As far as living in Singapore goes, it can be one of the most unique experiences that you can possibly have in a lifetime. Though the cost of living in this small island may seem high, it is not as expensive as many people have imagined or portrayed Singapore to live in. In fact, the prices for basic necessities such as education, clothing, food, utilities, and public transport in Singapore are quite affordable, as well as public transport and taxi services.

However, if you are considering more expensive options such as private schooling, car maintenance, and housing, the cost will require a higher budget. If you do have the budget for these luxury, you will surely find the life in Singapore an extremely comfortable experience.

Do not worry if you are on a tight budget. In Singapore, there is always something for everybody and offers a wide range of choices and prices!

Read our detailed article on “The Cost of Accommodation in Singapore” here.

Read our detailed article on “The Cost of Food in Singapore” here.

Read our detailed article on “The Cost of Transportation in Singapore” here.

Read our detailed article on “The Cost of Healthcare in Singapore” here.

Read our detailed article on “The Cost of Education in Singapore” here.

There are several childcare centers in Singapore that provide excellent childcare services for kids. The cost of childcare help varies, and depends on the childcare center that you choose to go with. Generally speaking, a half-day childcare service would cost you around S$400 to S$1,200, while a full-day childcare service would cost you around S$500 to S$1,500.

The cost of utilities in Singapore, taking into calculation the gas, electricity and water bills, will range from around S$200 to S$600 per month, depending on your usage. Note that air-conditioning will lead to a high rise in electricity cost.

If you are considering a broadband Internet connection at home, it will cost you around S$50 per month. As far as cable TV connection goes, you can either pay around S$28 for a basic channel subscription or anywhere between S$50 and S$80 for an expanded channel subscription.

Hiring a domestic helper is common in Singapore and there are a number of maid agencies that can provide you with a live-in domestic helper. The average cost of hiring a live-in domestic helper will be around S$600 to S$1,000 per month. There is also the option of hiring a part-time domestic helper for an hourly fee of around S$10 to S$20.

Singapore’s personal income tax rates for non-residents are taxed at a flat rate of 15%, while Singapore’s personal income tax rates for residents start at 0% and can go up to a maximum of 20%.

Electronics and appliances in Singapore are not too expensive. For example, you can buy a good quality TV for the price of S$600 to S$10,000. Of course, it all depends on your personal preferences. Movie tickets usually sell from around S$10.00, and a copy of a local newspaper shouldn’t cost you more than S$1.00.

Note that alcohol and cigarettes are heavily taxed in Singapore and thus more expensive than many other countries. The price for a pack of cigarettes starts at around S$11.60.

There are many different options in Singapore. With this in mind, the cost of living in Singapore is highly affordable if you are good at managing your financial resources. For example, if your monthly salary does not exceed S$4,000, you should try and use the public transportation system as often as possible. Renting an HDB flat would be a good idea too, as well as sending your child to a local school.

Timcole is one of the leading company incorporation and accounting firm based in Singapore. Our wide range of professional services serve as a one-stop solution for your business, offering you the most affordable price for services conducted with the highest level of excellency.

Contact us to find out more on how we can help you with your company today.

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As an expatriate living in Singapore, there are 2 choices of education for your child educating. You can either send them to a government school or a private school. Another name for a government school is a local public school, while private schools are also known as international schools.

Depending on your working pass, you may be eligible to enroll your child into a local public school. If successfully enrolled, the cost will be around S$246-S$356 for primary education, S$341-S$486 for secondary education, and S$552-S$772 for junior college education. Public schools serve as a more affordable choice for many as the cost of international schools may be on the higher end.

Some of the private schools in Singapore include international, American, British, Swiss, Japanese, Canadian, Dutch, and German private schools. The fees for these private schools can range anywhere from S$12,000 to S$30,000 per year.

Timcole is one of the leading company incorporation and accounting firm based in Singapore. Our wide range of professional services serve as a one-stop solution for your business, offering you the most affordable price for services conducted with the highest level of excellency.

Contact us to find out more on how we can help you with your company today.

Check our our promotional packages, covering all aspects of your business needs:

• Company Incorporation Packages
• Company Secretarial Services
• Company Accounting & Taxation Packages
• Business / Limited Liability Partnership Set-Up Packages

Contact us for a free consultation today to choose or customize the most suitable plan for your business.

The healthcare system in Singapore is known to be one of the best in Asia, and is rank 6th-best healthcare provider in the world by the WHO (World Health Organization) in 2000. It is well known to be cost-effective, and offers state-of-the-art medical treatments with high success rates.

Even if your employer does not provide health insurance, the cost of medical services in Singapore is not as scary as you think. Another thing to note is that you do not need any insurance to cover your day-to-day healthcare needs, meaning that you can set aside a good budget of anywhere between S$100 and S$200 per month for any medical emergency (small illness excluding hospitalization or surgery).

If you are thinking of purchasing an insurance that covers both surgery and hospitalization, the price will range between S$2,000 and S$3,000 per year. Keep in mind that hospitalization charges largely depend on the ward that you choose. With this in mind, daily ward charges can range from as low as S$30 to as high as S$3,000.

Singapore has one of the best and least expensive public transportatio systems in the world. The average price for a one-way bus fare is about S$1.60. If you combine MRT and bus transports, it should cost you no more than S$150 a month, considering an average weekend cost of around S$10 and a daily commute of around S$3.50.

In Singapore, most taxi drivers are willing to cover even the shortest of distances. And unlike some other countries, hiring a taxi service in Singapore is considered affordable.

A taxi ride can cost as low as S$3.00 to S$3.40 for the first mile, and around S$0.22 for every 400 meters traveled, up to 10 kilometers. Afterwards, you only need to pay the same amount for only every 350 meters traveled, not 400.

To hire a taxi in Singapore, you can either hail a cab on the road or call their number for an additional fee of around S$2.30 to S$3.30 to book a taxi service. Nowadays, apps such as ‘Grab’ is also a popular option for locals to call a cab. Unlike the traditional way, the price is fixed.

Owning a private car in Singapore can be an expensive luxury due to the heavy government taxes that come with it. Due to the fact that Singapore’s government aims to eliminate the problem of air pollution and heavy road congestion, heavy taxes are imposed for private cars owners.

If you are still intending to drive around Singapore in a private car, keep in mind that you will need to take into account both the initial purchase cost and any recurring costs that you might have to face later on. One of the biggest consideration will be the Certificate of Entitlement, a certificate that allows you to both register and own a vehicle for a period of 10 years.

Automobile fuel in Singapore is neither gas nor gasoline, but called petrol. Petrol is measured in liters, and a single liter of petrol could cost you anywhere between S$2.15 and S$2.52, depending on the grade of it.

The average cost of parking in Singapore starts at S$2.00 per hour. A person relying on private car as his main source of transportation will spend around S$600 a month on parking, petrol, and toll charges. You should also take in account an average cost between S$500 and S$1000 a year for maintenance.

A brand new European or Japanese car can easily cost you around S$150.000.

Timcole is one of the leading company incorporation and accounting firm based in Singapore. Our wide range of professional services serve as a one-stop solution for your business, offering you the most affordable price for services conducted with the highest level of excellency.

Contact us to find out more on how we can help you with your company today.

Check our our promotional packages, covering all aspects of your business needs:

• Company Incorporation Packages
• Company Secretarial Services
• Company Accounting & Taxation Packages
• Business / Limited Liability Partnership Set-Up Packages

Contact us for a free consultation today to choose or customize the most suitable plan for your business.

Eating cost in Singapore largely depends on how extravagant you are when it comes to eating.

You can save a significant amount of money if you can prepare your own food or do not mind eating out in food courts. That being said, while Singapore offers several different international cuisines for pretty much every price range, it is no doubt that eating out on a daily basis can be an expensive option in the long run.

If you have the ability to prepare your own food at home, your average monthly food costs shouldn’t come up to anything more than S$200 to S$300 per person for basic ingredients.

In Singapore, food courts and hawker centers are widely available and offer a wide variety of meal at affordable cost. An average lunch at a hawker center should cost you no more than S$4. As far as eating at a food court in Singapore goes, you can enjoy a decent lunch for about S$5 or S$6. A full meal at a fast food joint will cost you around S$7, while a drink at Starbucks will cost you around S$6 or S$7.

When it comes to eating at an average restaurant in Singapore, you could end up paying anywhere between S$20 and S$40 per person for a basic meal. In other words, your food cost should range between S$600 and S$1,000 per month, but it all depends on your eating choices.

Timcole is one of the leading company incorporation and accounting firm based in Singapore. Our wide range of professional services serve as a one-stop solution for your business, offering you the most affordable price for services conducted with the highest level of excellency.

Contact us to find out more on how we can help you with your company today.

Check our our promotional packages, covering all aspects of your business needs:

• Company Incorporation Packages
• Company Secretarial Services
• Company Accounting & Taxation Packages
• Business / Limited Liability Partnership Set-Up Packages

Contact us for a free consultation today to choose or customize the most suitable plan for your business.

The cost of housing in Singapore depends on a couple of different factors. This includes factors such as the accommodation’s proximity to the city, availability of recreational facilities, the age of the property, and the quality of furnishings in the accommodation.

With all aspects in mind, you should never make any rash decisions when it comes to choosing where you are living in Singapore. Other factors you must consider include the rental cost, as well as your personal preferences.

In this article, we will highlight the common housing choices in Singapore, along with their basic information and cost range. With your monthly salary (and/or housing allowance you have) in mind, the below choices serve as a good comparison for you to make a final choice.

Many expatriates in Singapore choose to live in private condominiums due to the availability of recreational facilities such as swimming pools and tennis courts.

Depending on the location of the building, as well as the property’s age, the rental price for private condominiums can vary significantly. For example, renting a 3-bedroom private condominium in a prime area such as Bukit Timah, Tanglin, and Orchard can range from around S$7,000 per month to an astonishing S$15,000 per month. But once again, it all depends on the location, as well as on how luxurious the condominium is.

High-end luxurious condominium can range anywhere from S$8,300 to S$13,000 per month. When it comes to 3-bedroom private condominiums located in some of the city’s fringe areas, the price can range from S$4,500 to S$7,000.Alternatively, private condominiums located in neighborhoods further away from the city (such as Pasir Ris, Bedok, Changi, Ang Mo Kio, Woodlands, Jurong, Tampines, Yishun, Punggol, and Clementi) are much cheaper than the ones in the city. The rental price for these private condominiums is usually between S$3,000 to S$5,000 per month.

Private apartments in Singapore are pretty similar to private condominiums. The biggest difference between the two lies in the fact that private apartments often lack the recreational facilities available in private condominiums. These recreational facilities include  tennis courts, swimming pools, BBQ pits, and more.

It is also important to note that private apartments tend to be older buildings. The main reason for this is because most of the new construction is done in the form of private condominiums. That being said, renting a 3-bedroom private apartment in a central or popular area can range between S$5,000 and S$7,000, while those located further away are around S$4,000 per month.

If you are on a tight budget, living in an HDB flat (also known as a government housing flat) is one of the more affordable options to go for. Most HDB flats are located within close proximity to community facilities such as libraries, supermarkets, local schools, bus stations, shopping malls, and banks.

Unlike private condominiums, government housing flats do not have free amenities like gyms or swimming pools. The rental cost for an HDB unit depends on the unit’s location, as well as the size of the unit itself. A 3-bedroom government housing flat that is located in a city or popular area can be rented for the price of S$3,000 per month, while the price of an HDB flat located in a suburban area often ranges from S$2,200 to S$2,700 per month.

Landed properties in Singapore include detached houses, terraced houses, semi-detached houses, and bungalows. As Singapore is a small country with a pretty large population, landed properties are not as common and expensive to buy or rent. Renting a landed property in Singapore, for example, a detached bungalow in popular area, can reach to approximately S$18,000 per month.

A high-end luxurious bungalow with 4 bedrooms and a backyard will be more expensive than a regular detached bungalow. It could cost approximately S$35,000 per month. Semi-detached houses and terraced houses are relatively cheaper than high-end bungalows. Their rental price range from around S$8,000 to S$13,000 per month.

If you are planning on renting a single room in a private apartment in prime districts such as Chinatown, East Coast, and River Valley, room rental can range between $S800 to $S1,800 per month. Also, depending on both the location and size of the room, renting just a room in a HDB flat is only around S$500 to S$800 per month.

Some expatriates may prefer renting serviced apartments over other available choices. This is because serviced apartments offer hotel-style facilities and personalized services. It is also a popular choice for people who are only intending to stay in Singapore for a short amount of time and are looking for a flexible lease. Serviced apartments in Singapore are normally fully furnished with a gym and swimming pool.

Most services apartments in Singapore come equipped with either 1 or 2-bedroom units, with some offering larger 3-4 bedroom units. You can find a large number of services apartments in the Orchard area, as well as the River Valley area, East and West Coast area. Depending on its location and how luxurious the serviced apartment is, the rental price of a one-bedroom unit can range anywhere between S$7,000 and S$14,000 per month.

Timcole is one of the leading company incorporation and accounting firm based in Singapore. Our wide range of professional services serve as a one-stop solution for your business, offering you the most affordable price for services conducted with the highest level of excellency.

Contact us to find out more on how we can help you with your company today.

Check our our promotional packages, covering all aspects of your business needs:

• Company Incorporation Packages
• Company Secretarial Services
• Company Accounting & Taxation Packages
• Business / Limited Liability Partnership Set-Up Packages

Contact us for a free consultation today to choose or customize the most suitable plan for your business.

Due to the geographical location of Singapore, the climate in Singapore is mostly known for its uniform temperature and pressure, as well as both high humidity and abundant rainfall. The average temperature in Singapore is often between 25°C and 31°C, and as far as thunderstorms go, they occur on an average of 40% of all days.

In Singapore, January is the coldest month, April is the hottest month, and November is the wettest month. The relative humidity is usually between 70% and 80%.

Singapore consists of 3 major regions – the central hilly region, the west and southwestern region, and the eastern region. The central hilly region of Singapore is known for having heavy deposits of granite, while the west and southwestern region consists of sedimentary rocks, which have formed two narrow ridges – the Pasir Parjar Ridge and Mount Faber Ridge. The eastern region of Singapore is relatively flat and sandy. This part of Singapore is also known as the rain shadow region, and as a result, it receives less rainfall compared to the western region.

Over the years, Singapore’s landscape has gone through really big changes due to urbanization. For example, the mangrove swamps have been drained and filled, and the central hilly region has been leveled. The three main water reservoirs, as well as their catchment area, are the only things that have been left untouched of the rain-forests. They occupy the central region of the city-state.

Singapore is a relatively safe place with little natural disasters such as volcanoes, typhoons and earthquakes. However, Singapore does sometimes experience flash floods in certain areas when there is excessive rainfall.

Singapore is filled with all sorts of cultures, with Malay, Indian, and Chinese ethnic groups comprising its sociocultural fabric. The huge number of foreigners that have decided to visit Singapore over the last couple of years has landed this beautiful country a multi-cultural status. Each and every single one of the ethnic communities that can be found in Singapore maintain their unique way of life while living harmoniously with all the other ethnic groups at the same time.

In other words, Singaporeans know how to live peacefully with one another, regardless of what ethnic group they belong to. Due to the fact that Singapore is filled with a variety of cultures, as well as all sorts of people from many different ethnic groups, Singapore is filled with both religious and public holidays.

Singaporeans celebrate festivals that are specific to their respective religions, as well as their respective ethnic groups. On top of that, Singapore is also filled with a wide variety of holidays that are celebrated by the entire nation.

Some of the most popular religious festivals that are celebrated in Singapore include the New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Vesak Day, and Christmas Day. And some of the most important socio-cultural events in Singapore include National Day, Labour Day, and Good Friday.

Here are some of the most important things that you should know about each and every single one of these holidays!

When it comes to driving in Singapore, things may be a little bit different than driving in some other countries. This is especially the case when you are a holder of a driving license that was issued outside of Singapore. If you are a holder of a driving license that was issued outside of Singapore, you will need to convert that foreign driving license of yours. And now, here are some of the most important things that you need to know about converting a foreign driving license in Singapore!

If you are a foreigner who is at least 18 years old and have either a Work Pass, Dependent Pass or Student Pass, you can drive in Singapore with a valid foreign driving license. However, you can only do it for a certain amount of time, which is not more than 12 months. After 12 months of driving around Singapore with a foreign driving license, you will need to obtain a Singapore driving license.

If you have a driving license that was issued outside of Singapore, make sure to check if there is a need for you to convert your foreign driving license before you even begin driving in Singapore. Both Singapore citizens and permanent residents are allowed to drive in Singapore only after they obtain a Singapore driving license. Also, both Singapore citizens and permanent residents are required to convert their foreign driving licenses within three months of obtaining their Singapore citizenship or permanent resident status.