Singapore, Singapore - Complete City Guide
🌟 Overview
Singapore stands as the crown jewel of Southeast Asia for digital nomads seeking a perfect blend of Asian culture and Western efficiency. This ultra-modern city-state offers world-class infrastructure, lightning-fast internet, and a melting pot of cultures that creates an incredibly dynamic work environment. From bustling hawker centers to sleek coworking spaces in gleaming skyscrapers, Singapore provides the ideal backdrop for productive remote work.
The city attracts ambitious nomads who value reliability, safety, and premium amenities. While it's pricier than other Southeast Asian destinations, Singapore compensates with unparalleled connectivity, a thriving business ecosystem, and seamless daily operations that let you focus entirely on your work. The strategic location also makes it perfect for exploring the wider region during extended stays.
Best for: Business-focused nomads, those seeking premium infrastructure, professionals wanting to network in Asia's financial hub, and nomads who prioritize safety and efficiency over budget travel.
Key highlights:
- Exceptional internet speeds [average 250+ Mbps]
- English-speaking environment
- World-class healthcare system
- Strategic gateway to Asia
- Incredible food scene
- Zero tolerance for petty crime
Best time to visit: Year-round destination, though March-October offers slightly less rainfall. Avoid Chinese New Year [Jan/Feb] when many businesses close.
📍 Quick Facts
- Population: 5.9 million
- Language[s]: English [primary], Mandarin, Malay, Tamil
- Currency: Singapore Dollar [SGD]
- Time zone: GMT+8
- Climate overview: Tropical, hot and humid year-round [24-32°C], monsoon seasons from Dec-Mar and Jun-Sep
💰 Cost of Living
Monthly estimates:
Accommodation:
- Budget [shared apartment/dorm]: $800-1,200 USD / €700-1,100 / £600-950
- Mid-range [1BR apartment/nice studio]: $2,000-3,500 USD / €1,800-3,200 / £1,500-2,700
- Luxury [premium 1-2BR]: $4,000-8,000+ USD / €3,600-7,200+ / £3,000-6,000+
Food & Dining:
- Budget [hawker centers, local food]: $300-500 USD / €270-450 / £230-380
- Mid-range [mix of local and restaurants]: $600-1,000 USD / €540-900 / £450-750
- Upscale [frequent fine dining]: $1,200-2,000+ USD / €1,080-1,800+ / £900-1,500+
Transportation: $80-150 USD / €70-135 / £60-115 Entertainment: $300-600 USD / €270-540 / £230-450 Coworking space membership: $200-500 USD / €180-450 / £150-380
Total estimated monthly budget:
- Budget: $2,500-3,500 USD / €2,250-3,150 / £1,900-2,650
- Comfortable: $4,000-6,000 USD / €3,600-5,400 / £3,000-4,500
- Luxury: $7,000+ USD / €6,300+ / £5,250+
🏢 Coworking Spaces
The Working Capitol
- Price range: $350-500/month
- Location: Keong Saik Road, Chinatown
- Key features: Boutique space, excellent networking events, premium amenities, rooftop bar
JustCo
- Price range: $280-450/month
- Location: Multiple locations [Marina Bay, Orchard, Robinson Road]
- Key features: Flexible memberships, modern design, great for corporates and startups
WeWork
- Price range: $300-600/month
- Location: Multiple prime locations
- Key features: Global network, consistent quality, strong community events
Grain
- Price range: $200-400/month
- Location: Tiong Bahru
- Key features: Local favorite, cozy atmosphere, excellent coffee, affordable rates
Collision 8
- Price range: $250-450/month
- Location: Multiple locations including CBD
- Key features: Startup-focused, investor connections, regular pitch events
Foundry
- Price range: $180-350/month
- Location: Tai Seng
- Key features: Large space, good value, established community
The Great Room
- Price range: $400-700/month
- Location: Centennial Tower, Raffles Place
- Key features: Premium location, luxury amenities, corporate atmosphere
🏠 Best Neighborhoods for Digital Nomads
Chinatown/Tanjong Pagar
- Vibe: Historic charm meets modern development, excellent food scene
- Pros: Great mix of traditional and contemporary, excellent MRT access, reasonable rent, fantastic hawker food
- Cons: Can be touristy during the day, limited nightlife
- Typical rent: $1,800-3,200 USD/month for 1BR
Tiong Bahru
- Vibe: Hipster paradise with indie cafes and heritage shophouses
- Pros: Trendy cafe culture, unique character, great for creatives, walkable
- Cons: Limited nightlife, can be pricey for dining, smaller apartments
- Typical rent: $2,200-3,800 USD/month for 1BR
Marina Bay/CBD
- Vibe: Ultra-modern financial district with premium everything
- Pros: Top-tier amenities, easy commute, impressive skyline views, luxury shopping
- Cons: Very expensive, limited local culture, quiet on weekends
- Typical rent: $3,500-7,000+ USD/month for 1BR
Holland Village/Buona Vista
- Vibe: Expat-heavy area with international dining and bars
- Pros: Strong expat community, good nightlife, international schools nearby
- Cons: Less authentically Singaporean, higher Western prices
- Typical rent: $2,500-4,200 USD/month for 1BR
Katong/East Coast
- Vibe: Peranakan heritage area near the beach with local flavor
- Pros: More spacious apartments, beachfront access, authentic local culture, good value
- Cons: Further from city center, fewer coworking options nearby
- Typical rent: $1,600-3,000 USD/month for 1BR
📶 Internet & Connectivity
- Average internet speed: 250+ Mbps [among world's fastest]
- Reliability: Exceptional - 99.9%+ uptime is standard
- Best providers: Singtel, StarHub, M1, MyRepublic
- Café wifi situation: Excellent in most cafes, shopping malls, and public spaces. Many offer 50+ Mbps speeds
- SIM card options:
- Singtel: $25-50/month for unlimited data plans
- StarHub: $20-45/month with good data allowances
- M1: $15-40/month, competitive tourist packages
- Circles.Life: $20-35/month, digital-first provider
- Available at airport, convenience stores, and provider outlets
✈️ Visa Information
- Visa-free stay duration: 30-90 days depending on nationality [most Western countries get 90 days]
- Tourist visa details: Available on arrival or online [SG Arrival Card required]
- Digital nomad visa: Tech.Pass available for tech professionals earning $500K+ annually
- Visa extension options: Tourist visits can be extended up to 89 additional days [total max ~6 months]
- Requirements: Passport valid 6+ months, proof of onward travel, sufficient funds [$3,000+ recommended], return ticket
Note: Singapore has strict laws - ensure all documentation is accurate and complete.
🚇 Transportation
Getting from airport:
- MRT [East West Line]: $2.50, 45-60 minutes to city center
- Airport Shuttle: $10-15, shared service to hotels
- Taxi: $25-40, 30-45 minutes depending on destination
- Grab: $20-35, convenient app-based option
Public transportation:
- MRT [subway]: $1.50-2.50 per journey, extremely efficient and clean
- Bus: $1-2 per journey, comprehensive network
- EZ-Link Card: Reloadable card for all public transport
- SimplyGo: Contactless payment with bank cards
Bike-sharing:
- SG Bike, Anywheel: $0.50-1 per 15 minutes
Taxi/ride-sharing:
- Grab: Primary ride-hailing app
- Gojek: Alternative option
- ComfortDelGro: Traditional taxi company with app
🍜 Food & Dining
Local cuisine highlights:
- Hainanese Chicken Rice [national dish]
- Laksa [spicy coconut noodle soup]
- Char Kway Teow [stir-fried rice noodles]
- Chili Crab and Black Pepper Crab
- Bak Kut Teh [pork rib soup]
- Rojak [fruit and vegetable salad]
Typical meal costs:
- Hawker centers: $3-6 USD per meal
- Food courts: $5-10 USD per meal
- Casual restaurants: $15-25 USD per meal
- Mid-range dining: $30-50 USD per meal
- Fine dining: $80-150+ USD per meal
Best areas for restaurants:
- Chinatown: Traditional local food and heritage eateries
- Little India: Authentic Indian cuisine and spices
- Arab Street: Middle Eastern and Malay specialties
- Clarke Quay/Boat Quay: International dining and nightlife
- Orchard Road: Upscale restaurants and international chains
Dietary options: Excellent for vegetarian/vegan [especially in Little India], halal options widely available, many international cuisines represented.
Street food scene: World-renowned hawker centers like Maxwell Food Centre, Newton Food Centre, and Lau Pa Sat offer incredible variety at budget prices.
🎯 Things to Do
Top attractions:
- Marina Bay Sands SkyPark and Infinity Pool
- Gardens by the Bay and Cloud Forest
- Singapore Flyer observation wheel
- Sentosa Island beaches and Universal Studios
- Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
- National Gallery and ArtScience Museum
Free activities:
- Explore ethnic neighborhoods [Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street]
- Walk the Southern Ridges park connector
- Visit the Merlion Park
- Browse local markets and temples
- Enjoy free concerts at Esplanade outdoor theatre
Day trips:
- Bintan Island, Indonesia [1-hour ferry]
- Johor Bahru, Malaysia [1-hour by bus]
- Malacca, Malaysia [3-4 hours by bus]
- Batam, Indonesia [1-hour ferry]
Outdoor activities:
- East Coast Park cycling and beach activities
- MacRitchie Reservoir treetop walk
- Pulau Ubin island exploration
- Rock climbing at various indoor facilities
- Dragon boating and water sports
Social activities:
- Join networking events through Nomad Connect
- Attend coworking space social hours
- Participate in weekend markets and festivals
- Join sports clubs and activity groups
🏥 Healthcare
- Healthcare quality: World-class, ranked among top 10 globally
- Medical insurance recommendations: Comprehensive international coverage recommended [$150-300/month]
- Hospital options:
- Singapore General Hospital [public, excellent]
- Mount Elizabeth Hospital [private]
- Raffles Hospital [private, popular with expats]
- Pharmacy availability: Excellent - Guardian, Watsons, Unity pharmacies everywhere
- Average consultation costs: $50-150 USD for private GP visits, $20-40 USD for polyclinics
🛡️ Safety
- Overall safety rating: 9.5/10 - one of the world's safest cities
- Areas to avoid: Generally none, but exercise normal caution in Geylang late at night
- Common scams: Very rare; fake money changers near tourist areas, overpriced tourist traps
- Emergency numbers:
- Police: 999
- Ambulance/Fire: 995
- Non-emergency Police: 1800-225-0000
- Safety tips: Singapore has extremely strict laws - avoid drugs completely, don't jaywalk, respect local customs, keep important documents secure
👥 Community & Networking
Singapore boasts one of Asia's most vibrant digital nomad and expat communities, with thousands of remote workers from around the world calling the city home. The community is highly professional and business-focused, reflecting the city's status as a regional financial and tech hub.
Nomad Connect community: Join Nomad Connect to tap into Singapore's thriving digital nomad scene. The platform hosts regular networking events, skill-sharing sessions, and social meetups specifically designed for remote workers. From rooftop networking sessions in Marina Bay to casual coffee meetups in Tiong Bahru, Nomad Connect is your gateway to finding like-minded professionals and building meaningful connections in the Lion City.
Local meetup groups and networking events:
- Singapore Entrepreneurs Organization meetups
- Tech Tuesday networking events
- StartupGrind Singapore monthly gatherings
- Women in Tech Singapore
- Singapore FinTech Association events
- Various coworking space community events
Coworking space community events: Most premium coworking spaces host weekly networking sessions, monthly speaker series, and quarterly social events. The Working Capitol and JustCo are particularly known for their community-building activities.
How to meet other nomads: Connect through Nomad Connect events and meetups, join coworking spaces with strong community programs, attend tech and entrepreneurship events, participate in weekend activities like dragon boat racing or hiking groups, and engage with the startup ecosystem through accelerator programs and pitch nights.
📱 Essential Apps
Transportation:
- Citymapper or SG Buses - public transport navigation
- Grab - ride-hailing and food delivery
- Gojek - alternative ride-hailing
Food delivery:
- GrabFood - most comprehensive
- Foodpanda - wide selection
- Deliveroo - premium options
Banking/payment:
- PayLah! [DBS] - local digital wallet
- PayNow - instant bank transfers
- Revolut/Wise - international banking
Language learning:
- Not typically needed as English is primary language
Local services:
- Kaodim - home services marketplace
- PropertyGuru - apartment hunting
- Carousell - local marketplace for buying/selling
💡 Pro Tips
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Get an EZ-Link card immediately - Essential for all public transport and accepted at many retail locations. Top up easily at any MRT station.
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Master the hawker center etiquette - Place tissue packets to reserve tables, return trays after eating, and always have small bills ready [$2-5 notes are perfect].
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Download offline maps - While connectivity is excellent, having offline maps helps navigate the extensive underground mall networks and MRT connections.
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Embrace the mall culture - Shopping malls aren't just for shopping - they're social hubs with coworking spaces, events, and excellent air conditioning during hot days.
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Time your apartment hunting - Best deals available during Chinese New Year [Jan/Feb] and mid-year [June/July] when many expats relocate.
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Network strategically - Singapore's business culture values formal networking. Attend industry events and carry business cards - they're still widely used.
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Take advantage of the location - Use Singapore as your base for exploring Southeast Asia. Weekend trips to neighboring countries are affordable and easy.
❌ Cons & Challenges
High cost of living: Singapore consistently ranks among the world's most expensive cities. Accommodation, dining out, and entertainment can quickly drain budgets, especially compared to other Southeast Asian destinations.
Limited nightlife variety: While safe and regulated, nightlife options can feel sanitized and expensive. The city lacks the raw, diverse energy found in places like Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City.
Strict regulations: The fam