtainable.
Finest 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 high 3 picks:
- The E book Cafe: Combining my love of books and occasional, this nice choice is a refreshing however simply accessible distance from the town middle. It’s a pleasant spot near the river that has loads of spacious tables, respectable WiFi, and a relaxing vibe.
- Free the Robotic: From breakfast to dinner, espresso to cocktails this robot-themed cafe has a incredible menu starting from breakfast sandwiches to fish and chips. It’s a energetic however enjoyable place to arrange along with your laptop computer.
- Enchanted Cafe Rangoon Highway: A captivating 24/7 cafe that appears like a classic tea room. There’s a tasty all-day brunch menu full of every little 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 benefit from versatile hours. Whether or not you’re free to discover throughout the week or maintain weekends open, listed here are some nice methods to completely get pleasure from Singapore:
1. Take a Personalised Meals Tour
If you wish to dive headfirst into the native meals scene I extremely suggest 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 personalised tour with a neighborhood 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 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 a degree to go to as most 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 an enormous underground command middle the place hourly excursions take you thru the historical past and tales. Donations are welcome so take into account supporting when you can.
3. Discover the Metropolis by Bike
A incredible method 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 method 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 largest Method 1 races of the season descends on the streets of Singapore. The Singapore Grand Prix is a big occasion that pulls guests from all over the world as one of the best drivers on the planet velocity alongside the town’s roads at 200 mph.
Though every little thing returns to regular after the busy weekend of racing, among the most important infrastructure is everlasting and open to the general public. You may 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 mild reveals. Don’t miss the enduring Supertree Grove, the place towering, plant-covered buildings mild 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 get pleasure from 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 typically above 80%. Being near the equator, the town experiences little seasonal variation.
Rain is widespread, particularly from November to February throughout 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 could actually sometimes really feel hotter than the precise temperature. Many vacationers, digital nomads, and locals choose to remain indoors throughout peak noon warmth. February to April is the perfect time to go to to completely get pleasure from any outside actions.
Execs and Cons of Dwelling in Singapore
There’s little doubt that Singapore is a superb metropolis, however there are each professionals and cons to contemplate 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 understood for its low crime charge and strict legal guidelines, so it’s a protected setting for residents and guests alike.
- Multicultural Setting: 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 lifestyle.
- Enterprise Focussed: As a monetary powerhouse, enterprise is flourishing in Singapore – it’s completely arrange for digital nomads.
- Ex-Pat Neighborhood: There’s a big ex-pat group which can assist it really feel like a house from residence.
- 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 Price of Dwelling: Working remotely in Singapore will be costly, with excessive lodging and eating prices.
- Restricted House: Many residences 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 will be uncomfortable if it’s not one thing you’re conversant in.
- Strict Rules: Whereas legal guidelines contribute to security, strict laws can really feel limiting and appear overbearing at instances.
- Quick-Paced Life-style: 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 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 worth by 15%-20%.
- Building: My closing 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 the town.
Digital Nomad Visa for Singapore
Singapore doesn’t at the moment supply a particular digital nomad visa, which might make it difficult for distant employees seeking to dwell 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 not less than six months past their date of entry.
This non permanent association is nice for month-long visits however not perfect 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 newest entry necessities and updates, consult with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore.
In Conclusion
I hope my digital nomad information to Singapore has highlighted why you must take into account it as a distant working location. In my view, it’s one of many finest cities in Asia to tick off your journey checklist. Amongst many different qualities, it’s additionally an excellent base for additional exploration, particularly throughout Southeast Asia.
The town’s numerous foodie scene and countless thrilling actions will guarantee that you’ve got lots to deal with your self to when you’ve served your time on the laptop computer! As a digital nomad in Singapore, it’s not possible to not be impressed by this type of dynamic ambiance and welcoming setting.
