Your guide to expat life in Singapore

Public housing isn’t associated with lower income groups and even includes luxury options. Most complexes are in self-contained neighbourhoods with easy access to public transport, shopping centres and other amenities.

High-earning Westerners often choose to rent a private apartment, condominium or bungalow. Rents in the suburbs are considerably cheaper than in the city centre. Because most landlords understand the transient nature of expat life in Singapore, they prefer the guaranteed rental income of a corporate lease.

You can find both furnished and unfurnished accommodation in Singapore — so consider whether it’s necessary to ship all your belongings from home.

Most expats live in apartments or condos, all of which have basic facilities. Some buildings also have amenities like a pool, gym, BBQ pit, tennis court and 24-hour security.

In a city filled with small apartments, these big old colonial houses, with their high ceilings, verandas and gardens are highly sought after by expats. Only around 500 houses remain in leafy enclaves like Dempsey Road, Rochester Park, Portsdown Road and Adam Park.

English is the language of business, but Malay and Mandarin are also widely spoken.

Flip-flops and shorts are the unofficial uniform of Singaporeans. With an average temperature of 27°C (81°F), light cotton shirts, shorts and summer dresses are sensible choices.

Singapore’s reputation as one of Asia’s culinary hotspots means food lovers are spoilt for choice. Hawker centres are very popular. These outdoor food courts sell local speciality dishes that are cheap, quick and tasty. Keep an eye out for traditional chilli crab and fish head curry, both local favourites. There are also plenty of fast food chains and restaurants serving Western cuisines.

Kiasu is Hokkien for ‘fear of losing’ and is used to describe anxious, selfish behaviour caused by a fear of missing out. Kiasuism manifests in many ways, such as waiting in long queues for a prize or giveaway, or grabbing excess food from a buffet. Kiasuism is also used to describe ambitious and successful people. This attitude can seem aggressive and opportunistic, but Singaporeans consider it necessary to succeed in a competitive society.

Cheaper than international schools, public schools are a good option if you plan to live in Singapore long-term. The nuances of the local curriculum and teaching styles may be problematic — top schools are rumoured to dismiss underperforming students and corporal punishment is legal.

Singapore has a number of excellent international schools that follow the American, British or Australian curriculum, or offer the International Baccalaureate. Fees are high — so try to negotiate an education allowance as part of your contract.

Mobile phones are easy to get and coverage is reliable. Most contracts include a free phone, but if you don’t want to commit to a plan, go for a prepaid SIM card. SingTel, StarHub and M1 are the main providers of mobile, landline and Internet services.

Calls between landlines are cheap and mostly use broadband lines. To apply for a landline, you’ll need your passport, proof of address and a deposit.

The Internet in Singapore is very fast, although fibre optic broadband isn’t available everywhere. You can use WiFi throughout the city-state, and Internet cafés are easy to find.

You can tune into English radio and TV stations in Singapore. You can also buy English-language books, newspapers and magazines in all big bookshops.

The Media Development Authority (MDA) regulates and approves all national media. Foreign content is also regulated.

Public hospitals mainly cater for locals and permanent residents who are entitled to subsidised care. Expats with work passes don’t qualify for these subsidies and are charged similar rates to those they’d pay at private hospitals.

Most expats prefer private healthcare as the costs are only slightly higher and the service is assumed to be better.

You don’t need medical insurance to use private health facilities — and general healthcare costs are surprisingly affordable. That said, you may decide to take out some form of cover in case of a complicated illness or an emergency.

Your two biggest health concerns are sunburn and dehydration. The wall of heat and humidity that greets new arrivals is hard to anticipate. Stay hydrated and use sunscreen.