Moving to Singapore, Singapore in 2026

Considering relocating to Singapore? Expect rent from $2700/month, one of the safer cities in its region, English is the primary language. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.

🇸🇬 Singapore, Singapore

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5.9M peopleLivability: 67/100 · #50 of 6740% cheaper than NYC#3 safest city of 67#1 fastest internet of 67 citiesTop 4 most expensive cities4.4% GDP growth — economy on the rise1.9% unemployment — very tight job market
How the Livability Score is calculated
Affordability
2.9/25 ptsNumbeo
Violent Crime
14.8/15 ptsUNODC
Perceived Safety
7.8/10 ptsNumbeo
Internet
15/15 ptsOokla
Democracy
9.3/15 ptsEIU
English
9.4/10 ptsEF EPI
Climate
7/10 ptsNumbeo
Stability
7.4/10 ptsWorld Bank

Total: 73.6 / 110 raw pts → normalized to 67/100

It's 11:44 PM in Singapore

Night owls only from here on out.

Affordability12/100
Safety90/100
Climate83/100
Connectivity100/100
Democracy62/100
English Ease94/100
Clear Days34%

Scores derived from: Numbeo (cost of living) · UNODC (crime) · Economist Intelligence Unit (democracy) · EF EPI (English) · Ookla/Speedtest (internet)

Weather in Singapore

Spring

32°C

40% sunny

Summer

31°C

32% sunny

Fall

31°C

28% sunny

Winter

31°C

35% sunny

Best: Winter, Summer.

Cost of Living in SingaporeNumbeo

Beer (0.5L)

$9.00

Cappuccino

$5.00

Cheap meal

$6.00

Fast food combo

$6.00

Bus/metro ticket

$1.50

Gym/month

$80

Internet/month

$35

Is it actually a democracy?

Democracy index: 6.22 (#63 globally)· Flawed democracy

Freedom House: 47/100

Press freedom rank: #134 of 180

Sources: EIU Democracy Index · Freedom House · RSF Press Freedom Index

Is Singapore Safe?UNODC + Numbeo

90/100

Homicide rate: 0.2 per 100,000 (world average ~5.8)

Numbeo Safety Index: 77.5/100 (covers theft, property crime, perception)

Statistically one of the safest cities on Earth. You'll stop thinking about safety within a week.

Residents report feeling very safe. Low everyday crime concern across the board.

Will the lights stay on?

Reliable
4% electricity from renewables
Rare outages

English in SingaporeEF EPI

Very High

You can manage daily life, healthcare, and most bureaucracy in English. The language barrier is low.

For Russian/Ukrainian speakers: Indo-European — manageable

Who Has Offices in Singapore?

GrabShopeeGoogleMetaAmazonByteDanceStripeMicrosoftSea Group

Notable employers with offices in the city. Not exhaustive.

Is Singapore Worth Moving To?

For

  • +Crime is so rare here it's almost boring. Leave your bag at the café. It'll be fine.
  • +31°C summers with the sea nearby. This is not a drill.
  • +279 Mbps city internet. Your video calls will cooperate. For once.
  • +The economy grew 4.4% recently. Jobs are appearing. Opportunities are real.

Against

  • $2700/mo for city-centre rent. Bring a spreadsheet and manage expectations.

Can you actually live here?

Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay.

EU citizenModerate
US citizenModerate
RussianComplex
UkrainianModerate
2 years to permanent residency
4 years to citizenship
Work permit: Moderate
Compare all countries by visa difficulty →

What you can actually do here

Industries, employers, and how startup-friendly this place is.

Employment

financelogisticsbiotechtech

Top university ranked #11 globally

Startup Scene

Ecosystem: Hub
VC: Strong

World Bank ease of doing business rank: #2

Corporate tax rate: 17%

Singapore — Frequently Asked Questions

Is Singapore safe?

Singapore has a homicide rate of 0.2 per 100,000 people (source: UNODC), making it very safe. The world average is around 5.8 per 100,000. The Numbeo Crime Index is 22.5/100 (lower is safer), which reflects residents' self-reported concerns about property crime, theft, and everyday safety. As with any city, awareness of local neighborhoods is recommended before settling.

What is the cost of living in Singapore?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Singapore city centre costs around $2700/month (Numbeo data). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $6.00, monthly transit pass: $80. A single person can expect total monthly costs of roughly $3100–$3500 depending on lifestyle — covering rent, food, transport, and utilities.

What is the weather like in Singapore?

Singapore has Summers reach around 31°C, winters drop to around 22°C. Summers are hot, so air conditioning is recommended.

Can you get by in Singapore without knowing the local language?

Singapore has Very High English proficiency (EF EPI data). Daily life, healthcare, and business can largely be managed in English.

Is Singapore a good place to settle long-term?

Singapore is in Singapore, which scores 6.2/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. The political environment is reasonably stable, though worth monitoring for expats. Rent from $2700/month.

What is the job market like in Singapore?

Singapore has an unemployment rate of 1.9%, indicating a tight labor market where jobs are relatively plentiful. For settlers planning to work locally, research your industry before committing. Remote workers and self-employed expats are less affected by local employment conditions.

Which companies have offices in Singapore?

Notable companies with offices in Singapore include Grab, Shopee, Google, Meta, Amazon, ByteDance. The city's job market spans tech, finance, and other sectors — check company career pages for current openings.

Is Singapore good for expats?

Singapore attracts expats looking for long-term relocation in Singapore. Key facts: rent from $2700/month; Singapore Tech.Pass (complex process); English is widely spoken, reducing the language barrier significantly. The Livability Score, safety data, and cost of living figures above give a data-driven picture of what to expect when settling here.

How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Singapore?

Singapore offers the Singapore Tech.Pass program. Duration: 2 years (renewable). Requirements: Top tech talent: salary ≥ SGD $22,500/mo or notable tech achievements. Highly selective. This is a more involved process — professional immigration advice is recommended. Check the official government portal for the most up-to-date application process.

🇸🇬 Singapore
BeachHot summersPriceyVery safe

Expenses

$3,175 / mo

🥑 That's 265 avocado toasts/mo

winter

🌞 31°C / 😊 22°C

summer

🌞 31°C / 😊 23°C

Internet · Ookla Speedtest

278 Mbps

SG: 292 Mbps

Singapore

Economics · World Bank / IMF

GDP per capita (PPP)2024

$133,895

GDP Growth2024

+4.4%

Inflation Rate2024

2.6%

Unemployment2024

1.9%

Gini Index2022

37.4 

Population2024

5,917,600

Politics · EIU Democracy Index

Democracy Index

6.2263rd

Regime

Flawed democracy

Safety · UNODC

Homicide per 100K

0.2

Language · EF EPI

Languages

English, Mandarin (I), Malay (I), Tamil (I)

English Proficiency

Very High2th

Data sources

Cost of living: Numbeo crowd-sourced data

Homicide rate: UNODC

Crime perception index: Numbeo Crime Index

Democracy index: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Freedom House score: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2025

Press freedom rank: RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025

GDP per capita: World Bank / IMF

English proficiency: EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI)

Internet speed: Ookla Speedtest Global Index

Grid reliability & renewables: IEA / national grid operators

Residency & visa data: https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/PR/apply