Moving to
Singapore
Moving to Singapore: one person needs about $2,800/month in Singapore (a family about $6,500), the top personal income-tax rate is 18% — roughly $57,434 take-home on a $60,000 salary — and there is no dedicated digital-nomad visa. Permanent residency takes about 2 years, and citizenship about 2.
Singapore is Asia's most frictionless place to live if you can afford it: spotless, safe to walk at 3am, English-official, and 45 minutes from a world-class airport that puts all of Asia within reach. It's also brutally expensive (housing and cars especially) and famously regulated. It draws finance, tech, and regional-HQ talent who value efficiency, safety, and family-friendliness over cost.
Last updated August 2026 · How we calculate this
Singapore by the numbers
Relative scores across cost, safety, healthcare, quality of life and connectivity (higher is better).
Why move to Singapore
- Safest, cleanest major city
- English official, super efficient
- Gateway to all of Asia
The catch
- Extremely expensive rent and cars
- Hot, humid year-round
- Strict rules, small physical footprint
Take-home pay
Net salary in Singapore on a $60k gross, after income tax and social security:
Low progressive resident rates; foreigners on work passes make no CPF contributions.
Cost of living · Singapore
Average all-in monthly cost in USD — estimates for guidance.
Compare cities →Visa & residency
No nomad visa; professionals move on an Employment Pass or the high-earner Tech.Pass.
There's no nomad visa, so you need an employer-sponsored Employment Pass (from S$5,600/month in 2026, rising in 2027), the self-sponsored ONE Pass for top earners (S$30k/month), or Tech.Pass; permanent residence is possible after a few years but selective.
How can I move here? → Where can my passport go? →Economy & everyday life
The richest country in this batch by far — GDP-per-capita PPP of about $163,000 — with low taxes but famously high costs: rent, cars, and schooling are brutal, so even a big salary can feel tight. Inflation is very low at roughly 0.9%, so at least prices are stable at that elevated level. Life expectancy is a world-leading 83.3; healthcare is excellent but not free — locals use subsidised public hospitals and mandatory savings, while expats rely on private cover and top-tier private clinics.
Healthcare
World Bank data, most recent available — shows how well the system is resourced, not what you'll personally pay.
Safety
US State Department advisory level, country-wide — general guidance, not neighbourhood-specific. Full advisory →
Education
World Bank data, most recent available — learning score reflects harmonised international test performance.
Connectivity
World Bank data, most recent available.
Getting a passport
Compare all countries →PR and citizenship both discretionary (ICA); PR has no fixed residence threshold, min 2 yrs PR before citizenship; must renounce prior nationality.
By residence — confirm with the official authority.
Best time to go
Full climate →Average daily temperature by month · 2023 (Open-Meteo).
Where expats live in Singapore
Cost of living by city
All cities →All-in monthly cost for one person — tap a city for the full breakdown. Figures are averages, for guidance.
Living in Singapore
Healthcare
Among the best in the world with elite public and private hospitals (Mount Elizabeth, Raffles), but it isn't free for foreigners, so employer or private insurance is essential and out-of-pocket costs are high.
Money & banking
Opening an account (DBS, OCBC, UOB) is easy with an Employment Pass and address, digital onboarding is slick, PayNow and cards are universal, and the Singapore dollar is rock-stable.
Internet
World-leading, with cheap near-universal 1-10 Gbps fiber and flawless 5G, and coworking everywhere (JustCo, WeWork), though nomads without a work pass can't legally base here.
Etiquette & culture
Greetings, tipping and the taboos to dodge — fit in fast. Open the guide →
On arrival
Full essentials →Getting there
Flight distances →Singapore Changi (SIN) is one of the best-connected airports on the planet, with nonstop flights across Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America — arriving and leaving is as easy as it gets.
One of the safest cities in the world, with very low crime.
Dial 999 for police, ambulance or fire.
Best for well-paid finance and tech professionals and families who'll pay a premium for safety, efficiency, and connectivity.
Your move to Singapore — roadmap
Key terms
- Effective tax rate
- The share of your gross income actually lost to income tax and social contributions combined — almost always lower than the headline top tax bracket.
- Take-home pay
- What actually reaches your account after income tax and employee social contributions are taken off your gross salary.
- Tax residency
- The country entitled to tax your worldwide income — usually where you spend 183 days or more in a year, though the exact test varies by country.
- Permanent residency
- The right to live and work in a country indefinitely — the stage before citizenship, and those years usually count toward naturalization.
- Cost of living
- The all-in monthly spend for one person — rent, food, transport and bills — in the country's main relocation city.
Moving to Singapore — FAQ
Is there income tax in Singapore?
Yes. Singapore taxes income on progressive brackets. On a $60,000 salary the effective rate is about 4.3%, leaving roughly $57,434.
Can digital nomads get a visa for Singapore?
Singapore has no dedicated digital-nomad visa. No nomad visa; professionals move on an Employment Pass or the high-earner Tech.Pass.
How do you get residency in Singapore?
There's no nomad visa, so you need an employer-sponsored Employment Pass (from S$5,600/month in 2026, rising in 2027), the self-sponsored ONE Pass for top earners (S$30k/month), or Tech.Pass; permanent residence is possible after a few years but selective.
How much does it cost to live in Singapore?
A single person needs roughly $2,800/month in Singapore, and a family around $6,500/month, all-in.
Is tap water safe to drink in Singapore?
Yes — tap water in Singapore is generally safe to drink.