Moving to Singapore from the US: Full guide

Singapore might be small, but it packs a punch. This city-state offers Americans a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures and a world-class infrastructure. It's a clean, safe, and efficient place to live with lots of fun things to do.

You might be considering moving to Singapore from the US for work or as an international student. If so, you likely have questions about visa requirements, housing costs, and what daily life looks like there. Plus, you may wonder, "Is Singapore a good place to live?".

Here's everything you need to know about relocation to Singapore as an American, from finding your first apartment to tax implications.

We'll also introduce Wise — your international money transfer alternative. Use Wise to send stress-free transfers to over 140 countries - all at the standard mid-market exchange rate.

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Table of contents
Quick facts about Singapore Visa options for Americans in Singapore Cost of living in Singapore What’s the best way to send money to Singapore? Opening a bank account in Singapore Getting accommodation in Singapore Healthcare system in Singapore Expat communities in Singapore Is it safe to live in Singapore?

Quick facts about Singapore

• Population: 5.9 million¹
• Popular areas for expats: Orchard, Tanglin, Holland Village, East Coast
• Currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD)
• Official languages: English, Malay, Tamil, and Mandarin
• Main industries: Finance, Biotechnology, Energy, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Service/Tourism
• Cost of living: High

Visa options for Americans in Singapore

Americans can visit Singapore for up to 90 days without a visa for tourism or business purposes.² But if you want to live and work there, you'll need to apply for the appropriate visa or work pass.

Most Americans moving for employment will need Singapore's Employment Pass (EP), but a few other long-term visit passes exist depending on your situation.

Here are some of the visas you can use for moving from the US to Singapore:

Employment Pass (EP)

The Employment Pass is designed for foreign professionals, managers, and executives.To qualify, you need to earn at least 5,000 SGD per month and pass Singapore's Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), which evaluates whether hiring a foreigner adds value to the local workforce.³

S Pass

The S Pass is a work visa for skilled expat workers in technical roles. The minimum salary requirement is 3,150 SGD per month, which makes it more accessible than the Employment Pass for mid-level professionals.³Learn more about finding a job in Singapore.

Entre Pass

Foreign entrepreneurs can apply for an Entre Pass if they're starting a business in Singapore that's either venture-backed or uses innovative technology. This pass allows you to build your company while living in Singapore.

Personalised Employment Pass

The PEP is for high earners who already hold an Employment Pass or overseas professionals with significant experience. It offers more flexibility than a standard Employment Pass, including the ability to switch jobs without reapplying for a new pass.

Student Pass

If you're going to Singapore to study full-time, you'll need a Student Pass. Your school typically helps guide you through the application process.

Other visa options

Lion City actively courts skilled expats, so there are quite a few other visa categories that you may be eligible to apply for.There are passes for migrant workers in construction and manufacturing, domestic workers, and Work Holiday Passes for young adults. If you're bringing family members like a spouse or children, they can obtain a Dependent's Pass to join you.³

Cost of living in Singapore

Singapore often ranks as one of the most expensive cities in the world.

The good news is that if you are moving there for professional work, your salary will match the cost of living, and many companies offer expats generous employee benefits, including school and accommodation.

If your school or employer doesn't provide accommodations, renting in Singapore will likely be your biggest expense. A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center will cost you 3,981 SGD per month on average, and a 3-bedroom in the same location is a whopping 7,846 SGD.⁴

However, you can minimize costs in other areas of your life in Singapore. Singapore's MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is excellent and very cheap, and eating out can be affordable too, if you stick to local places. Hawker centers are wonderful for inexpensive street food.

Here's what you can expect to pay for everyday expenses:

Expense	Cost⁴
1-bedroom apartment (city center)	3,981 SGD/month
3-bedroom apartment (city center)	7,846 SGD/month
Meal at inexpensive restaurant	12 SGD
Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)	100 SGD
Monthly transport pass	120 SGD
Utilities	201 SGD
Internet	47 SGD
Gym membership (monthly)	150 SGD
International school (annual)	37,927 SGD

If you can secure an HDB (Housing and Development Board) flat, your rent will drop significantly. These government-built apartments house most Singapore citizens, but foreigners face certain restrictions when trying to rent them.

Overall, Singapore life is expensive. Lion City isn't a place you move to for the low cost of living, like Thailand, Vietnam, or a few other countries in Southeast Asia. One of the reasons it's such a popular destination with expats is that it's very developed, which triggers high costs.

That said, if you're moving to Singapore from the USA, you're probably already used to high urban costs. Plus, you can negotiate with your employer for a bigger package that covers housing, schooling, and other major expenses.

What’s the best way to send money to Singapore?

Banks are certainly one option for sending money internationally, as are services like PayPal. But the problem with banks is they can often be slow, expensive and inconvenient. Luckily, there’s a better alternative out there.

You can send money to Singapore with Wise for low fees and the mid-market exchange rate. It’s easy and quick to set up a payment online, and you’re guaranteed secure transfers even when sending large sums.

Wise is a money service business (MSB) regulated by 12 international financial authorities and uses sophisticated security features to keep you and your money safe.

Open a Wise account, and you can send, spend and convert between 40+ currencies whenever you need to. You can even receive money from all over the world using your own local account details.

As if all that wasn’t enough, there’s a Wise Multi-Currency Card too. For a one-time fee of just $9, you can spend in over 150 countries in the local currency. Your USD is automatically converted at the mid-market rate for just a small conversion fee.

Open a Wise account today

Opening a bank account in Singapore

You'll need a bank account to manage your finances in Singapore. Due to its position as a global financial center, Singapore is home to many international banks, such as HSBC, Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, and Barclays. The staff speaks English, too.

Opening a bank account in Singapore is typically straightforward if you have the right documentation. Most banks require you to hold a valid work pass, Student Pass, or Dependent Pass before they'll open an account for you.

You'll typically need to bring:

• Valid passport or national ID card
• Proof of Singapore address (utility bills or phone bills work)
• Your Employment Pass, S Pass, Student Pass, or Dependent Pass
• Reference or introduction letter (required by some banks)

Your employer can often help streamline this process and may even have relationships with certain banks that make opening an account easier.

Once your Singapore account is active, consider registering with Wise to transfer money between your US and Singapore accounts without having to pay hefty bank fees.

Tax implications for Americans in Singapore

As a Singapore expat, you'll need to navigate both Singapore and US tax obligations. The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live, so you can't escape US tax responsibilities by moving abroad.

Singapore determines tax residency based on physical presence. If you spend 183 days or more in Singapore during a tax year, you're considered a resident for tax purposes.

Singapore residents pay progressive income tax rates ranging from 0% to 24% on their earnings.⁵ Here's what to expect:

Income range (SGD)	Tax rate⁵
0 to 20,000	0%
20,001 to 30,000	2%
30,001 to 40,000	3.5%
40,001 to 80,000	7%
80,001 to 120,000	11.5%
120,001 to 160,000	15%
160,001 to 200,000	18%
200,001 to 240,000	19%
240,001 to 280,000	19.5%
280,001 to 320,000	20%
320,001 to 500,000	22%
500,001 to 1,000,000	23%
Over 1,000,000	24%

If you're not a Singapore tax resident, your employment income gets taxed at either 15% or the progressive rates above, whichever results in higher taxes.⁵

Unfortunately, there's no tax treaty between Singapore and the US, which means you could face double taxation on the same income.⁶

However, you may qualify for certain US tax credits and exemptions, such as the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, that can reduce your American tax burden. It can be helpful to consult with a tax professional to discuss how your Singapore move influences your US taxes.

Getting accommodation in Singapore

Accommodation in Singapore is expensive. Land is at a premium, and so for many expats, that translates into renting a condo—an apartment in a high-rise building. Condos offer a sociable expat life, often with a swimming pool and other communal amenities.

Houses and smaller apartment buildings are also available, and some expats with families choose to live further out of the city to take advantage of being near the coast or river.

There's another housing option called HDB flats. They're government-subsidized apartments that are cheaper than private rentals. However, these can be difficult for foreigners to qualify for, as they're primarily designed for Singapore citizens and permanent residents.

The easiest way to find housing is through a real estate agent. Most of the time, landlords typically cover the agent's fees, so using their services doesn't even cost you anything.

💡 You can also browse online property portals like PropertyGuru or 99.co to get a sense of what's available, or ask for recommendations in expat Facebook groups and from friends who've made the move.

House prices in Singapore are expensive, but if you're truly thinking of making your move permanent, you can also consider getting a mortgage in Singapore. It's not the easiest process, but it's possible.

Healthcare system in Singapore

Singapore's healthcare system is world-class, managed by the Ministry of Health and consistently ranked among the best globally. The system operates on a mix of public and private facilities with universal coverage.

However, only Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs) qualify for subsidized government healthcare services.

In Singapore, permanent residency is a specific status that typically requires years of residency and approval from the Ministry of Manpower. Most expats holding Employment Passes, S Passes, or Dependent Passes won't achieve permanent residence status.

Since foreigners can't contribute to Singapore's Central Provident Fund (CPF), which helps fund public healthcare, they're essentially excluded from the national insurance system.

This means you won't qualify for programs like Medishield Life and will need to pay out of pocket for medical care unless you have private health insurance.⁷

💡 Many employers provide expat health insurance as part of their relocation packages, but if yours doesn't, you'll need to purchase coverage privately. You may also want to supplement your employer's insurance, depending on the coverage. Some packages are quite basic.

Expat communities in Singapore

There are many foreigners in Singapore, but the expat community is pretty transient. Most people come for work assignments lasting a few years before moving on to their next destination. So, when you're living in Singapore, it can be hard to make long-term friends.

At the same time, there are many opportunities to connect with fellow expats in Singapore.

You'll likely meet lots of people through your workplace, condo building, or your children's international school if you have kids. Facebook groups for expats can be a good place to meet new people and ask questions about living in Singapore, too.

The most popular expat neighborhoods are Holland Village, Tanglin, Orchard, and East Coast. You'll find a large concentration of American expats there. Singapore is a former British colony, so expect to meet many UK expats, too.

Many people also work in the Central Business District.

Is it safe to live in Singapore?

Singapore is very safe, both day and night.

The city-state has exceptionally low crime rates, and you'll often see people reserving seats at hawker centers or cafes with their phones or wallets, and nobody thinks twice about taking them. There's an overall sense of security and social order.

You'll likely feel much safer in Singapore than in many major US cities.

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Now that you know how to move to Singapore from the US, it's time to decide whether or not it's the right decision for you.

Overall, Singapore is a clean and modern city with a well-developed infrastructure and lots of things to do. While becoming a Singaporean citizen is difficult, many Americans work there for a few years or even stay long-term. The Singaporean government is interested in attracting skilled professionals.

The main consideration is cost. Singapore's prices are comparable to major US cities, so it's important to take an honest look at your salary and create a realistic budget.

You may also be able to negotiate a comprehensive expat package with your employer that covers housing, schooling, and other major expenses. A good package can reduce many out-of-pocket costs and make Singapore much more affordable.

With the Wise account, you can top up your USD Wise balance with a domestic transfer that you will be able to convert at the mid-market rate with an upfront conversion fee.

🚀 Get started with Wise

Sources

1. Worldometer - Singapore Population
2. US Department of State - Singapore
3. Ministry of Manpower - Work passes
4. Numbeo - Cost of living in Singapore
5. Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore - Individual Income Tax Rates
6. IRS - United States income tax treaties
7. International Citizens Insurance - Health Insurance in Singapore for Foreigners

Sources checked 07/30/2025