Singapore is known to be a multicultural city-state which not only offers great business opportunities to expats but also the quality of life that they hope for. Many expats from all over the world choose Singapore as the destination for starting a business as well as a new life. Some expats choose to hire locals to represent their business in Singapore, while some move to Singapore and personally attend to their business needs.
However great Singapore might be, relocating to a new country is never without challenges. While the expat can hope to accomplish his business goals easily here, the big challenge arises when he brings his family to Singapore.
Singapore offers a lot to the expats — a clean and safe place to call home, an efficient public transport system, and excellent educational and healthcare facilities. The economy is robust and stable, although the rising inflation is now affecting the cost of living which has resulted in a rise in expenses.
If you’re planning to move to Singapore with your spouse and kids and are wondering what Singapore has to offer them, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on to know more about what kind of a lifestyle an expat’s family can expect to have in Singapore.
Education
One of the major concerns for all expats who are looking to move to Singapore with their children in tow is the quality of education. After all, education will be the foundation of their children’s lives. It is true that private schooling in Singapore can get costly but public schools offer quality education at subsidized rates.
There is no dearth of good quality international schools and Singapore offers excellent facilities for pursuing higher education as well. It might be a good idea to start researching institutes and check for vacancies and eligibility for admission before you move to Singapore. This will make the process smoother and also help you determine where you need to look for housing.
Housing
It is crucial to choose the right area and place to live in to be able to provide your family with the best facilities and good mobility. There are, however, certain rules and regulations for expats to be adhered to for buying or renting property in Singapore. It is suggested that you educate yourself on these rules and their restrictions before you make plans to buy property here. If you decide to rent a home in Singapore, it can get pretty costly too.
There are several expat friendly neighbourhoods in Singapore. Where you choose to stay with your family will depend on several important factors like availability of transport, grocery stores, schools, hospitals, shopping malls in the vicinity, and so on.
Transportation
Although owning a car can turn out to be a very costly affair, public transport is a safe and comfortable alternative. You can choose from among buses, taxis, and MRT and LRT trains as your mode of travel and commute. A majority of Singaporeans make use of public transportation systems in their day to day life as these provide excellent connectivity all over the city-state.
Singapore is linked to international locations through land, sea and air. The Changi airport in Singapore is the main aviation hub here with three terminals. The neighbouring countries of Malaysia and Indonesia can be accessed via the ferry service. There is also an international railway line that runs between Singapore and Malaysia.
Related Reading » Expat’s Guide in Singapore
Social Life
The official languages of Singapore are English, Malay, Tamil and Standard Mandarin. Although English is the official language for business and education, many locals speak Singlish, which is a mix of the local dialects and English. Expats might have trouble understanding and communicating in Singlish at first, but they tend to pick up on it gradually.
Buddhism is followed by many Singaporeans, with Christianity, Islam, Taoism and Hinduism also among the popular religions.
Singaporean cuisine is a potpourri of epicurean delights with varied flavors, colors, aromas and tastes. Western and Continental cuisines are popular. Chilli crab, fish head curry, chicken rice and rojak are some of the most-liked Singaporean dishes.
The concrete spaces of Singapore have been balanced well with parks, gardens, sanctuaries and attractions like Gardens by the Bay, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and the Botanical Gardens. Expats have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to leisure activities like water sports, golf, rugby/football and tennis. There are also a number of social clubs that organize social events and activities which are meant to help expats settle in.
Healthcare
Expats in Singapore are sure to find the healthcare facilities here to be state-of-art. However, certain healthcare benefits are restricted for expats. Both public and private sector hospitals as well as clinics are efficient, but private institutions may provide personalized service at a higher premium.
Climate
Singapore predominantly experiences a hot and humid climate for most part of the year. It also rains frequently although the heaviest rain is experienced between the months of November and January. It is a good idea to keep an umbrella with you at all times. Singapore experiences a comparatively better climate in the months of June, July and August.
Conclusion
It’s not cheap, but this country offers a rare and excellent blend of work and social life. There’s something for everybody in this diverse city-state. Expats can consider it a home away from home that makes available everything that is needed to do business without having to worry about the needs of the family. Be it good education, quality healthcare, or interesting leisure and entertainment options — you’ll find it all in Singapore.
Related Reading » Why Choose Singapore for Business
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