Five things to know before moving to Singapore

Jul 6

Moving to Singapore is exciting. It’s vibrant yet charmingly quaint, clean, efficient, and full of opportunity. As a long-time expat and someone who has helped many others land smoothly in Singapore, I can say with confidence: the first few weeks can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not well prepared.

Between jet lag, finding a place to live, choosing the right school, sorting transportation, setting up utilities, bank accounts, mobile plans – and all the apps! Not to mention adjusting to and learning to dress for the heat (and humidity), you’ll have a lot on your plate! Here are five things to understand before you board that flight, so you can land ready, not rattled.

1️⃣ Singapore’s Rental Market

Every new client I speak with is floored by rental prices in Singapore – and for good reason. At the market peak in 2022/2023, many rents practically doubled upon renewal, including my own (we moved!). Singapore’s status as a thriving hub in Asia during COVID drew many newcomers, paired with construction delays, this pushed demand through the roof. While prices have begun to trend down slightly, they remain extremely high, with intense competition for the most desirable areas.

PropertyGuru is the most widely used platform for listings, but fair warning: photos and details can be poor, yet units often rent quickly – sometimes sight unseen.

Expect a standard two-year lease, with these costs:

2 months’ rent as a security deposit
1 month’s rent upfront
1 month’s rent as a real estate agent’s commission on smaller properties where the tenant and landlord’s agents do not co-broke
0.4% stamp duty on the entire lease amount over the full duration

Typical monthly rents in central areas:

1-bedroom condo: ~S$4,000 – 5,000
2-bedroom condo: ~S$5,000 – 6,000
3-bedroom condo: ~S$6,000 – 10,000
4-bedroom condo: ~S$8,000 – 14,000
Cluster home: ~S$10,000 – 15,000
Landed home: ~S$15,000 – 25,000+

Red Dot Relocation can help you here. We stay closely attuned to Singapore’s rental market and shifting trends. Because we understand the full relocation landscape from your office location to school choices and lifestyle, we help you target the right neighbourhoods and make confident, informed decisions. We can also help you avoid paying agent commissions altogether through our personalised home search service, offering comfortable private transport for viewings or arranging virtual tours if you are still abroad. When it’s time to sign, we review your lease thoroughly, and we conduct a detailed property condition report and inventory with high-quality digital photographs. You’ll receive a comprehensive digital document that helps protect your deposit when you move out.

2️⃣ Singapore’s Zero-Tolerance Drug Laws

Singapore has a notoriously strict, zero-tolerance policy on drugs. What most people don’t realise is that this includes many common prescription medications that are perfectly legal in your home country, like anxiety medication (psychotropics and benzodiazepines), sleep aids (hypnotics), and pain management medication – even codeine! These are classed as controlled substances here, and you cannot travel to Singapore freely with them, even in the original Rx bottle. Do your research before carrying your medical prescription into the country.

If you take a prescribed controlled drug and want to bring it, you must apply in advance for a licence with a supporting doctor’s letter, or risk confiscation, fines, and criminal charges.

Vapes and e-cigarettes are completely banned. Possession or import of vape devices even with just tobacco – is punishable with fines of up to S$10,000 and/or imprisonment.

Red Dot Relocation can help you navigate this. We’re experienced with the application process for the Health Sciences Authority import licence, and can even handle it on your behalf. We’re also well-versed with the healthcare options and can refer you to trusted international doctors and mental health services.

3️⃣ Expat-Friendly Banks

Choosing the right bank can make everything run more smoothly. In Singapore, you can’t open a bank account until your Employment Pass or Dependant Pass is issued, among many other necessary documents.

Top expat-friendly banks include:

UOB: 68 branches, many ATMs across Singapore, premium accounts that offer Singapore Airlines’ Kris Flyer miles, a user-friendly UOB TMRW app, and Priority/Wealth services
OCBC: 33 branches, over 1,000 combined shared service OCBC and UOB ATMs, multilingual service, generally smooth account opening
Standard Chartered: International reputation, excellent multi-currency accounts, but a smaller local branch network

You might wonder why DBS & HSBC are missing from the list. DBS is Singapore’s national bank with an account opened for every citizen from birth. It has the most extensive branch and ATM network, however, they are extremely busy and not optimally structured for expats. While HSBC’s overseas network is powerful, in Singapore branch availability is limited, queues and tend to be very long, and service slow.

4️⃣ Dress Smart for Singapore’s Climate (and Sudden Rain!)

Singapore sits just north of the equator, meaning it is hot and humid year-round, with frequent downpours. It’s important to pack and plan accordingly, and often much easier to shop for clothing at home, before the move.

To stay comfortable:

Choose loose, breathable, natural fabrics like linen or cotton
Stick to lighter colours and avoid heavy tailoring and tight clothing
Flip flops and rubber EVA Birkenstocks are your best friend for commuting in wet weather (change to office shoes when you arrive!)
Always carry a compact umbrella for tropical storms or powerful sun alike (you’ll know you're practically a local when you reach this milestone)

Red Dot Relocation offers practical guidance here, too. We’ll recommend tried-and-true professional and casual wear options, where to shop for western sizes, and what truly works in Singapore’s climate so you can look polished and stay comfortable.

5️⃣ Driving in Singapore

Singapore is the world’s most expensive place to own and drive a car. Unlike in other countries, you do not have an automatic right to own a car; you’ll need to purchase a Certificate of Entitlement (COE), essentially a licence to own a vehicle. COEs are frequently over S$100,000, depending on category, pushing the total price of a SUV or family sedan to S$200,000–300,000 or more. For example, a new BMW X5 is S$550,000 or a Jeep Wrangler S$300,000, both with a 10-year COE (after 10 years, a new COE must be purchased). Used vehicles with fewer years left on the COE are eye-wateringly expensive, too.

This is why most people rely on public transport, taxis, or ride-hailing services.

Red Dot Relocation will help you think through this from day one. We plan your home search with your office or children’s school commute in mind, and if you decide you do want to drive, we’ll walk you through converting your foreign driver’s licence, purchase and leasing options, as well as understanding all available transport options.

Final Takeaway

Singapore is consistently ranked as one of the world’s best places to live, work, and safest places to raise a family… but preparation is everything. From navigating its housing market and school systems, complying with strict rules and regulations (you probably already knew to leave your chewing gum at home, right?), to understanding the climate and transport options and costs, knowing what to expect gives you a massive head start.

If you’re planning a move or helping your team relocate, Red Dot Relocation is here to support every step with clarity, confidence, and care. Reach out to learn more.

Lauren K