How does living in Singapore compare with London?

Question

My work has asked me to move from London to Singapore. How far would an average London salary go out there? Has anyone made the move and have any tips or advice?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Well, both of my friends have left Singapore for studies in UK however, they still misses Singapore and the environment.

They told me the main difference is the weather and the culture and they're not really used of living in UK even though they've been staying there for almost 6 yrs.

They like Singapore for its all-year round sunny season and our local cultures, which is also a multi-racial nation. Different varieties of delicacies can be found here. You can almost find any delicious cuisines here. And our fantastic multi-racial cultures give us a sense of belonging to the nation, making Singapore a unique & strong country.

For your info, most of the younger Singaporeans speak almost more than 1 languages. The common languages will be English & Mandarin. As for the older generations, they can speak several languages like their own dialects, Melayu & Tamil/Hindi etc. So you shouldn't have any difficulty getting a new life here. In addition, because Singapore is such a sunny country, that you can almost have any sports (land or water sports) during anytime.

And in fact, Singapore's nightlife entertainment has been voted No.1 in Asia & featured on a few online websites and magazines. So in any fact, Singapore is not a dull country to be in.

As for the government's system, we're much stricter than other nearby asian countries. In terms of drugs peddalings, ammunitions trafficking, car speedings etc, all these are considered serious crimes in our homeland.

And for working system, I think our wages are paid relatively higher than any other asian countries. Job occupancies are more for foreign workers and I think if you're working under IT or Engineering companies as an executive level personnel, your salary should be either equivalent or slightly more than your UK's salary. The living standard will also be less taxing & stressful for you because expenses spent daily are almost 2 times lesser. Finally, I would like to say we do welcome foreign talents to join us as a big family!!

Answer 2

I thought they were fairly comparable. Food and drink is not cheap (except in the hawker markets) when eating out, but then it isn't in London either. I was working there for 2 months in 2005 but I was put up in a hotel so had to eat out 3 times a day; I guess you will be in an apartment, so can buy food in and cook.

Accommodation is quite expensive - check that carefully to compare with what you're paying here.

One word of warning, Singapore is very humid and I found that books and papers got damp, even in an air-conditioned room. My Teva sandals got damp in a downpour and then stayed that way for 5 weeks (until I came home). Not sure how the Singaporeans deal with this but I suggest that you find out from a local once there.

Answer 3

Since everyone has already answered most of your questions, I'll just tackle one: Your salary.

I'm telling you, if you can afford to eat, sleep and live under a roof in London, you can afford to move to Singapore and become rich. The food is awesome, and it has a really efficient transport system. It's not just a small island, it's got a high cost of living, but not as high as London, that's for sure.

You can afford to move, except maybe you might not have any friends here.

Answer 4

Living in Bangkok I find Singapore a little dull now and again and very controlled. But having said that it is a place that I would love to live in, it is clean and tidy and things work there. Public transport is excellent both the buses and underground are excellent systems with interchangable ticketing.

The people are generally pleasant, electricity is the same as in the UK, they drive on the same side of the road, they take a great deal of pride in their infrastructure. Cuisine is interesting and there are cheapish places to eat. It is near other interesting places like Kuala Lumpur, Sabha, Sarawak, Indonesia, and of course Thailand and its tourist attractions, even Australia is doable.

But you will want to be sure of your expatriate package first.

You will need to know:
How many return flights to the UK each year,
What is the salary plus the expat package,
Removals of your goods and possesions there and back,
Quality of the accommodation provided,
Is the rent fully paid or do you have to contribute a portion,
Will the be a relocation allowance in each direction,
If you are married or co-habiting then you need to think of your wife/partner and his or her reactions,
If you have kids schooling is not cheap, you will need to think about this too.
Oh so many questions to ask.

Why not suggest that they send you there for a few months so that you can make up your mind. I am sure you will want to stay.

The weather can be humid, but air con helps, the rainy season is rainy but only for a couple of hours a day then it stops.

I am sure you will enjoy it and it will look good on the CV too.

Answer 5

so which you reside in China on the brink of Hong Kong and am pondering going to Singapore for my Christmas procuring except that's greater costly than Hong Kong.for generic clothing, electronics & presents. For my suggestion, bypass to Hong Kong except you opt for to for cultural stuff, like Sarong, Kabaya, Peranakan products as Singapore is greater low priced, yet for different issues bypass to Hong Kong as Hong Kong is closer to China, therefor you save shipping value, provided which you will get products that get you decrease back your tax via making use of at tax refund, in the different case, Hong Kong is the perfect wager because it a loose harbor and nonetheless 0% VAT or GST for Singapore in basic terms. My relative come right here to Singapore no longer for the procuring yet for the cultural itself. So thats what I recommend and relax are as much as you my China buddy.

Answer 6

I went to Glasgow for my studies for two yrs. I love the weather there.... 4 seasons.... But i still love Singapore, my country....my land..... I can feel the secure and comfortable...... to you might be the same. My be you can use this opportunities to explore yourself in Singapore for sometime...

Answer 7

You should start by not wanting to get pregnant, just have sex everyday or every other day and don't think about getting pregnant, just have fun with your partner. Get more useful information and guides to get pregnant here https://tr.im/ndjrN
after sex-put a pillow under your butt or prop your feet up on the wall so your pelvis is tilted
eat healthy
back off caffiene
workout, even if its just a 20 minute walk a day, be active.

Answer 8

The best solution is to gain control over it. As someone already said, stop when you're getting there and relax. Pay more attention to pleasuring your mate--orally, perhaps--and avoid rubbing your penis up against anything while doing so. It will take work on your part and patience on both parts. Learn here http://EndPrematureEjaculation.enle.info/?51l5

As a last resort, some antidepressants curb sexual functioning with the intention of learning the pleasure of restraint after which you could taper off them. Here's your goal: the longer you can delay your orgasm, the more intense it will be. So it isn't just a matter of satisfying your mate. This is the main reason some claim stoned sex is better, unlike drunk sex which can leave you unable to perform (brewer's droop). You enjoy exploring each other longer. And remember, oral isn't just one place. It's all over, paying particular attention to kissing, and TALK about what each of you like. Strange how people don't talk about sex when they're the ones doing it.

Answer 9

The Pros for Singapore are:

- much better public transportation system (cheaper, cleaner, more efficient and no strikes or leaves stuck on the train tracks, etc!)
- much better medical care vs the worsening NHS in the UK
- eating out is generally cheaper ( unless you only eat at top notch restaurants) and there is a plethora of cuisines to try
- weather is uniformly sunnier throughout the year ( so you can swim and sunbathe more often - a big deal for sun deprived Brits! In addition, there's no need to dress for the various seasons)
- wonderful mix of cultures and ethnic groups living in relative harmony (versus the racial and religious conflicts present in many countries)
- the Botanic Gardens, which is like a lush tropical Kew gardens
- the relative safety and lower crime rates ( wonderful not to worry about being mugged on the streets and in the tube stations late at night)
- the generally efficient service ( as in faster delivery times for furniture, electrician and plumbers, etc)
- efficient banking system
- good base to explore other countries in the region
- Sentosa island ( sunny, sandy beaches)
- shopping ( relatively reasonable if you are into ethnic stuff but of course it's cheaper to buy that from neighbouring countries)
- ease of language. Many people speak English and the signs are all in English too.
- the people are generally helpful and friendly, especially if you show an genuine interest in them. Don't be afraid to make the first move. It is much easier to get invited to people's homes for festive occasions and parties than it is for a foreigner to do so in London. Local people are generally hospitable and approachable.
- loads of bars, pubs, nightclubs (but the grog is not cheap due to tax).
- improving entertainment, Arts and Culture scene - St James Power Station, the National Museum, the Asian Civilisation Museum and the Chinatown Heritage Centre are good starting points.
- strict enforcement of laws on crime, drug use etc.
- the constant greenery and relative cleanliness - even in the city areas; makes a welcome change from grey buildings and grey skies.


The cons are:
- the humidity and dampness. Someone has already mentioned that and yes, it really is that bad, particularly during the monsoon season when it can actually rain incessantly for days and days. Things do turn mouldy - leather jackets and shoes, books, games, tapes, camera lenses etc. Buy a room dehumidifier when you're here. Novita has them in all sizes - check out their website.
- the heat! Hence the need for aircon and fans.
- no changing seasons
- the entertainment, arts and cultural scene can't compare to that of London ( just compare the number of pages in the Singapore and London editions of Timeout); but things have been improving alot over the past 5 years or so.
- the shopping scene lacks London's originality, creativity and uptodateness; fewer niche and specialty stores. Also it costs alot more for Marks and Sparks stuff here ( even when there's a sale on).
- the newspapers; not enough dissenting views and non mainstream newspapers allowed due to strict gov censorship
- less acceptance of nonconformity and alternative lifestyles(for example, no one would bat an eye if someone were to wear a pink shoe on one foot and a red on the other and also have a neon green cap on and skip down Oxford Street.. but not so here)
- the horrible drivers who don't give way to others.
- the people who rush into the tube during peak hours and pretend to sleep so that they don't have to give up their seats for the elderly, pregnant ladies and those with young kids
- people who don't hold the doors or lift open for the next person even if they are carrying bags of groceries
- smelly and wet public loos ( but this has been slowly improving)
- fewer natural sights and beautiful landscapes to explore as compared to the UK. (Singapore is a very tiny island by comparison).
- a much younger history as a nation
- and finally, the lack of a credible opposition in parliament. Singapore has been described by others as being governed by " An Enlightened Dictatorship". But guess that's the price you pay for enjoying life in a safe, peaceful and efficient haven where everything runs smoothly like clockwork.

Hope this helps. Hope you enjoy your stay in Singapore.

There's also a very helpful website for expats in Singapore. I think it's www.expatsingapore.com. You can try googling for it too.

Answer 10

expensive