For greater comfort and premium service, you may wish to book an MPV, London cab, limousine cab or a Chrysler taxi from SMRT. These cabs are available for hire for one-way or multiple transfers, even per-hour charters.
MRT & BUSSES
The Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is by far one of the easiest and quickest ways to get around Singapore. Comprising four lines and 89 stations, the comprehensive network spans across most of Singapore. The trains are safe, clean and reliable, arriving every three to eight minutes from 5.30am to 12.30am daily.
The Light Rail Transit (LRT) is a feeder rail service of 14 stations, serving the Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang estates.
Single trip tickets or the more convenient EZ-link card may be used on the MRT and LRT. The EZ-link card is a stored value card, allowing you multiple trips on trains and buses with rebates. Tickets and EZ-link cards may be purchased from any MRT or LRT station.
For more details on MRT routes, fares and travel times, visit the SMRT website.
DINING
It’s been said that there’s no better way to understand a country than through its cuisine.
From humble local fare to fine dining experiences, living in Singapore ensures a gastronomic adventure. At the last count, Singapore little island registered more than 5,200 establishments – this works out to about seven dining spots per square kilometre, or 18 per square mile!
Fine Dining
There is such an excess of options for the discerning palate when it comes to gourmet food that recommending a restaurant can be a mind-boggling affair. Many top hotels boast excellent menus to tempt the gastronome, but distinguished independent restaurants, like the members-only China Club atop Capital Tower, the Peach Garden (Cantonese), Les Amis (French), Da Paolo (Italian) and Santaro (Japanese) boutique chains, and countless other solo eateries, have carved their own firm niches in international cuisine. Fine dining clusters are also forming at Sentosa (including modern Chinese restaurant Cassia) and the revamped Collyer Quay. We even lay claim to having a home-grown French fusion restaurant, Iggy’s, on the S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. You may like to pick up a food guide such as the Miele Guide or search online for a wave of reviews on fine dining choices.
Exceptional Dining
And then there is location. You could make gastronomy an unforgettable affair with one of Singapore’s unique dining experiences, like a Jungle Breakfast with Wildlife, a romantic skylight dinner overlooking the harbour in a cable car or on board the Singapore Flyer, or else 70 storeys above the city at the Equinox complex. Be dazzled by celebrity chefs and acclaimed vintners when you attend masterclasses at the annual World Gourmet Summit.
Casual Dining
Whether in the city or the suburbs, the plethora of international fare will excite you. From heritage foods to popular Thai and Japanese restaurants to classic European or exotic Middle Eastern cuisines, you’ll never be bored eating in Singapore! Even celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is set to open his signature chain of Jamie’s Italian restaurants here. Soak in the ambience in different dining precincts; whether you prefer to relax or to party, epicurean enclaves like Dempsey Hill, Clarke Quay, and Chijmes are guaranteed to charm.
Hawker Stalls
While the ethnic quarters of Chinatown, Geylang Serai, or Little India are the obvious stops on a food tour, you can always get a good feel for local food at one of the kopi-tiams (coffee shops), hawker centres or air-conditioned food courts all around the island. You’ll find within them a diversity of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures offering a genuine taste of local favourites. The best of them include the Makansutra Glutton’s Bay, Lau Pa Sat Festival Market, and the Newton Food Centre. While the standard of cleanliness at such centres is generally high, you will be assured by the hygiene ratings plastered prominently on individual stalls, with ‘A’ being the cleanest.
At night, head out of the city to the East Coast Seafood Centre at the beach, to sample some of Singapore’s famous chilli or black pepper crabs. You’ll understand why the traffic there tails all the way back down the expressway on a weekend.
When such range and devotion abound, you’ll soon come to share Singapore’s passion for food. To start on your adventure, do browse the internet or pick up a local food guide such as Makansutra for reviews and tips. For opinions galore, check out epicurean blogs, including www.hungrygowhere.com and http://ieatishootipost.sg, prepared by food-obsessed Singaporeans.
BANKING
As one of Asia’s leading financial services centres, Singapore is home to an international array of major financial institutions.
Banking in Singapore, together with the financial infrastructure and services are backed by a strong regulatory framework, a pro-business environment, and sound economic fundamentals.
Types of Banks
The three local banks in Singapore are also Southeast Asia’s largest:
Other leading consumer banks (foreign) in Singapore include:
Apart from the regular personal banking services, these banks also offer Singapore-specific services such as the Supplementary Retirement Scheme and CPF Investment Scheme accounts. These five banks also operate on a shared ATM system where customers of one bank may utilise an ATM of any of the other four banks without being charged additional transaction fees.
While many other banks have branches in Singapore, they may not have the licence to offer retail operations here. The Monetary Authority of Singapore lists the different kinds of bank directories and banks in Singapore.
Opening an Account
Only citizens, permanent residents and those holding employment passes are able to open a bank account in Singapore. Usually, a completed application form, passport, employment pass and proof of mailing address are required to open an account. It’s advisable to call the bank beforehand to be sure.
Each bank has different requirements for opening an account, with differing minimum balances and service charges. For savings or current accounts, you will usually receive a cheque book, an ATM card and a PIN for online or phone banking.
Most banks offer the following services:
HEALTHCARE
Singapore’s healthcare system has gained an international reputation for impeccable standards, with state-of-the-art medical facilities.
It is also readily accessible and affordable, thanks to a well-planned and integrated healthcare structure. More than 400,000 people come to Singapore each year for medical treatment.
Outpatient Medical Services
Outpatient medical services can be sought at private clinics. In Singapore, you can find a General Practitioner (GP) in practically every neighbourhood. In fact, there is often more than one clinic within a neighbourhood. Anyone can walk into these private clinics, although you may wish to call first for an appointment.
The operating hours of these private clinics vary, but most of them operate from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, and are closed on Sundays and public holidays. There are also 24-hour clinics.
Consultation charges at a GP range from SGD 18 to SGD 55 per visit, excluding medication. Some GPs make house calls for emergencies. Government polyclinics also offer outpatient services at affordable rates.
Click here for a list of clinics in Singapore.
Hospitals
Public Hospitals in Singapore
There are seven public hospitals in Singapore comprising five general hospitals, a women’s and children’s hospital and a psychiatric hospital.
Six national specialty centres provide specialist services for cancer, cardiac, eye, skin, neuroscience and dental care.
There are also community hospitals for intermediate healthcare for the convalescent sick and aged who do not require the care of the general hospitals.
For medical emergencies, you may head straight for a hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit. Usually, some form of identification and a doctor’s referral letter (if any) will be requested for.
At public hospitals, non Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents may only stay in A (with 1 or 2 beds per room) and B1 (4 beds) wards. The charges in these wards are not subsidised and charges for Class A wards are SGD 200 per day onwards. There are no restrictions for private hospitals which charge from SGD 310 per day for a single room. These charges exclude treatment and other fees.
Charges in Singapore’s public hospitals are as transparent as it gets. The Ministry of Health provides a list of complete charges including doctors’ fees for a comprehensive range of procedures at public hospitals here.
Private Hospitals in Singapore
The private hospitals in Singapore include Camden Medical Centre, East Shore Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital, Mount Alvernia Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Raffles Hospital, Thomson Medical Centre. Most private hospitals offer executive or VIP suites. Some also offer premium medical services, such as Gleneagles Hospital’s elite health screening and the International Patients Centre at Raffles Hospital. Camden Medical Centre, which is also centrally located, houses some 59 specialist clinics and the latest suite of supporting medical facilities and services.
Click here for a full list of hospitals in Singapore.
Other Medical Services
There are also many specialist clinics in Singapore offering services in dentistry and optometry.
Medical Insurance
Insurance policies that have been bought in your previous country of residence may still be valid in Singapore, a check with the insurance company will confirm if they can service your policy here, to cover your critical illness or hospitalisation bills in Singapore. Many employers in Singapore cover their employees’ medical expenses in part or in full.
Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents are required to maintain a Medisave account as part of their Central Provident Fund (CPF), which is contributed from their wages and by their employers. Medisave is a national medical savings scheme which helps individuals put aside part of their income into their Medisave Accounts to meet their future personal or immediate family's hospitalisation, day surgery and certain outpatient expenses. It can also be drawn out to pay part of hospitalisation bills as well as outpatient treatments for four chronic diseases, namely diabetes, high blood pressure, lipid disorder and stroke. CPF members can also choose to be covered under MediShield which is a basic, low-cost medical insurance scheme run by the CPF Board.
You may also consider buying private health insurance if you are not covered under Medisave or your company’s group health insurance. These can be basic, covering only inpatient hospital stays, or comprehensive services including inpatient and outpatient care, lab tests, x-rays and other medical services. There are many reputable insurance agencies in Singapore which offer attractive premium rates and coverage. Do shop around to find a policy that suits your lifestyle and needs.
Immunisation
All children in Singapore need to be immunised against a list of diseases, namely diphtheria, Hepatitis B, measles, mumps, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis, rubella, tetanus and tuberculosis. Health authorities will ensure that all required immunisation has been carried out before the child is allowed to register for Primary 1 in Singapore schools.
Children may receive their vaccinations at any General Practitioner’s clinic or government polyclinic. The child’s Health Booklet is needed for record purposes. Each child born in Singapore is issued with a Health Booklet. If your child does not have one, you may purchase one from the Health Promotion Board or any polyclinic.
For information on the immunisation schedule, click here.
HOUSING
Though a small nation, housing in Singapore comes in a variety of ranges to suit differing budgets.
Wide Selection of Accommodation
As far as housing options in Singapore go, condominiums are a popular choice with both locals and non-locals. The vast range of facilities, from swimming pool and gym to round-the-clock security and scenic surroundings, provide for a comfortable lifestyle, especially for families. For a listing of condominiums, click here.
Serviced apartments are a convenient alternative. Apart from the usual condominium facilities, value-added services such as a cleaning service, laundry and room service are usually included. Some serviced apartments include:
For a listing of serviced apartments available, click here.
If your preference is for landed property, you will find that there is a fair variety in Singapore. Landed property includes bungalows, semi-detached houses, terrace houses, cluster houses and townhouses. You may click here to search for landed property in Singapore.
A unique type of Singapore housing are the black and white bungalows, which were houses built during Singapore’s colonial past and are now owned by the government. These houses are very airy, roomy and sometimes come double-storied with servants’ quarters. These bungalows have no facilities but are popular with expatriates for their size and quaint feel – the catch is that they are few and far between. You might want to try your luck at snagging one via Premas or through one of the many Singapore expatriate websites.
An exclusive guidebook on housing in Singapore is also available in the Contact Singapore members’ portal, which you can access upon registration.
Renting a Property
There are no restrictions on non-citizens renting a residential unit. Most who are new to Singapore engage a housing agent to source for a property that meets their needs. Or if you prefer, you may like to browse the local newspapers' classifieds section which advertises a list of private apartments, condominiums and houses for rent in Singapore. However, engaging a housing agent better ensures that your interests are protected, especially with regards to the lease.
Click here for a list of accredited housing agents in Singapore.
The cost of renting a place depends on:
Location. Popular residential areas in Singapore are Districts 9, 10 and 11, which are close to the Central Business District. Areas close to MRT stations and the new waterfront along the Singapore River are quickly gaining in popularity too.
Size and condition of the place.
Amenities. Condominiums with full facilities may command a higher price. Rent also depends on whether the place is furnished, partially furnished or unfurnished.
These are the steps in renting a place:
Sign a lease with the owner, the terms of which are agreed between the two parties. Most landlords and housing agents ask to see your Employment Pass before agreeing to the lease.
Sign an inventory listing of all the items provided by the owner, including their condition.
Usually, a deposit or “security bond” equivalent to one month’s rent is required for leases that are over a year.
Rental usually excludes utility bills but includes maintenance fees.
Approximate rental costs are: