Life in Singapore: the good and the bad?
Posted by Retropiaf@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 29 comments
Hi everyone, I'm looking for info about life in Singapore. My spouse and I are considering moving there from the US. We will be visiting for the first time in a couple of months, but I'd like to know what are some of the less obvious cons or the worst things about living in Singapore. I'm also interested in hearing how it is to live in Singapore in general and what you love about it.
We are trying to decide where we want to move to and Singapore is at the top of the list so far, but I have experience with being an expat (I'm French but living in the US) and I know that it often takes years of living in a country to discover deal breakers.
Please share your experience in Singapore with us. The good, the bad and the in-between!
joanpetosky@reddit
Did you ever move here?
Retropiaf@reddit (OP)
Nope. Moved to Japan for a year. Still trying to decide where to move long term. Haven't eliminated Singapore as an option, but it's probably not our top choice.
joanpetosky@reddit
Ooh interesting. What makes it not your top choice anymore? Was it visiting and not vibing with it? Or better factors in other places?
OkGrape1959@reddit
Did you end up moving OP? Would be curious to know your experience! I am in the very stages of a potential move with my partner. We used to live in the US but are now in Canada. We have 2 small dogs so a lot of comments here and on your other SG posts has been very helpful!
Retropiaf@reddit (OP)
Not yet! Right now, we're planning a sabbatical in Japan in 2024. Singapore is still very high on our list for a permanent move, but we haven't made that much progress in making a final decision.
I'm partial to Japan personally, but my husband is not convinced career-wise. I'm hoping that he falls in love with Japan, but if not, a year there will still be a good baseline experience of living abroad together.
I hope you make a post yourself soon, as you make progress in your plans!
OkGrape1959@reddit
I would love to live in Japan for a year! My partner worked there for over 10 years (finance). I used to worry that it wouldn’t be a good experience because I’m Asian and don’t speak Japanese but he assured me that Tokyo is such a megatropolis that even the subset Asian American female expat non JP speaking community would be big. I hope you end up going!!
Visual_Jump_2620@reddit
You lived there for 10 years (i assume you did if your partner worked there) and you didn't learn the language???
OkGrape1959@reddit
Sorry, I meant my partner lived in Japan for ten years before he met me. I’ve never lived in Japan.
changelang@reddit
Have lived in Singapore for about a decade. It can be an amazing city. Clean, safe, convenient, and great location for travel.
But it's only a nice place if you have enough money. Housing is very expensive for what you get (typical rental prices have increased 20-40% over the last year), education is a huge cost if you don't get employer support, and there are tons of small expenses that really add up. If you can live like a local, there are plenty of cheap options for food (hawker centers are wonderful), but they are pretty bad for your diet. If you want healthier options or anything like food in western countries, you'll be paying similar or higher prices than in the USA.
A few other negatives to consider: (1) It is tiny. This is a huge deal for many people, especially with COVID restrictions. We're past those now, but for 2+ years, life in Singapore sucked. (2) Hot and humid all the time. If profuse sweating bothers you, it can feel soul crushing to go outdoors. (3) As a foreigner, you will be restricted in many ways. You may feel that you can't speak up about local politics or public policy without risking potential reprisals. The government is quick to pull visas for people who step out of line. Many foreigners never worry about this, but for those of us who stick around for longer, it can feel frustrating to be left out of discussions. (4) There are some strong anti-foreigner sentiments in both public and private. Many Singaporeans are very kind and welcoming, but there is a vocal segment in society that speaks out against foreigners. Sometimes it feels that the government seems to encourage such behaviors. Sometimes it seems that the government is trying to make Singapore more welcoming to foreigners. It's a weird dynamic. (5) The expat community is very transient. It's hard to find long-term friends and build a lasting community, because every few years it seems that people leave. Locals are not always welcoming to bringing overseas friends into their social circles (many of them retain social networks from secondary school or national service). (6) Healthcare is great, but you'll need to obtain private insurance coverage. Employers here tend to provide relatively minimal insurance plans. Make sure you understand what is and isn't covered. If you have pre-existing conditions, things can get very expensive (costs are less than in the USA, but they can quickly add up - foreigners don't receive the same subsidies as locals, but you can go to public hospitals for cheaper treatments). (7) You may always feel like an outsider. Even after obtaining permanent residency, you'll be an outsider.
Overall, I still like living in Singapore, but most expats from the West only stay for a temporary period.
Evening_Stick_8126@reddit
You forgot another aspect that might bother westerners especially americans is that being gay is banned in the xountry
memorylatcher@reddit
No it’s not. I’m gay and Singaporean and have lived here all my life.
Evening_Stick_8126@reddit
Allright. But you hide it. Then no one cares. But if you get out holding hands and kissing than...... 😔😒⚰️✝️
memorylatcher@reddit
Honestly just be you and dgaf about what others think. I’ve held hands with my then partner in public like 8 years ago and not a single person came up to us unpleasantly. It’s really all in the mind and the less fucks you give about others, the happier and at peace you’ll be. Life is short hun 🥰
Evening_Stick_8126@reddit
Yeah man but i am talking about the country's perspective
I think gayism is banned in Singapore but correct me if I am wrong on that
memorylatcher@reddit
If you want to go into definition, no being gay is not banned. There is now law to criminalise for just being yourself. Yes SG has come a long way when it comes to gay rights and it was pretty recent sexual activity between two consenting gay men has been made legal. But going back to your understanding, no, you can be gay or whatever here.
Evening_Stick_8126@reddit
Ok
Synja303@reddit
Let's also realize that America, who prides itself on freedom of expression and equal rights, had none of that as of only a few decades ago.
Social progress doesn't happen overnight, and it has to go culture by culture on their own respective timelines.
*disclaimer: I might be an American moving to Singapore very soon, hence finding this post*
Evening_Stick_8126@reddit
Move then
Synja303@reddit
respectfully challenging you here, do i have to move?
Evening_Stick_8126@reddit
Ok. So i lives in singa about 2 years. Here are some good things:
-extremely safe everywhere. No shooters, no armed robberies, no assaults -food is Cheap, and delciious -public transport is god alike. You ain need a car -great weather all year round ye can go to beach you can go hiking or skiing(obviously kiddin) but there are a gazillion options to do -no homelesses No druggy muggies hippies dancing on the streets No pan handlers
Cons: homosexuality is not allowed in the country and is punishable with death i i am right(con for those affected of course)
Mean-Acanthisitta202@reddit
I love that con!
Garlic-Desperate@reddit
Hi Evening_Stick, I can help answer a bit more on this.
Yes, you are right that it is safe everywhere. 2 years in Singapore is definitely a long time, but the safety these days seems to be compromised when it comes to online scams, which have become frequently common in Singapore. (Same can be said for the whole world, but Singapore has alot of people with poor digital education, such as the elderly, whom fall victim to such scams)
On homosexuality, it's not true that it isn't allowed. The gay ban law was recently revoked in Singapore (it was never used in the first place), so it is one of the places in Asia where it is legal to be part of the LGBT++ community. However, the reason why it is suffocating for the community is two-fold, lack of legal support and community stigma. The government doesn't recognise same sex relationships, and hence there is no legal protection for things like divorce or marriage. Also, the reason why the government is hesitant to legally acknowledge LGBT++ is the anti-LGBT sentiment from many Singaporeans, whom are conservative by Western standards due to what you may consider cultural differences (strong focus on the traditional family). I'm sure after 2 years you have noticed many things about Singaporeans yourself, and may have noticed cultural differences with the west (assuming you are from the west). Things are changing though, the younger generation has become more accepting of this group, but with the largest voting base coming from the more conservative 2nd and 1st generation of Singaporeans, it is unlikely for any major changes anytime soon.
Fanatical_Prospector@reddit
FYI If you’re not ethnically Chinese the likelihood you will ever get permanent residency is slim
FutureSelfx@reddit
Do you mean that I'd have to look Chinese or if I have a chinese parent?
Mean-Acanthisitta202@reddit
Lol
ItsHappyHapa@reddit
In case you're still curious, I moved to Singapore from the US in 2022 and I made a video about the pros and cons of living here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e38qse45eE
Planning to make an updated one soon now that it's been nearly 3 years!
SkiPassGeek@reddit
I spent short periods of time working in Singapore over a few years (and I almost moved there). Here's what I liked and didn't like:
Liked: clean, safe, modern, good transport network, selection of food is amazing (probably best I've seen in terms of choice and quality in one city), English speaking, great spot from which to explore rest of SEA - so weekends away are totally doable, culturally it's an interesting place with the blend of people and languages
Didn't Like: hot and humid almost all the time - so outside there's no escape from humidity - even in the shade. Small and not a huge amount to do other than the food (social life seems to revolve maninly around eating and drinking), almost no variation in seasons, dense population, lack of green spaces and nature, so not great if you love the great outdoors
Evening_Stick_8126@reddit
Singapore lack of green spaces? Are you serious? 😂
It is one of the greenest cities in the world
Have you been to the botanic gardens? What about the night gardens near the marina? There is a park literally on every street and large trees.
never_taken@reddit
Singapore being an Island, and a state, you cannot really compare it only to cities. It might be one of the greenest cities (did not check) but it is definitely not the greenest state. So yes while I live in the suburb of a major capital city, which has probably less green than Singapore, I would for example have much less green and nature (amount and diversity) than I get here for the same distance.