Become A Singapore Digital Nomad : An Advanced 2023 Guide

Become A Singapore Digital Nomad : An Advanced 2023 Guide 

If having the world as your office sounds like the kind of lifestyle you want to live. Become a Singapore digital nomad, and this garden city is your office to enjoy.

Singapore is known for having many lush greens and tree-lined streets, as well as having a diverse society of cultures and races

The diversity in Singapore gives the country a unique identity. The union of many nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities means it is a city that plays host to many exciting things. 

Summary

1. Best places to stay as a digital nomad in Singapore
2. Cost of living in Singapore  
3. How to get around? 
4. Weather 
5. Digital nomad visas in Singapore 
6. Top destinations for digital nomads in Singapore  
7. Cool co-working places for digital nomads in Singapore  
8. Best food to try in Singapore  
9. Digital Nomad Singapore Useful tips

Best Places to Stay As A Digital Nomad in Singapore 

Singapore is popular among the digital nomads and expatriates despite the high costs of living because it boasts one of the world’s highest standard of living and one of the world’s fastest internet speed.

Singapore’s housing rental is significantly more expensive than many other digital nomad spots.

Most of your budget would most likely be spent on rental costs. 

For digital nomads, if you can afford accommodation, this is an effortless city in which to stay awhile. 

Coliving.com

Coliving in Singapore offers a range of accommodations from minimalist apartments to stunning villas to meet your choice and budget.

Coliving offers a community living concept where you can work and live alongside like-minded individuals.

They host fully furnished, specially-designed living spaces to create an inspiring environment for people to interact and share experiences.

It’s perfect for those relocating for a new job, young professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, interns, travellers, remote workers and many more.

Lyf Funan Singapore 

Address: 67 Hill St, Level 4 Funan Mall, Singapore 179370

Phone: +65 6970 2288

Lyf Funan allows digital nomads to try coliving in Singapore. It is the largest co-living property in Southeast Asia. 

It is ideally located in Singapore’s central business district and is around 121000 square feet (sq ft). Stay at Lyf to enjoy the well-designed shared spaces and dive into a diverse and dynamic community of like-minded travellers and locals. 

Hmlet 

Hmlet is the most well known co-living startups in Singapore. With just a minimum 3-month lease, you can choose anything from a fully furnished room to a corporate apartment. 

The monthly rent is all-inclusive, and everything is aesthetically pleasing.

If you would like read more about all the best coliving space in Singapore, check this out:

• A Complete Guide To All The Best Coliving Spaces in Singapore

Why Become A Digital Nomad in Singapore?

The advantage of being a digital nomad is that you can travel the world and get paid while you’re on the go. 

Singapore is an excellent travel platform to visit the rest of South Asia. 

Imagine a quick trip to Kuala Lumpur, Ha Long Bay, Bangkok, Boracay, or Bali is less than 4 hours away. That’s convenient!

Singapore Airport 

Singapore Changi Airport is named the world’s best airport for the eighth year in a row at the annual Skytrax World Airport Awards. 

The airport comprises four terminals and the Jewel Changi. Singapore’s airport is not just about planes. The terminals draw visitors with features like the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. 

Singaporean Food

If there is one thing you have to do in Singapore, it is to eat, eat and eat. This is the land of good food. 

From Singapore’s traditional cuisines such as Chinese, Indian and Malay, to cultural cuisine permutations such as Peranakan. Singapore’s dining landscape is a mouth-watering delight for all gourmets.

You could dine at a new place everyday and you will never run out of good places to try. From street food and heritage dining spots to swanky celebrity restaurants, options abound.

Singapore is a food paradise. 

The English Language 

English is the main language used in school and at work in Singapore, and has become the city’s most commonly spoken language. 

Based on the EF English Proficiency Index 2020, Singaporean adults rank number 10 in the world. 

Often described as one of the most orderly cities in the world, Singapore signs and information boards are all in the English Language. 

This island city-state is undoubtedly one of the world’s most popular visitor destinations because of the convenience of being able to converse in English. 

Reliable Internet Connection

This is a plus point for digital nomads looking to work remotely in Singapore.

Unlike other nearby countries, the Wi-Fi is fast and reliable in Singapore, even at remote places. There is available stable and free Wi-Fi called “Wireless@SG” at some bus and MRT stations.

Digital nomads can buy tourist SIM cards at local kiosks, namely Starhub, M1, Singtel, and 711 stores. It is as low as $22/ per month, with different data plans depending on your preference.

Cost Of Living In Singapore 

There is no question that it is expensive to live in Singapore. 

This compact city-state is Southeast Asia’s most modern city. From some of the most costly car prices globally to the high rent, it is not surprising that Singapore is 2% more expensive than New York and remains the most expensive city for expatriates.

Nevertheless, this city garden offers an incredible lifestyle for people who can afford it. 

So, don’t put Singapore off your travel list yet!  Singapore’s reputation for being an expensive place to live is only valid to an extent. 

Eating out at local establishments is exceptionally cheap. Singapore is a small country, and getting around is never going to be an enormous expense either. 

You don’t have to take a car anywhere; Singapore’s public transportation system is one of the best and most affordable in the world. 

How To Get Around Singapore? 

By Train And Bus

Singapore’s public transportation is fast and no fuss. Singapore’s public train system is called the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). The train is a great way to get around the city. 

Singapore also has an extensive network of bus routes covering most places in Singapore. All buses are air-conditioned. 

1. EZ-link cards: Stored value smartcard that comes with a value of $7. You can purchase this card at $12 at any Transitlink Ticket Office or convenience stores.

2. SimplyGo: You can use foreign-issued contactless bank cards to make payment for public transportation. A small administration fee applies. 

By Taxi

It is easy to flag down a taxi in Singapore. Taxis are easy peasy to get off the street. Though in some areas there are designated taxi queues. 

All rides are metered, and fares vary across taxi operators. Surcharges apply depending on the time, type of booking, location and taxi model. The fares are publicly available and transparent for all passengers. 

By Ride-Hailing Apps

There is no Uber in Singapore. You heard that, right! The popular US ride-hailing giant exited from Southeast Asia in 2018. 

So pull out your smartphones and download these apps instead: 

• ComfortDelgro
• Grab Singapore 
• Gojek and 
• Ryde 

These apps provide you with different options for requesting on-demand rides or hailing taxis. 

The Weather In Singapore 

Singapore is located at the Malay Peninsula’s southern tip, about 137 kilometres (85 miles) north of the Equator. 

Such proximity to the Equator means that its temperature and humidity remain relatively even throughout the year. Its hot and humid tropical climate characterises Singapore. 

Over the year, Singapore’s average temperature typically varies from 25°C to 32°C (76°F to 89°F) and is rarely below  23°C or above 34°C (75°F or above 92°F). 

The country does not experience the typical four seasons. 

The city-state climate, however, has two monsoon seasons. These monsoon surges mean intense wind episodes bringing significant rainfalls. 

• The Northeast Monsoon from December to early March.
• The Southwest Monsoon from June to September.

The climate of Singapore is perennially “summer” in sunny Singapore.

So, choose breathable, light clothes that are excellent to wear in the hot weather. You can flaunt pretty summer dresses all year round. 

Digital Nomad Visas in Singapore 

Singapore is very friendly to international visitors as most of the world’s nations can travel to Singapore visa-free. 

To check if you need a visa for Singapore, check on the Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. 

The SG Arrival Card (SGAC) is an e-Service to facilitate the submission of personal information, trip details and health declaration by all travellers seeking entry.

Documents Required:

• A current valid passport
• A digital photo taken in the last 3 months
• A Credit/debit card or a Paypal account.
• Information about your occupation
• Your confirmed travel dates
• Accommodation information
• Information regarding your academic/professional background

Unfortunately, Singapore does not have a Digital Nomad Singapore Visa . 

A regular Singapore tourist visa is valid for a period of 30 days. Once the visa expires, tourists must exit the country as per the immigration rules.

Unless you have recently started (less than 6 months prior to application) or intend to start, a private limited company, you may be eligible for an Entrepass visa for Singapore.

Or if you are an undergraduate or recent graduate of a university in:

• Australia 
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Netherlands
• New Zealand 
• Switzerland 
• United Kingdom
• United States

Apply for a Work Holiday Visa and you can stay and work in Singapore for up to 6 months. This is eligible for 18 to 25 years old young graduates and students.

7 Top Travel Destinations for Digital Nomads in Singapore  

1. Gardens By The Bay

This iconic urban nature park that spans 110 hectares within the Marina Bay district of the central region of Singapore needs no advertising. 

This spectacular landscaping project is home to 18 incredible Supertrees.

These supertree groves, as you might have guessed, are not trees in the traditional sense, but rather a series of man-made frames which house both greens and green technology. They come alive daily at 7:45pm & 8:45pm to perform a Garden Rhapsody– a performance with music and lights. 

Address: 8 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953

Operating hours: Daily 5am to 2AM

Public transit access: Gardens By The Bay MRT Station (TE22), Founders’ Memorial MRT station

2. Changi Lounge at Jewel Changi Airport

Jewel Changi Airport is one of Singapore’s architectural crown jewels.

It is a tropical forest and waterfall in a glass dome at Singapore Changi Airport. You can enjoy working as Singapore digital nomad in this incredible workspace. 

The lounge provides high-speed internet connectivity, ample charging and power points for devices, and meeting rooms with video conferencing facilities.

Address: Jewel Changi Airport, Level 1

Operating hours:  Daily 9 am to 9 pm

8-hour Package: USD34 (S$44) 

3. Henderson Waves

The highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore looks like a series of undulating waves rising between two public parks.  

The bridge won design of the year 2009 because of its innovative design concept. The bridge is a folded three-dimensional surface-form cleverly created by a mathematical equation.

You can plan a hike through the Southern Ridges Walking Trail. 

This route comprises 10 km of green, open spaces that connect Henderson Waves Bridge, Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark, Kent Ridge Park and Labrador Nature Reserve. 

Address: Henderson Rd, Singapore 159557

Operating hours: Open 24 hours

4. Singapore’s Rooftop Pool

The world’s largest rooftop infinity pool is at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. 

Marina Bay Sands’ infinity pool gazes down on the glittering expanse of the city from 57 levels above Moshe Safdie architectural marvel.  To sunbathe at this pool, you’ll have to be a hotel guest at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Address: 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956

Operating hours:  6am to 11pm daily, subject to weather conditions.

5. Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop – solely for Singaporean literature

This is the only bookshop selling all-Singapore books.

The books are about Singapore, books written by Singaporean authors or books published by Singaporean publishers. They even serve Singapore-style coffee along with delicious local snacks. 

Address: 45 Maxwell Road, #01-01, Singapore 069118

Phone: +65 9137 9050

Operating hours: 

Monday to Friday 7 am-5 pm for coffee, 10 am-7 pm for books 

Saturday 8am-12pm for coffee and 10am-2pm for books.

Sundays Closed

6. Sentosa Island

You can go kayaking, skim boarding or play volleyball at Siloso Beach. At Underwater World aquarium, you can swim with dolphins.

You can get the best hotel deals at Sentosa Island here.

5 Cool Co-working Places for Digital Nomads in Singapore

1. The Hive In Singapore

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6.30 pm (excluding Public Holidays)

Website: https://thehive.sg/

This is Singapore’s most buzzing shared office space Singapore. 

They have two locations:  

1. the Hive Carpenter 

Address: The Hive Carpenter, 36 Carpenter St, 059915 Singapore

Phone: +65 65322119

2. the Hive Lavender

Address: the Hive Lavender, Level 6, Vanguard Building, 1 Kallang Junction, 339263, Singapore

Phone: +65 6291 7861

the Hive Studios is within the Hive Lavender with dedicated photographers booths and private offices set around two professional photography studios.

The Hive team is super friendly, and the workspace is beautiful. 

This is a co-working Singapore space that encourages dynamism, creativity and success for any Singapore digital nomad. 

Having a Hive membership means joining a vibrant community that stretches to Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong. You can set up your workspace in many unique locations with just one membership.

Hot Desking Singapore at the Hive starts from SGD 250/ per month. 

2. The Working Capitol in Singapore

Address: 1 Keong Saik Road, 089109, Singapore

Phone: +65 6805 4050

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 6 pm (excluding Public Holidays)

Website: theworkingcapitol.com

The Working Capitol (TWC) was named best co-working space in Singapore  by the Huffington Post. This co-working space in Singapore is located in a three-storey heritage building shophouse. 

This space was uniquely transformed from an old biscuit factory. Hot Desking Singapore at The Working Capitol starts from $79/ per month. 

3. Trehaus Co-Work

Address: #03-01, 442 Orchard Rd., Singapore

Opening Hours: 24 hours (excluding Public Holidays)

Website: https://trehauscowork.com

Trehaus Co-Work is equipped with childcare services and child learning facilities, which is a noble effort to cater to the digital nomad working mothers.

There is also a nursing room and changing room for breastfeeding mothers.

The coworking space plans at the Trehaus Co-Work starts at USD261/ per month. Signing up for 6-month membership entitles members of their own personal lockers.

4. JustCo In Singapore

Address: 1 Gateway Dr, #07-01, Westgate Tower, Singapore

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 6 pm (excluding Public Holidays)

Website: https://justcoglobal.com/sg/

They have 18 coworking spaces in Singapore. Several of them are:

• JustCo 6 Raffles Quay

Address: 6 Raffles Quay, #16-01, 048580 Singapore

• JustCo 120 Robinson Road

Address: 120 Robinson Road, #15-01, 068913 Singapore

• JustCo Asia Green

Address: 9 Tampines Grande, Asia Green, #02-00, 528735 Singapore

JustCo has 40 coworking space centres located globally and are accessible to all members. Isn’t that convenience?

The membership plans at JustCo in Singapore starts at USD297/ month.

5. ClubCo

Address: 25 Church Street, Capital Square 3, #02-03, 049482, Singapore

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to 11.30 pm. Saturday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm

ClubCo is located in a historical and architectural building. There is a cafe connected to ClubCo coworking space.

The membership plans start from USD 370/ month.

For more details about coworking spaces in Singapore, you can read this article 27 Best Coworking Spaces In Singapore [2023 Update].

Best Food To Try In Singapore 

The best local food in Singapore is not in restaurants. Yes, that is right!

Unlike many countries with its many Michelin star restaurants. Singapore’s Hawker Culture is where the best food is. 

Follow the Singapore Michelin’s Bib Gourmand List , and you are in for some delicious food. 

This Michelin’s guide recognises hawker stalls, street food shops, and restaurants that serve high quality, good food at a moderate price. That means no damage to your pocket. 

My Favourite List: 

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice

Cuisine: Chinese 

Address: Chinatown Complex, 335 Smith Street #02–197/198/199, Singapore 050335

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Cuisine: Chinese 

Address: Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street #01–10/11, Singapore 069184

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

Cuisine: Chinese 

Address: 11 New Bridge Road #01–01, Singapore 059383

True Blue Cuisine

Cuisine: Peranakan

Address: 47/49 Armenian Street, Singapore 179937

Hjh Maimunah Restaurant

Cuisine: Malay

Address: 11 & 15 Jalan Pisang, Singapore 199078

The Blue Ginger

Cuisine: Peranakan

Address: 97 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088518

Muthu’s Curry

Cuisine: Indian 

Address: 138 Race Course Road #01–01, Singapore 218591

Alliance Seafood

Cuisine: Singaporean Seafood

Address: Newton Food Centre, 500 Clemenceau Avenue North #01–27, Singapore 229495

Useful Tips For A Digital Nomad In Singapore

Wi-Fi

Singapore has one of the fastest internet speeds in the world. The internet is strong and consistent everywhere. 

Wi-Fi hotspots are also widely available in various public areas in Singapore. 

To locate the Wi-Fi hotspot, look out for the Wireless@SG decal on display wherever this network is available, as well as the SSID Wireless@SG on your devices.

Language 

Singapore has a bilingual education policy, where all students in government schools are taught English as their first language. 

They learn a second language called their “Mother Tongue”, where they are either taught Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil.  

However, ‘Singlish’ is the language you need to learn. 

Singlish arose out of a situation of prolonged language contact between speakers of many different Asian languages. 

Singlish may sound a lot like English, but when Singaporeans start speaking it, foreigners will be thinking, are these people even speaking English? 

Three reasons to learn to speak like a local! 

1. It is always fun to learn a new language. 
2. It is uniquely Singaporean. 
3. It is such an efficient language you will be surprised how communication would be more accessible in Singapore. 

A helpful tip is to learn how to order your morning cup of joe like a local. Coffee is called Kopi and Tea is called Teh.  

Top Tip – Check out Say what? USD 19

This is a pocket-friendly deck of cards of 50 rich Singlish words to use in everyday life. 

FAQs on Singapore Digital Nomad

Can You Be A Digital Nomad In Singapore?

Yes, you can become a digital nomad in Singapore if you can afford the cost of living there. Singapore is small yet safe, secured, has stable internet connection, sheltered walkways, and extensive and integrated networks of public transport. Not to forget, plenty of choices of coworking spaces. Exactly what the digital nomads are looking for.

Can I Work As A Digital Nomad From Singapore?

Yes, you can work as a digital nomad from Singapore. Singapore does not issue an official digital nomad visa. So, as a digital nomad, you must apply for a Singapore tourist visa for less than 30 days of stay. For a stay that is longer than 30 days in Singapore, a work visa is needed.

Who Qualifies As A Digital Nomad In Singapore?

Any expatriate that arrives in Singapore for traveling and work purposes, for which the nature of his or her work is related to his or her country of origin and the work can be carried out remotely with the assistance of a laptop and secured internet connection, is qualified as a digital nomad in Singapore.

How To Be A Digital Nomad In Singapore

You can be a digital nomad in Singapore at any time as Singapore does not issue a digital nomad visa. So, you can stay for less than 30 days if you enter Singapore using a tourist visa. A work visa is for more than 30 days’ stay.

What Is The Best Country To Move To As A Digital Nomad?

The best country to move to as a digital nomad is Mexico. Mexico is among the best countries for digital nomads. If you are a digital nomad moving abroad from the USA to Mexico, the flights are cheap because of the close distance.

Do Digital Nomads Make Money?

Yes, digital nomads make money through remote working and earning money online. Some of the digital nomads can earn as much as more than $100,000 annually. They also earn money through passive income, which are created through monetization strategies. The best part as digital nomads is working while traveling.

What Is The Disadvantage Of Being A Digital Nomad?

The disadvantage of being a digital nomad is the difficulty in maintaining the balance between work and life. The quality of your work can deteriorate when you have a lack of good quality workspace so you have to make do. Many digital nomads suffer from burnout.

How Do Digital Nomads Pay Tax?

The digital nomads pay their taxes in either their home countries or their tax residence countries. Because of their nomadic lifestyles, they have to file taxes for their presence in different countries during a tax year. The territory, local, province and state taxes are subjected to differences during filing.

Do Digital Nomads Get Lonely?

Yes, digital nomads do get lonely. Loneliness is one of the most common struggles among digital nomads. Despite their nomadic lifestyles full of adventures and opportunities, they also have a fair share of challenges. They have to learn how to cope with their loneliness to maintain their stable mental health.

Conclusion 

Digital nomads are location-independent workers. 

The world is their office. Explore the lion city as a Singapore Digital Nomad and you can take a break, walk through the Gardens by the Bay, and enjoy a relaxing day in the largest glass greenhouse in the world, The Flower Dome. 

Singapore is a digital nomad heaven. 

DISCLOSURE

Some of the links on here are affiliate links, and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. I hope you find the information here helpful! Thanks.

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Become A Singapore Digital Nomad : An Advanced 2023 Guide