Singapore is a tiny country, so there shouldn’t be a big difference in where you end up living, here on our island-city right? Wrong.
Our geography may be pretty uniform from East to West, but objectively speaking, every neighbourhood in Singapore has its own vibe and charm.
Orchard is the glittery shopping district of Singapore, Katong-Joo Chiat is the historic stronghold of the unique Peranakan and Eurasian people, Woodlands is a suburban town with plenty of green spaces, Ang Mo Kio is the quintessential bustling Singapore heartland town, Bukit Timah is a wealthy private neighbourhood nestled amidst Singapore’s largest nature reserve, Clementi is the nearest neighbourhood to the National University of Singapore and a great mix of old and new, Pasir Ris is a laid-back, relaxed estate overlooking Pasir Ris Beach.
As a recently arrived expat, your considerations for a neighbourhood may be simple: somewhere easy to navigate; and amenities, food, and transport. The excellent news is that almost every neighbourhood in Singapore easily offers these two things.
So then, the more pertinent questions would be: Do you prefer to settle in a neighbourhood with lots of other expats from your home country, to soften the transition and find community? Or are you adventurous and don’t mind trying to live in the heartlands, where it is highly likely that you may be the only expat in the entire neighbourhood–but you’ll get the full local experience?
There’s no right answer, only what feels most right to you.
To help you decide, here are some of Singapore’s best neighbourhoods for you to consider. Whatever you choose, remember that Singapore’s neighbourhoods are all very safe, well-organised, and will have a wide range of community amenities and facilities that you can enjoy.
These neighbourhoods in Singapore are where expats tend to live, for various reasons; community, proximity to schools, availability of familiar cuisine and groceries, and word-of-mouth play a big part in their popularity. The costs of living (in terms of rental, food, and entertainment) in these areas are expected to be higher, so you'll need to budget accordingly.
Holland Village has massive street cred with both expats and locals alike. It's a mix of trendy F&B establishments, independent studios and labels, and fitness bars, with small roads that are closed to traffic in the evenings for pedestrians to roam freely and lots of al fresco dining options. Expats love this enclave for its bohemian, laid-back vibe that feels similar to neighbourhoods back home in European or Australian cities (and so do locals, for that matter!)
This neighbourhood is extremely popular for expats from all over the world, so you’ll probably feel right at home from the start. It’s got everything you’ll need to settle in: supermarkets that stock a great international selection of groceries, great food, and pubs for weekend beers and live music.
More government-built flats, aka HDB flats, have sprung up around the Holland Village neighbourhood in recent years, so you’ll have more choices for rental instead of the bigger landed houses that once dominated the estate.
As one of Singapore’s oldest neighbourhoods in which the very first public HDB flats were built in 1929, Tiong Bahru has boatloads of charm, epitomising the best of both nostalgic and millennial sensibilities.
The neighbourhood is popular with expats for its proximity to the Central Business District, the unique Art Deco architecture, and the diverse mix of shops, which include a big hawker centre and market; plenty of hip cafes, coffee joints, ice cream parlours and artisanal bakeries; book stores; and eateries serving cuisines from all over the world.
If high-rise living is not for you, check out the walk-up apartments in the hood. They're full of old-world charm that encapsulates a slice of Singapore’s history before we became such a dense city-state.
One of the most unique aspects of Singapore has to be the Peranakan and Eurasian cultures, who are heritages born from the union of the native Straits people with Chinese and European immigrants.
Living in the Eastern neighbourhood of Katong and Joo-Chiat takes you right to the heart of these cultures, as Peranakan and Eurasian families made the neighbourhood their home in Singapore’s earlier years.
Today, the neighbourhood's landscape is vividly coloured shophouses, eye-catching street art, ethnic and trendy eateries, traditional furniture shops (think antique and rattan), and cultural Peranakan and Eurasian galleries. It's perfect for expats who want to be right in the thick of what makes Singapore culture so truly unique.
Located on the outskirts of Orchard Road, Tanglin is popular among expats who are looking to live in a bigger space while still wanting to be near town.
An estate filled with large, luxurious landed houses (and plenty of embassies), Tanglin is a wonderful respite from the buzz of nearby Orchard.
Having the beautiful Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the neighbourhood park is also a huge plus. Taking walks in the park in the hood in Tanglin at the Botanic Gardens is a whole different level–nowhere else in Singapore can you find a park with a swan lake, gentle rolling hills, the national orchid garden, and weekend outdoor music performances.
Do note that the neighbourhood is quiet, with the nearest eating and shopping enclaves at Dempsey Hill or Orchard. You’ll need to travel further out in search of local hawker food or markets.
Bukit Timah, in the Central part of Singapore, is an affluent neighbourhood set against the backdrop of Singapore’s natural lush rainforest in the nature reserve, with up-market shops, eateries, and grocery stores. This is where many expats tend to settle down in Singapore, and there's good reason for it:
Singapore’s residential areas, much like the rest of the city, are meticulously planned and organised. Most Singapore residents live in government-built flats, known as HDB flats. These flats are built in new towns all across Singapore, which also include commercial, work, recreational, and entertainment spaces. These are often known as the heartlands of Singapore, because these neighbourhoods are where Singapore residents grow up, build their families, and live their lives.
While it may be daunting as an expat to live in one of Singapore’s new towns, you can be assured that almost every neighbourhood in Singapore is designed to be self-contained with top-notch facilities, amenities, and public transport networks.
These five heartland neighbourhoods are gaining popularity among expats, and here’s why.
This neighbourhood in the North-East of Singapore is gaining popularity among expats, although it still remains extremely local.
It’s a residential town slightly further off from town, comprising a mix of HDB flats, private landed houses, and condominiums; with a large mall that has everything, an MRT station for great transportation options, and many hawker centres, markets and coffee shops for local eats.
You even get to experience a similar sort of laid-back charm of the Holland Village sort at the area’s own Serangoon Gardens estate, which is a quiet private estate with personable shops, a wide variety of F&B outlets, and even a hawker centre.
Pro tip: another reason why you should consider Serangoon is its proximity to several popular international schools, such as Stamford American International School, Australian International School, International French School, and DPS International School.
If you work in R&D, chances are that you’re located at Biopolis, Fusionopolis or one of the Science Parks. If that’s you, you’ll want to seriously consider making Clementi your home in Singapore.
A quintessentially local neighbourhood in the Western part of Singapore, Clementi New Town is ideally located. It's near enough all the tech parks, schools, and amenities, while within easy reach of the city centre and expat enclaves like Holland Village and Bukit Timah.
Comprising largely HDB flats and a sprinkling of condominiums, staying at Clementi is a great choice if you want to keep costs down. Visit the neighbourhood mall or town centre for its hawker centre and market to get everything you need, and do as the locals do.
There’s a large American expat community that’s been living in Woodlands for years now, and it’s time to introduce this lovely new town in the North to the rest of the expat community.
The official reason for its popularity with American expats is the Singapore American School located within the neighbourhood. Other reasons include its proximity to Malaysia via the Woodlands Checkpoint (you can literally get to Johor Bahru in 30 minutes or less on good days), as well as its unmatched tranquillity.
As with all suburban new towns in Singapore, Woodlands provides a whole range of amenities and community facilities to its residents, including a regional library, a mall, two MRT stations, and an upcoming community hub.
Serving similar vibes to Bukit Timah is its neighbouring estate of Thomson, just down the road via Lornie Highway. It’s not a new town nor a quintessential Singapore neighbourhood, but it’s located near two, namely Bishan and Toa Payoh. This makes it a great middle ground if you’re unsure about plunging headfirst into heartland life.
With its diverse mix of shops, which include hip cafes, coffee houses, noodle shops, prata restaurants, and hawker centres; tree-lined roads; the sprawling golf greens at the Singapore Island Country Club; and beautiful private landed houses of all sizes, Thomson is a great choice for expats who love Bukit Timah but want a slightly different change in scenery.
It’s also home to several nature parks known for their brash and bold macaque populations and hiking trails at Upper Peirce and Lower Peirce Reservoirs, and MacRitchie Reservoir Park, where you should make time to walk the breathtaking tree-top walk if you love nature.
There are a plethora of classes offering activities of all kinds situated in Thomson and the neighbouring Sin Ming, Pemimpin, and Bishan areas, which makes the neighbourhood really nice for raising young children, too.
Head East to Pasir Ris if you want to experience beachside living without breaking the bank. This neighbourhood bordering Tampines and Bedok offers a slower pace of life away from the bustle of its denser neighbours, and offers a range of housing options ranging from HDB flats, landed houses by the beach, and a whole enclave of condominiums.
Spend relaxed days at the nearby Pasir Ris Park cycling, roller blading, having a barbecue or a picnic, or head over to the entertainment hub Downtown East for thrilling water rides, chalet stays, prawning, climbing, indoor skating, movies, and karaoke singing with the whole family.
Once you have found the Singapore neighbourhood that feels right, let Wise Move handle the heavy lifting. You can compare quotes, book the best-rated moving and packing teams, and enjoy a smooth, hassle-free move into your new home without spending hours coordinating it all yourself.
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