Moving to Singapore

Before you even start looking for housing or a school, the starting point is to understand why Singapore appeals so strongly to employees, mobile couples and French-speaking families. The city offers an uncommon combination: political stability, excellent infrastructure, outstanding safety, digital administration, reliable public transport and a highly international employment market. For professionals in finance, tech, logistics, consultancy or regional trade, the city-state is an ideal base from which to operate across Southeast Asia. For families, it offers a reassuring daily environment, high-quality services and a high concentration of international schools. For students, it provides well-regarded courses and an accessible English-speaking environment.

There is a downside, and it should be stated plainly: Singapore is expensive, regulated and highly structured. Yet these demands do not prevent comfort; they determine it. New arrivals who settle in most successfully are generally those who approach their plans methodically. A French executive sent by a multinational will not prepare for the move in the same way as a couple where only one partner obtains an EP, or as a family whose first priority is finding a place at a French-speaking school. The right approach is therefore to define your arrival profile from the outset, then align your visa, housing, budget and daily life with it.

In practice, three broad situations come up frequently. A skilled employee arrives with an Employment Pass sponsored by their employer. A technician or mid-level specialist is more likely to obtain an S Pass, subject to quotas and a sufficient salary level. The family then follows with a Dependant Pass or a Long-Term Visit Pass, depending on the circumstances. Finally, entrepreneurs and very high earners explore more specific routes such as the EntrePass, PEP or ONE Pass. This category-based approach explains why Singapore requires more detailed preparation than a typical expatriation destination. Here, every administrative detail has a direct impact on daily life.

A simple image helps to visualise the whole process: in Singapore, settling in is less like moving house than bringing a complete application together. Your visa, income, address, bank, insurance, school, local network and mobility arrangements all need to fit together. That is precisely what makes the project manageable, provided you proceed in the right order.

This preparation-based approach applies to every area of local life, and becomes even more important when it comes to visas and work passes.

Once you are there, the first few weeks revolve around very practical tasks. The most useful first step is to quickly secure your local digital identity. SingPass is the gateway to many public and administrative services. Without this access, some procedures take longer and become less straightforward. At the same time, your residential address must be registered with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority using the identification number linked to your pass. This step may seem minor, but it is essential to much of a resident’s administrative life.

Opening a local bank account comes very soon afterwards. Major banks such as DBS, OCBC and UOB offer solutions well suited to expatriates, with multi-currency accounts, high-performance mobile apps and straightforward local transfers. In practice, a valid pass, proof of address and sometimes proof of employment are enough to get started. Why is this so important? Because in Singapore, many services rely on local transfers, direct debits and banking apps. Even paying the rental security deposit is easier with a local account.

Your mobile phone is almost as much of a priority. There are many prepaid and contract options, with monthly prices often ranging from 10 to 40 SGD, depending on the data allowance and add-ons. Families and newcomers should compare flexibility rather than rushing to choose the cheapest plan. During the first few weeks, a no-commitment plan may be more useful than a long-term contract. This avoids unpleasant surprises if you change neighbourhood, bank or immigration status.

You should also think about the everyday details that save time: delivery address, registering children for school meals or transport, updating your contact details with the school, and organising regular bills. In Singapore, everything moves quickly, but everything depends on accurate information. An incorrect address or incomplete bank account immediately slows down several services. The most worthwhile tip is to make a small checklist for your first 10 days: accommodation, bank, mobile phone, SingPass, address, insurance, school, transport, emergency contacts and payment arrangements.

Newcomers who successfully navigate their first stage are generally those who do not underestimate these procedures. They may seem technical, but they provide the foundation for all local stability. Once these building blocks are in place, everything else becomes much simpler.

• Activate SingPass as soon as possible to make public procedures smoother.
• Register the address linked to your pass within the required timeframe.
• Open a local bank account before making housing-related payments.
• Choose a flexible mobile plan during the settling-in period.
• Centralise your documents in an accessible digital folder.

These steps may seem basic, but they set the tone for the entire expatriate experience: in Singapore, precision speeds everything up.

The cost of living in Singapore needs to be calculated carefully, as general impressions can quickly be misleading. Yes, the city is expensive. No, not everything is unaffordable. Housing and cars push costs up, while local meals, the MRT and buses remain affordable. For a single person, a comfortable budget is often around 4,000 to 6,000 SGD per month, including rent, depending on the neighbourhood and lifestyle. For a couple, you will often need to allow for between 6,500 and 10,000 SGD if the accommodation is decent and you have an active social life. For a family with children attending an international school, needs rise very quickly, and the budget can exceed 12,000 to 20,000 SGD per month once school fees and central accommodation are included.

Local meals are an excellent indicator. At a hawker centre, lunch costing 4 to 8 SGD is still normal. By contrast, grocery shopping with a lot of imported products quickly becomes expensive. A French-speaking family that maintains European eating habits can easily spend 200 to 300 SGD per week on food, sometimes more depending on what they buy. Dairy products, certain meats, cheeses and several imported brands cost significantly more than in Europe. The shopping basket therefore depends heavily on the balance between local cuisine and Western products. For clothing and home equipment, our Singapore shopping guide covers the most affordable neighbourhoods.

Public transport helps keep costs under control. An MRT or bus journey generally costs 1 to 3 SGD, with a clean, air-conditioned and very extensive network. Cars, on the other hand, are in a different league: the Certificate of Entitlement, taxes and the cost of the vehicle make buying one extremely expensive, to the point that even a basic car can cost more than 150,000 SGD in some configurations. Many expats eventually come to feel that in Singapore, true freedom lies in the MRT network rather than owning a vehicle.

To visualise the budget, a specific example is often more helpful than an abstract rule. A single professional living in a one-bedroom apartment in a well-connected area, eating out in town occasionally and using the MRT, can stay within a reasonable budget. A couple with a two-bedroom condominium in a sought-after neighbourhood will see their spending rise, but can still maintain a good level of comfort if one of them receives an expat package. A family, meanwhile, mainly needs to include school, healthcare, activities and housing in a single calculation.

The key point lies in the hierarchy of expenses. In Singapore, it is better to keep an eye on housing and school fees than on small day-to-day differences. An 800 SGD difference in rent often has a greater effect on quality of life than trying to save money on transport or lunch. This is why the most realistic budgets prioritise the major expenses before secondary costs.

Daily life in Singapore becomes enjoyable once a few habits are established quickly. The first concerns getting around. The MRT network and buses cover the city very well, with high frequency, remarkable cleanliness and stations that are widely integrated into residential and commercial neighbourhoods. For newcomers, this is often the easiest way to discover the city without worrying about traffic. Fares are affordable, and combining the MRT with walking works very well in most central and semi-residential areas.

The second habit concerns healthcare. Singapore has a highly efficient medical system, with effective public hospitals and a well-regarded private sector. Holders of work passes who are not permanent residents mainly rely on the insurance provided by their employer, which should be read carefully. Depending on the company, the cover may be satisfactory or more limited. Many expatriates choose private supplementary insurance, which often costs between 200 and 500 SGD per month, depending on age, the family members covered and the level of cover. This expense is not a luxury; it secures access to private healthcare and reduces uncertainty in the event of a medical problem.

The third point concerns banking. In Singapore, having a local account is not merely useful; it is almost essential. Rent, certain bills, subscriptions, refunds and several administrative services are easier to manage through a Singaporean account. Major local banks often offer effective digital tools, sometimes far smoother than what many newcomers are used to in Europe. Even so, you should check foreign-exchange, international-transfer and account-maintenance fees. Good banking arrangements are not about simply opening an account, but about choosing an approach that fits your lifestyle.

In public spaces, life in Singapore also requires a degree of cultural adjustment. The rules are strict, antisocial behaviour is rarely tolerated and fines are designed to deter people. Dropping a cigarette butt, smoking outside an authorised area or treating certain offences as trivial has real consequences. This discipline is not simply about punishment: it supports cleanliness, safety and the smooth running of society as a whole. For many French speakers, it is even one of the most striking aspects of integration. You move from an environment where people often improvise to a system where planning ahead and respecting the rules make everything work better.

In everyday life, quality of life therefore depends on very practical details: a bank card that works, a reliable MRT journey, insurance you understand, a trusted doctor and a neighbourhood where you can live without stress. In Singapore, success when settling in rarely comes from grand declarations; it comes from well-established routines.

The mistakes people make when settling in tend to revolve around the same issues. The first is overestimating the housing budget while forgetting additional costs: deposit, sometimes only partly furnished accommodation, transport, school fees, insurance and imported food. The second is signing a lease too quickly without checking the actual distance to school, work or the MRT. In Singapore, three kilometres may seem a short distance on a map but become very difficult on a daily basis depending on the exact address. The third mistake concerns timing: waiting until you arrive to start administrative procedures, even though much of the process can be prepared in advance.

Another common pitfall concerns how the remuneration package is assessed. An attractive gross salary is not enough if housing and school fees absorb most of it. Conversely, a less spectacular but well-structured package can provide a very comfortable lifestyle. Families should pay particular attention to housing, healthcare and education allowances. Singles, meanwhile, should watch out for neighbourhood expenses and the temptation to live exclusively in the city centre, as costs rise quickly. A successful expatriation is not based solely on income; it depends above all on the balance between salary, local constraints and the desired quality of life.

A typical example illustrates the situation well: a couple arrives with an EP, chooses accommodation that is too central, then discovers that little is left over for outings, holidays or unexpected expenses. Conversely, a family that chooses a slightly cheaper neighbourhood, a suitable school and the MRT can maintain a remarkable level of comfort while retaining budgetary flexibility. The right balance is therefore built around three factors: location, transport and schooling. This trio is what turns settling in into a sustainable project rather than an exhausting sprint.

You also need to accept that Singapore operates by the rules. Procedures are quick when the application is in order, but very unforgiving of inaccuracies. This rigour is not hostile; it helps create a highly stable city. French-speaking families who adapt best are often those who adopt local customs without giving up their identity. They respect deadlines, use digital services, rely on the community and keep a practical focus on their priorities.

Those who prepare their arrival methodically then discover a rare living environment: a clean, highly international, safe and functional city that is surprisingly easy to live in once the basics are in place. In Singapore, success depends less on chance than on the quality of the initial decisions.