Pros and cons of living in Singapore

A global business hub with a vibrant expat community, this city-state has long been an attractive destination for UK nationals looking to move abroad. But what are the pros and cons of living in Singapore?

Well, that’s what we’re here for! Keep reading to discover why Singapore is a popular spot for expats and the drawbacks this city has for Brits looking to relocate.

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Pros and cons of living in Singapore - An overview

You can find a summary of the pros and cons of moving to Singapore below. Don’t worry, we’ll go into each one later in the article.

Pros	Cons
High standard of living	Costly rent prices
Business hub	Expensive healthcare costs
Safety and low crime rate	Small country with limited space
Great transportation system	Strict laws
Large expat community	Irregular seasons
Foodie haven	Demanding work culture

Pros of living in Singapore

Recently ranked as the top expat destination in Asia,¹ there are many advantages of moving to this city from the UK. You can find some of the main pros below:

High standard of living

The high standard of living in Singapore means it consistently ranks well in global indexes for quality of life. Thanks to the strong economy, there are also numerous job opportunities (more on this later) and high salaries compared to other countries in the region.²

Singapore’s public services are incredibly efficient with a huge focus on keeping the city clean and maintaining public hygiene. All these things mean expats can enjoy a high quality of life.

💡 Read more: Can you keep your UK bank account when moving abroad?

Business hub

To say Singapore is a global hub for business would be putting it lightly. Numerous multinational corporations have a presence in the city, while the Singapore government leads with a pro-business policy that financially supports organisations in their growth.³

These incentives make the city an attractive destination for expats looking to go further in their careers. In fact, Singapore is widely recognised as one of the easiest places to do business in the world.

Safety and low crime rate

Thanks to a low crime rate and high penalties for criminal offences, Singapore is considered extremely safe to live in. Petty crimes are low and residents generally feel safe walking alone in the city both day and night.⁴

The city-state is also considered the safest place to live in Asia,⁵ which makes it a great place not just for single expats, but those looking to put more permanent roots down.

Great transportation system

Singapore boasts an efficient and well-connected public transport system which makes it easy for expats to get around the city. Buses and trains are affordable, and taxis are relatively inexpensive. This is largely due to the high costs of owning and running a car in the city.

Not only is it easy to get around Singapore, but the city-state is a great jumping spot for onward travel. There are excellent travel connections to China, Thailand, Australia and India, so expats can explore more of the world while they’re out there.

Large expat community

With an extensive and vibrant community of expats from all across the world, it doesn’t take long to meet new people in Singapore. Many even describe the city as being designed exclusively with the expat in mind.

Because of the large expat community, many of the essential relocation processes are relatively straightforward, like opening a bank account in Singapore as a non-resident. Financial services and banks in Singapore are used to helping expats so will be able to guide you through what to do.

You can also check out non-bank alternatives, like the Wise account, to manage your money in Singapore.

🚀 Sign up with Wise for free

Foodie haven

The diversity of Singapore’s population is reflected in the city’s everyday life, especially the food. This makes Singapore a foodie haven for those wishing to sample anything from Chinese and Malay, to Indian and Western cuisine.

Visit some of Singapore’s hawker centres to tuck into some of the best street food in the world, keeping in mind that some of these stalls might only accept cash over card. They’re a popular choice for cheap lunch, even with locals.

💡 Read more: Best ways to spend money while travelling abroad

Cons of living in Singapore

There are also a number of drawbacks to living in Singapore, some of which we’ve explored below.

Costly rent prices

Rental prices are high in Singapore, especially since the small island has a huge population. Expats can expect to pay more for living in the city centre, with housing rent surges continuing to rise. We’ve covered the best places to live in Singapore later in the article.

As well as rent, the cost of living in Singapore is very high. Recent data from 2024 ranks the city-state as the second most expensive place to live in the world.⁶ Owning a car in the city is extremely costly, with most expats taking advantage of the efficient public transport system to get around.

Expensive healthcare costs

Unless you are a permanent resident or Singaporean citizen, you won’t have access to the Singapore public health system. This means expats will need to cover all their healthcare costs themselves. Many of those living in the city, including two-thirds of Singapore’s population, are thought to have some form of private medical care.⁷

Costs can vary between public and private facilities, and you may have to pay upfront for consultation costs and prescriptions for medication. Insurance companies will typically reimburse these funds but these upfront costs are always important to consider.

Small country with limited space

The high population density and limited land of this small island means that it can get very crowded. Living spaces are generally smaller compared to Western countries, with pavements packed and busy.

The smaller size of Singapore also means there are fewer options for entertainment and leisure, compared to its bigger Asian counterparts. Some expats prefer Hong Kong’s parks and green spaces, which there are significantly less of in Singapore.

Strict laws

Singapore’s strict laws and regulations can also be a significant drawback for many expats. Vaping is completely outlawed and it’s forbidden to sell chewing gum. Connecting to someone else’s Wi-Fi without their permission is also considered a serious crime.

Even though Singapore decriminalised same-sex relationships in 2022, it amended the constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman only, effectively blocking the path towards LGBTQ+ marriage.

Irregular seasons

With a tropical climate, living in Singapore is considerably hotter than in the UK. However, unlike our four seasons, Singapore is known for having two monsoon seasons separated by inter-monsoonal periods.

Not only can you expect high and uniform temperatures, but also high humidity and heavy tropical downpours. Rainfalls can last all day and happen suddenly, meaning expats are never without an umbrella handy.

Demanding work culture

Many Singaporeans work long hours that exceed the standard workweek. There is often a strong emphasis on performance within companies, especially within the finance, law and technology sectors.

Expats might have to work harder to maintain a good work-life balance and avoid an overwhelming workload. That being said, a move towards flexible working arrangements and an improved work-life balance has increasingly become a norm in Singapore.⁸

Quick facts about Singapore

These quick facts about the city-state go hand in hand when weighing up the pros and cons of living in Singapore.

💰 Currency	Singapore Dollar (SGD)
👥 Population⁹	5.8 million
🗣️ Language(s)	English (main), Chinese, Malay and Tamil
📊 Number of expats¹⁰	1.8 million
🇬🇧 Number of British nationals¹¹	45,000
☁️ Weather	Tropical climate with high temperatures, heavy rain and monsoon seasons.

What’s the best place to live in Singapore?

From certified expat hangouts to quieter family suburbs, there are tons of places to live in Singapore depending on what you’re looking for.

You could try:

• Holland Village, the original expat spot favoured for its central location
• River Valley and the Quays, popular with singles and child-free couples
• Bukit Timah Road, an ‘expat’ belt with international schools
• East Coast, a family home base close to nature
• Tiong Bahru, one of Singapore’s oldest residential areas with a laid-back atmosphere
• Tanjong Pagar, close to the main Central Business District
• Woodlands, a family spot with a suburban feel
• The Heartlands, known as the ‘real’ Singapore by locals
• Orchard (and Tanglin), synonymous with luxury living in the heart of Singapore.
• Sentosa, best-known for luxury expat housing

Is Singapore safe?

Yes, Singapore is considered very safe. Not only do people feel safe walking alone in the city both day and night, but levels of crime remain low in the city.⁴ Strictly enforced laws and high health and safety standards also make the safety of this city-state an attractive option for UK expats.

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1. Preply - Singapore number 1 expat destination in Asia
2. Numbeo - Singapore salaries
3. EDB Singapore - Singapore government helping businesses
4. Numbeo - Crime in Singapore
5. World Population Review - safest countries in Asia
6. Mercer - most expensive cities in the world
7. AXA - health insurance in Singapore
8. TODAY - work-life balance in Singapore
9. Worldometer - Singapore population
10. Statista - Singapore expats
11. British Chamber of Commerce - British nationals in Singapore

Sources last checked on date: 20-March-2025