What to expect as a newbie expat in Singapore

If you’re heading to your first Singapore relocation, there are a few important points you’ll need to know.

Singapore is one of the most popular locations in the world for expat professionals for reasons which include high salaries, a fascinating ambience, great food, stunning entertainment and hot weather. Perhaps the worst shock for new arrivals concerns the tropical climate, as it’s not just hot weather and plenty of sunshine, it’s hell on earth for those unaccustomed to very high humidity. Basically, every single resident in the city state sweats due to the 80 per cent humidity combined with temperatures averaging 30 degrees Celsius. The upside is the zillions of hotels, restaurants shopping malls all pushing out aircon at a rate guaranteed to accelerate global warming forwards by at least a century. Conversely, indoor temperatures feel close to freezing, with scarves and warm sweaters essential.

Another of the city states’ negatives, especially for expats arriving with their families, is that ultra-long working hours are considered normal. Leaving work before the boss does is a bad mistake and results in avoidance tricks such as taking two-hour lunch breaks to compensate for having to work until 9 p.m. Another popular avoidance technique is to go to a movie at 6 p.m. after carefully arranging your jacket on your chair, then reappearing at 9 p.m. to leave at 9.30. It also helps to remember that Singaporeans are expert at complaining!

One aspect of Singaporean life is famed worldwide – the food. For new expat arrivals worried about hygiene, every single outlet from street stalls to high-end restaurants is government regulated. The choice is mind-boggling, including sellers in hawker hubs specialising in just one specific recipe or one type of cuisine, and prices are low whilst standards are high. Unfortunately, for expats still yearning for Western culinary favourites, foodstuffs such as decent bread and cheese command higher prices than they deserve.

For expats with families, the city state is safe and family facilities are state of the art. Live-in help is inexpensive, schools are amongst the world’s best, childcare is affordable and family-friendly activities are frequent and fun. Another advantage is that English is widely spoken, although admittedly with accents which may obscure meanings. ‘Singlish’ is the much-loved local pidgin lingo, and is a sign of acceptance when used to a foreigner by a local. Singapore’s lifestyle is addictive, with many expat professionals’ intentions to only stay for a few years soon forgotten, especially when they work out the amount of tax due on their Singapore earnings once they return home.