Living and Woking in Singapore – A Digital Nomads Perspective

Singapore is often quickly ruled out as a place to spend time due to its high cost of living.  Living and working in Singapore can be done successfully with the right strategy, outlook, and smart budgeting.

Singapore offers stability that other digital nomad havens tend to lack.  There is world-class internet everywhere you go.  This is a huge advantage for digital nomads compared to other destinations in Southeast Asia.

Best Places to Work

For those of you who already have a remote job, there are numerous options depending on where you decide to stay and your preferences. Co-working spaces have become very popular over the last five years, offering a dynamic environment conducive to productivity. Additionally, with the rise of mobile wallets in Singapore, managing payments and transactions has become more seamless for digital nomads.

This type of environment is an advantage for people who are not motivated to work at home or become bored and restless sitting in coffee shops all day.

If you need to meet a client, there are many meeting rooms in Singapore that you can engage for a day that offer a full suite of professional facilities.

Finding a Job

If you don’t already have work, finding a job in Singapore can be challenging.  Singapore has a very competitive job market so even experienced professionals may find it difficult.  On the other hand,  there is always demand for top-tier talent.  Concentrate on high-demand job sectors like IT and tourism.

Singaporean companies are familiar with hiring foreign labour since the country has such a diverse business environment.

Don’t forget that you will need to secure a work visa, but your prospective employer should be able to assist you with that.

Best Places To Live

Every area of Singapore is easily accessible.  Due to its well-established transportation system, you can choose to live in a wide array of neighbourhoods.  Many expats who live and work in Singapore opt to live close to the central area, but this is just one of many choices.

Some of the neighbourhoods you should check out are:

East Coast – This is one of the older and less developed areas.  You won’t see shopping complexes or high-rise condos.  The area offers a more laid-back relaxed vibe.  Here you can find many reasonably priced condos and hotels.

Little India and Farrer Park – This neighbourhood offers a mix of traditional Indian, Malay and Chinese culture with modern residential and shopping complexes.

Tiong Bahru – This area has seen increasing development in the last few decades.  It is home to a large expat community with hip cafes and restaurants.  Prices may tend to be higher based on its central location.

No matter what area you choose internet and phone service are excellent.  Just make sure you are using a VPN to secure your digital connections.

Singapore Visa

Singapore has relatively relaxed travel requirements for international visitors. It is important to understand visa requirements as laid out by the Singaporean government. US and UK citizens do not need to apply for a visa before flying into the country and are granted a 30-day stamp on arrival.

Singapore is a country worth visiting and spending time living in.  There is a reason Singapore is rated as one of the best places in the world to live.