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 bought numerous 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 primarily based in three areas throughout town meant I bought to discover a lot and was in a position to uncover many cool spots which are usually 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 full of thrilling sights, making exploring straightforward.
Well-known for being clear and secure, Singapore has a implausible 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, numerous 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. Other than taking good care of some pretty properties and pets, feeling settled allowed me to crack on with loads of distant work.
Residing 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 chill out and discover town with nice mountain 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 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 without doubt 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 considerations throughout my keep.
Whereas severe crime is uncommon, it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to be cautious of minor scams. Frequent points comparable to 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 secure, nevertheless it’s smart to keep away from unfamiliar areas late at evening, simply as I’d advise in any large metropolis. Staying conscious of your environment and following primary security ideas will higher your probabilities of having a snug and secure expertise.
Finest 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 simple and there are many thrilling methods to spend your downtime. Listed here are 5 nice areas to think about dwelling in Singapore:
1. Bugis
Bugis is a busy part of town heart recognized 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 important place to be located due to the encompassing cafes, coworking areas, and lodging choices.
It’s near every little thing, with straightforward MRT entry, nice buying 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 only a few 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 many who get pleasure from a quieter spot however nonetheless need fast entry to town heart. Public transport is dependable, environment friendly, and inexpensive making it straightforward 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 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 historical custom meets the fashionable world with startling contrasts all over the place.
My high issues to do had 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 a few of the greatest joyful hours on the town – to not point out unimaginable views of the skyscrapers!
4. Tiong Bahru
Tiong Bahru is one in all Singapore’s oldest neighborhoods, well-known for its artwork deco buildings and hip, inventive scene. It’s an important place for impartial 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 primary metropolis limits. Right here, you’ll discover colourful shophouses and heritage colonial bungalows which supply 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 good place to go to the tze char stalls and to pattern some frog porridge (for those who fancy!).
The way to Discover Lodging in Singapore
Listed here 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 gives one thing distinctive, so you’ll be able to select what most closely fits your wants and price range.
SEE ALSO: The place to Keep in Singapore (Finest Areas & Locations)
1. Airbnb: All the time a well-liked choice for brief to mid-term stays, use Airbnb for those who’re in search of a totally furnished place. You will discover every little thing from price range 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 novel, low-cost solution 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 a neighborhood 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, normally chopping out the intermediary.
4. Reserving.com: A trusty and dependable selection for short-term stays, Reserving.com has a large number of resorts, serviced flats, and hostels. It’s particularly helpful for those who want flexibility, as many choices include free cancellation.
Price of Residing in Singapore
I’ve to confess, Singapore is without doubt one of the dearer cities I’ve visited. Costs weren’t insane, however nearly every little thing value a bit of 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 buying costs are pretty aligned with what I’d anticipate in most main cities. Throughout the regular margin, a weekly store in Singapore doesn’t differ too a lot from my present digital nomad spot – Austin, Texas.
Residing in Singapore supplies the total scope of eating potentialities; 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 anticipate to pay round $70.
Lodging Prices
Lodging prices in Singapore will be considerably increased than in lots of cities, with long-term leases round 30% dearer than in a significant US metropolis. Renting an house in central Singapore will value round $2500 earlier than utilities.
Quick-term stays on platforms like Airbnb provide a variety of lodging and sometimes have good offers on month-long or prolonged stays. Nonetheless, costs can differ extensively relying on the placement you need and the facilities you require.
The common value per evening of a lodge room in Singapore is $212, one thing to pay attention to for those who’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 Fast Transit) is without doubt one of the greatest I’ve seen all over the world thus far – a few of the underground stations themselves are even good locations to go to!
You’ll be able to 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 Information
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 comparable to SIMBA, the community I utilized in Singapore and extremely suggest.
You will get a great quantity of knowledge 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 little thing is working earlier than you allow. I bought 10GB for $15 which lasted me 30 days and it labored rather well.
Should you plan to hotspot or use a knowledge plan for distant work, contemplate 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 joyful to have a chat about your wants whereas within the metropolis.
Cash Saving Ideas for Singapore
Listed here are just a few ideas to assist preserve prices down in Singapore;
- Use Public Transport: Singapore’s MRT and buses are environment friendly, inexpensive, 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 sights to get pleasure from.
- Get Again to Nature: There are some fabulous mountain 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 good choice for those who love animals and need to save on lodging prices.
- Price range-Pleasant Lodging: Past home sitting, contemplate co-living areas or shared flats by Airbnb.
- Negotiate: Whether or not buying within the markets or renting an house, it’s all the time price haggling over a value.
- Restrict Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol is pricey in Singapore, so contemplate limiting nights out or ingesting at house.
- Discover Joyful Hours: Joyful hour is a well-liked factor in Singapore with many bars providing each day lowered 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 a few of the quickest and most dependable web speeds on the earth, making it perfect 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 stable and infrequently has outages. Clean video calls, uploads, and different on-line work with out interruptions create dream situations for digital nomads. There are additionally many wonderful coworking areas, right here’s just a few 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 Residing in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
You’ll be able to all the time be assured of a quiet desk to work from, wonderful 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 needs to be WeWork, with 12 areas within the metropolis. I’m not in a position to 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 nevertheless it gives state-of-the-art services and is an excellent 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 explicit department appears out over the jetty and the long-lasting Marina Bay Sands – so far as places of work go, it’s pretty much as good because it will get!
There’s ample house 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.
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 below 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 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 implausible 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 Highway: A captivating 24/7 cafe that looks 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
Residing in Singapore as a digital nomad means there are many methods to unwind after work or profit from versatile hours. Whether or not you’re free to discover throughout the week or preserve weekends open, listed below are some nice methods to totally 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 avenue meals tour. It’s a good way to pattern numerous 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 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 a degree to go to as lots of the poignant websites, of which there are various, across the metropolis. Probably the greatest was The Battlebox hidden underneath Fort Canning Park.
This free-to-visit exhibit is a must-visit for historical past fanatics. It gives an immersive look into Singapore’s WWII historical past by an enormous underground command heart the place hourly excursions take you thru the historical past and tales. Donations are welcome so contemplate supporting for those who can.
3. Discover the Metropolis by Bike
A implausible solution 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 solution to get to know Singapore? Click on right here for extra details about this wonderful small-group tour.
4. Stand in Pole Place
Yearly one of many largest Components 1 races of the season descends on the streets of Singapore. The Singapore Grand Prix is a big occasion that draws guests from all over the world as the most effective drivers on the planet pace alongside town’s roads at 200 mph.
Though every little thing returns to regular after the busy weekend of racing, a few of the fundamental 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 monitor. 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 mild exhibits. Don’t miss the long-lasting Supertree Grove, the place towering, plant-covered constructions mild 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 get pleasure from loads of unique vegetation and even a surprising 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 usually above 80%. Being near the equator, town experiences little seasonal variation.
Rain is frequent, 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 smart to maintain an umbrella helpful.
With excessive humidity and frequent rain, it may sometimes 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 get pleasure from any out of doors actions.
Execs and Cons of Residing in Singapore
There’s little question that Singapore is an excellent metropolis, however there are each professionals 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 Residing in Singapore
- Environment friendly Public Transport: Singapore has an intensive and dependable public transport system, making it straightforward to get round.
- Security: Singapore is thought for its low crime fee and strict legal guidelines, so it’s a secure surroundings 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 wonderful healthcare, schooling, and infrastructure, Singapore supplies a excessive way of life.
- Enterprise Focussed: As a monetary powerhouse, enterprise is flourishing in Singapore – it’s completely arrange for digital nomads.
- Ex-Pat Group: There’s a big ex-pat group which may 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 essentially the most Westernized tradition I’ve seen in Asia.
Cons of Residing in Singapore
- Excessive Price of Residing: Working remotely in Singapore will be costly, with excessive lodging and eating prices.
- Restricted Area: 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 laws can really feel limiting and appear overbearing at instances.
- 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, mountain climbing the value by 15%-20%.
- Building: My remaining home sit in Bugis was slighted by the quantity of in depth development taking place on the skyscraper throughout the road. Constructing work is frequent throughout town.
Digital Nomad Visa for Singapore
Singapore doesn’t at the moment provide a particular digital nomad visa, which may make it difficult for distant staff seeking to stay there long-term. As a substitute, most digital nomads are in a position to 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 very least six months past their date of entry.
This short-term association is nice for month-long visits however not perfect 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 newest entry necessities and updates, check with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore.
In Conclusion
I hope my digital nomad information to Singapore has highlighted why it’s best to contemplate it as a distant working location. For my part, it’s one of many greatest cities in Asia to tick off your journey listing. Amongst many different qualities, it’s additionally a really perfect base for additional exploration, particularly throughout Southeast Asia.
The town’s numerous foodie scene and infinite thrilling actions will guarantee that you’ve got 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 not possible to not be impressed by this type of dynamic ambiance and welcoming surroundings.
