Singapore – a Haven for Expats?
The globalised economy has opened doors to investment, frequent inter-country travelling, and created millions of jobs. With such an open world, there is bound to be the innate desire to explore different experiences and cultures – a desire which has led to a rise in expatriates across the globe.
Many countries are now home to a host of different nationalities working and living there – among them is Singapore.
Singapore has been hailed as a land of promise, happiness, and growth – constant and rapid growth. The city-state is a hub for investment and boasts a very efficient government while also being a wonderful place to work and raise a family.
Yes. Singapore is a haven for expatriates, and here is why.
The Singapore weather’s great
Singapore boasts a hot and humid climate with seasonal tropical storm or two. The Equator runs north of the country, which leads to countless sunny days. It’s a beautiful place to take walks at the weekends with shorts and flip-flops very commonplace.
Expatriates from the US or Europe might find the sun a bit too unkind, and so sunscreen is handy for those days you might have to walk the route to your office.
The food? Even better.
There are plenty of perks to working and living in a foreign land – a chance to mix with diverse cultures, the promise of novelty, and of course – the food.
Singapore boasts an incredible array of seafood and a reputation for some of the best crab dishes in the world. In addition, tasty noodles, delicious rice, and chicken dishes with a wide variety of desserts and snacks make up a huge platter of Singaporean dishes to choose from.
The public transport system is frighteningly efficient
A few places in the world combine cheap transportation with efficiency, and Singapore might just be up there with them. An exceptionally smooth public transport system serves the city-state’s 5.6 million people.
Owning a car is nice and offers you flexibility but having a good metro and road network with low fares at your disposal will save you money you’d have used on fuel, car insurance and regular maintenance.
A bustling expat community
With thousands of expats in Singapore, there is bound to be a thriving community with as much diversity and cultural variety as Singapore itself. Americans, Germans, English, Australians, Estonians, Swedes all exist within the rich fabric of Singapore. As a result, the neighbourhoods home to expats are lively and serene, though the rent can be quite high.
Singapore is the gateway to Southeast Asia
Singapore’s location lends itself to a political, economic, and cultural gateway to Southeast Asia. Moreover, the flights are cheap, and if you have the time, you can jet-set across Indonesia and The Philippines.
Turns out Singapore is, indeed, a haven for expats
With rich cuisines, a rich culture, good public transport, and great weather, it’s easy to see why Singapore is a hub for expatriates. A vibrant expat community, rich culture, and access to Southeast Asian exploration for curious minds are also on the cards. Singapore might just be home away from home; most expats there might agree too.