'be aware that this is multi ethnic and multi cultural , so be a bit humble ' some wise words from the denmark guy :)

I used to be an expat in Singapore for almost 4 years before I decided to leave. The biggest deciding factors for me in leaving Singapore were the astronomical rent price increases after the pandemic and the stagnant anti-work-life balance culture in my former company. My salary then didn't reflect the inflation and barely increased while living expenses were shooting up. I decided to start over in a different industry and took on a remote job then moved back home. I still love to visit Singapore though, the culture, food, and infrastructure are top-notch.

Danish grandpa is so full of wisdom

"So, be a bit humble." I like that one.

As a smoker myself , I’d like to say that the rules regarding where to smoke is basically consideration to others. I welcome any rules that involves consideration for others.

"Be a bit humble" Yep. Applies everywhere.

I really like the variety of nationalities in these interviews!

The people of Singapore are amazing. On a previous holiday I foolishly left my phone in the taxi and didn't realise until they had already left for about 10-15 minutes. I frantically tried to contact the taxi company who managed to track down which of their vehicles had dropped me off. Turns out the driver also was desperately was trying to figure out a way to contact me since I wasn't local and didn't have a phone number provided. Embarrassing that it happened in the first place but was also amazing to experience the integrity and honesty of Singapore.

I work as a Parkour coach with Lion City Parkour and we have a fair share of expat students, both adults and kids (I guess due to the nature of our sport being more commonplace and accepted overseas). Really sad when parents tell me that they are leaving due to the high rent and cost of living, especially due to the kids' international school fees rising. Had to say teary goodbyes to many families just this year alone. Most expats I've come across at my workplace are amazingly kind and friendly, and we're sad we have to say goodbye especially after having known them for years and even watching their kids grow up. However, all - if not most - of them rent condos in expensive areas rather than HDBs, send their kids to international schools, drive their kids to school when they live just nearby, and always eat out at restaurants, shop at fancier grocery stores in their expensive neighbourhoods (as compared to Giant/NTUC) etc. They are shocked when I let them know how cheap our meals in kopitiams are, that are really delicious still. Some have been asking me what the local education system is like, how much it may cost for them etc (I assume this is a sign they're highly considering sending their kids to local schools), and I've also been encouraging some to try out my favourite food stalls around their areas. This could be something expats in Singapore could consider. A restaurant meal costs $20++ and up even, as compared to my usual lunch places of $5-$8 a meal... with a drink! Singapore may be expensive and there's no denying that inflation is hitting all of us hard, but if you live like locals do, you'll realise it's a lot cheaper than most think.

It is okay. People move in and move out, its been happening for thousands of years. We need more Singapore type of countries in this world if you ask me.

I am an expat from Taiwan, working & living in Sing for many years. So far find very comfortable here, only complain is on housing. Many Sing’s friends also don’t expect outsiders to be able wholely merge with the local, this will take many years to happen. Just be open minded and don’t anyhow make noise when you see something done differently from your hometown. Sing is the most western country seen by the East and is also the most easy eastern country to live in by the western people, imho.

Asia in general gets more and more trendy each year. Business opportunities, tourism, expats, weekend getaways, food, safety etc. KZfaq covers all of this stuff and foreigners want to experience the lifestyle.

Big respect to the brave foreign workers who have come to Singapore to make a better life for their families back home. Many have given up jobs in other sectors to be helpers in Singapore. Hope they get good jobs with fair pay and good employers.

My dad is half singaporean chinese- half german white and my mom is german white. They used to live in Zurich, Switzerland ( I was born and grew up there ). My parents moved to Singapore in 2005, bought a house and got a PR a few years later ( me too ). They would never go back to Zurich again except for a holiday because Singapore is still much cheaper than Swiss.

People who don't have to pay rent: Yeah this place is great, you can live frugally and easily make ends meet. People who have to pay $3000-6000/month rent: Yeah we'd love to stay but it's too expensive.

It's very telling about the country that the major issue people complain about are regarding cost of living issues, which is not unique to Singapore but happening everywhere else in the world.

I have lived in Singapore for 13 long years, one of the best country and hope will come back one day, love from Australia

I deeply resonate with the experiences of the Danish Grandpa and the Filipina Ate in the video! Singapore, like many other places, has a distinct hierarchy when it comes to how different groups of expats are treated by both locals and other foreigners. Take, for instance, the case of construction workers and maids - they are seldom referred to as expats, both in public perception and media portrayal. They are often labeled as "immigrants" or "migrant workers," and in the case of maids, they are simply referred to as "maids" or "domestic workers". The term "expats" seems to be reserved for Caucasian immigrants or non-Caucasian high earners in glamorous industries like Finance, Tech, Law, or Medicine. Immigrants with diverse backgrounds working outside of these fields are often just termed as "immigrants," "foreigners," or simply "FT" (foreign talent). If they hold Permanent Resident status, they may be categorized by their country of origin - "Indonesian PR", "Indian PR", and so on. Interestingly, even immigrants from mainland China are commonly addressed as "mainlanders" or "PRCs," setting them apart from the broader expat category. In my experience, just like in many parts of the world, expats are not treated equally in Singapore due to a combination of economic status and racial or national origins. This might not be a significant issue for some foreigners, including myself, But it can be a substantial problem for others, particularly those working in construction or as maids. As an immigrant, I love Singapore, and it is indeed a great country to live in. But It's also crucial to acknowledge and address these disparities in treatment to ensure a fair and inclusive environment for everyone!

I like the wise old man, his wisdom words has made me thinking a lot

I used to live in Singapore for 5 years when I was young because of my father's job. We (Japanese) were given preferences compared to other expats when renting flats because we have good reputation of being good tenants - don't make too much noise and take care of the flat well. Which of course is not always the case but was based on some of the estate agents and the landlords' experiences. Also someone complained about the climate in Singapore but I thought the summer in Tokyo was much worse imo. (Tokyo is hotter than Okinawa, the tropical islands of Japan, so it's not impossible.)

the wise words from the man that stay 34 years in Singapore is something else

Updated statistics have shown that there is an influx of 230K of foreigners residing in SG this year, an approx. 11% increase as compared to last year, this well explains the accommodation rental hikes. The cost of living especially on foodwise can be pretty much affordable if you are willing to explore around as compared with other 1st-tier cities in the world. SG always welcome foreigners from all walks of life with open arms, working hard together, building a career and progress together with SG.

The man has been here for 34 years and his accent is so perfect and gentle ❤❤❤❤❤

The behavior of that lady household helper is rather normal and standard. Have seen on YT videos interviewing HHs in both Asean and East Asia countries, not a single one of them is willingly to open up fully in their encounters with bad employers for obvious reasons. It’s a sad phenomenon for all HHs but feel happy for her having a good employer now. As of latest news, SG’s overall population has increased from 5.64m to 5.92m this year, with non-citizens from 2.08m to 2.31m, the housing rental market reflects the current situation.

The best advice from the Danish man: be humble!

Based on my expats friends I have surrounding me my knowledge is. Expats are earning so much more compared to the locals. Alot of them are earning more than 15k a month and some till 60k per month. Don't forget alot of them has at least 2 months of bonus and some sector are go up to 4 or 6 months. Alot of expats are being provided on accomdation and school fees paid for their children. Compared to their home country they are earning double or even triple in Singapore. My friend shared that his colleague used to earn $3000 sgd back home, his nationality is Indian. But when he came to singapore to work, his salary is $12,000, this is excluding his accomdation. Alot of expats from certain countries also looked down on Singaporean. Those that comment that rents are expensive because they are renting condo which easily cost $4000 a month. You can always choose to live in Hdb.

If youre bored you can always travel to neighbour countries, they are still relatively cheap, safe, and have many great tourist destinations.

Just here in singapore this week for a holiday, what i’d love the most is the public transport. I’ve tried another country but none like singapore. The mobility is unmatch. The downside is yes everything is expensive especially me coming from Indonesia, the food price is like 1/10 😂

Even though.The rent is high but you get the best services and safety.

This is such a contrast to the interview you did to the locals of Singapore saying it's expensive to live there. You can really tell the difference when it comes to expats who got a good opoortunity to live there. 12:58 This is such a good question to a Filipina. Kudos! I think Ate just being very careful on how she would talk since it's scary to have words against where you're not in your own country. 15:30 The transition to the advices from "make more money" to "work hard but not too hard" is just genius! HAHA

Good job ! Thank you for showing true spirit of international community success!

When I was younger, expatriates were always chauffeur-driven, with rent-free housing and education paid for their children in international schools. These people are different.

0:24: 🌍 Expats from various countries share their experiences living and working in Singapore. 0:58: Overall, the expats have had positive experiences living in Singapore. 3:26: 🌍 Singapore is an attractive place for foreigners due to its good base, safety, stability, and career opportunities. 3:55: There is a general sense of openness to foreign labor and immigrants in Singapore. 4:05: There is a high demand for skilled workers in Singapore. 7:05: 💰 Living costs in Singapore are high, but subsidies from the government help make it more affordable. 7:27: Despite the high living costs, government subsidies make it more manageable. 7:39: The cost of living in Singapore may become more challenging when starting a family or having pets. 10:11: 🌍 Living in Singapore with a family is perfect, but the weather and lack of mountains can be challenging. 10:39: The rules in Singapore can feel strict and restrictive. 13:49: 🏢 The speaker has no plans to leave Singapore despite rising rental prices. 14:18: Rental prices have increased by 60-80% for some people. Recap by Tammy AI

Lucky for those people who doesnt experience rudeness in Singapore. I believe in the maid when she said she have seen a lot.

Being currently still in egg in Singapore (4 months old), The only highest expense is rent. I do wish something could be done about it. Food and groceries are expensive in fancy places same logic in home country. I buy from local stores and bakeries and its managable. Rent becoz it is truly too high and major part of salary goes in it and no option left but to cut down other costs. In home country i would spend max 10-15% in rent, here its more than 30%. Otherwise its safest, quiet and very nice country in whole Asia...Singaporeans are hard working mind their own business unlike home country where everyone has to poke their nose is everyone else's business😂

Keep a open mind

Props to the Danish gentleman. That's the attitude we should all strive for, whether local or foreign wherever we live.

0:10 "i feel like the rules here are so strict", yep, that's why it's safe, secure and expats love this country.

Thank you for this video!!

It is known as being one of the most expensive places in the world for rents, food, etc. The humidity would be tough to get used to, especially if you're from a country with a different climate.

That Danish gent.... invested in a property long term, very smart like us locals.

As an ex-Singapore expat, I would say expats are people on non-permanent visas (e.g. work permit) whereas "local" are ones with more permanent visa status (e.g. PR). I would also say Singapore is very strict on who they would allow more permanent visa status with racial quota/ratio being one of the main criteria.

I'm poor so I'll live in Malaysia and visit Singapore one day

My respect to the Danish of 32yrs.

Love Singapore but love Malaysia more. Regards from Spain.

Love how foreigners have so many beautiful and wonderful things to say about our country but spoilt local kids who dont realise how privileged they are to be living in such a safe, clean, stable country with reputable education, etc.

The interviewer is one of the good ones

For those people who wish to enjoy a high standard of living like staying in condominiums, landed properties, buying designer bags/clothings, eating at restaurants/bristols most days, buying expensive cars, taking cabs, etc. they would find that Singapore cost of living is expensive. Therefore, it's good to spend wisely and within your means.

Disclaimer: Singaporean here What they all don't mention is how the dense living environment, competitive society and high costs lead to diminished mental wellness. Just look at the way Singaporeans drive and how we all have a me-first mentality in everything we do.

My wife and I have been working in Singapore for ten years as expatriates. We love Singapore so much coz the food, taxes and utilities bills are very cheap compared to our country Melbourne Australia. We love and missed Singapore so much and still come back for holidays every year. Singapore is our second home forever.

Really interesting interview & perspectives throughout. The woman from Thailand has immense clarity of thought.

Respect to the guy living in hdb with his wife.

As Singaporeans we tend to take this place for granted.

one thing i really admire the foreigners that come to singapore to look for work is their gumption. truly it is not easy to move abroad for work and leave everything you love behind . i remember working in Shanghai a decade ago , i missed my family in SG so much.

Its beautiful to have so many nations in Singapore ❤

Would be intrigued to see the expat sentiment in Hong Kong nowadays

The last advice pretty much sums it up, "be a bit humble"

Thank you for this interesting insight!

Love Singapur and its people. One of the best places to live.

I have worked & lived in many countries. The best thing to do is to find out from the locals - where to live, where rent is not too high with good public transport to work. Then find out about food & grocery shopping & restaurants/cafes which are not too expensive. I usually find the information from colleagues who are locals

Hong Kong also expensive place

"Exploring the expat experience in Singapore through street interviews is such an insightful approach, Asian Boss! With almost 30% of the population being foreigners, it's fascinating to hear their perspectives on living in the Lion City. Thank you for shedding light on this topic and providing diverse insights. #ExpatLife #SingaporeLiving #AsianBoss"

The older gentleman was so wellspoken and wise

I totally agree with the interviewers, stability in Singapore and safety. The expensive pricing has to be compare to where they originally came from. As a Singaporean, I believe we have the choice to live within a comfortable budget and also have a happy life.

not the indepth interviews questions you expect from this channel

32 years? That's incredible! I'm also from Denmark and have lived in Singapore during my teenage years, I have dreams of returning to Singapore one day and live, Denmark is one of the safest and nicest places to live in the world, however, Singapore in my opinion is the best country in the world.

Be a bit humble. Wisdom. And that applies to both local and foreigners.

Habibi Come to Malaysia

singapore is great if you’re in a competitive corporate job and want to make money with little tax. it’s basically the dubai of asia. but in the same way, it’s incredibly boring if you’re not money-oriented. almost any other rich asian country has more to offer culturally and socially, and without all of the restrictions (which make it resemble korea under PCH). just my opinion, of course. i would even go so far as to say that the expat community are quite boring. they’re all concentrated in about 2-3 industries. linkedin island, club MBA.

Singapore is one of my top considerations in places to live because it is "so strict", so clean, so safe and more than anything seriously built with intelligence rather than the lapidasical chaotic hodgepodge of city planning you see in most places. The cost of rent per square meter is a concern though. Currently my home on the southern outskirts of Suwon, South Korea is about 190 square meters and as I have been window shopping it seems I'd probably have a home about half that size in Singapore. I also used to live in the USA in Nebraska and my home there was a comically big 260 square meters and cost much less than my current home.

As an expat living in Singapore, I've found the cost of living much more manageable than in my home country.

I think this interview gives a very one sided perspective that Singapore is expensive for expats. If they live like a local (Stay in HDB, eat at hawker, coffeeshop or mid range restaurants once a while), it is definitely not expensive. Their pay is higher than majority of locals. If they say it’s expensive, how about the locals? Also the Japanese guy saying he’s skipping lunch because it’s too expensive. That is putting Singapore in a very bad light. It’s obviously not that expensive till he have to skip lunch bruh. He can have lunch for just SGD 5 as long as he integrates into the society and eat local food. Singapore is one of the very few 1st world country where you can find SGD 5 (USD 3) meal. Interviewer is also asking very one sided questions to people of lower income group.

We are a family of 5 and stayed in Singapore just for 3 days but we weren't able to do much or eat out because everything was expensive. However when we went to Malaysia, we were able to get more value for our money, from the place we stayed in, to grocery shopping ( Tesco ),..commuting, food, it was amazing!! Singapore is a nice clean country, we felt safe however you do really need a lot of money to be able to get by there

The expats package now is totally different from 30 years ago

I feel the pain behind that voice when he said "To survive"

Watching the video, the one consensus all the interviewees had was Singapore is an extremely extremely safe country to be in. I’ve worked here for 10 years and I’ve never been pickpocketed or robbed which ironically is something that blows my mind coming from where I was. People might complain about the strict laws but that’s the exact reason why it makes Singapore such a great place for people like me who craves stability and peace. For those considering a move to Singapore, if surveillance cameras and strict rules are not for you, then you probably shouldn’t come here. You can go to my country Malaysia where laws are lax and a lot more things are permissible. Malaysia boleh 😅

I lived and worked in Singapore for 10 years. I loved living there, but I never really felt like one of them. I am now happily back in Sydney.

I love the Denmark guy, would love to know more about his story!

food here in this stretch of restaurants (Robertson Quay, that is where this interview is conducted) is definitely more expensive and the apartments there are all private condominiums worth millions in the property market. the British gentleman is absolutely right, the living costs depends on what lifestyle you lead. an expat lifestyle is expensive no matter which part of the world you are at. but in singapore, we are lucky to have options of hawker centers and coffeeshops to manage our costs. however, that said rents are definitely rising in Singapore but there are other aspects in daily living costs (transport, food) that can be managed to make overall costs more affordable.

Trivia note: The U.S. game show The Amazing Race has been on for 34 Seasons, & they have traveled to Singapore for 3 of them; Seasons 3, 16, & 25.

7:34 Bro had gag reflex when he heard about starting a family 😂

Expats don't make up 30% of the Singapore population. They make up less than half of the 30%. The two biggest foreigners' groups are domestic and construction workers.

Singapore might be a great expat-city, but here in Medellín, Colombia is hard to beat! I even made some street-interviews like this from here too🙂

I've been living in Singapore for 13yrs. Definitely the best place to raise children, but quite boring sometimes. So i like to go JB every weekend to enjoy low price living and more variety. So it's really a good place

Born in in 1970 my late dad married my mum in Singapore. I have a cousin living there. It's a clean tidy country.

There're a lot of things to do and enjoy packed within a small island nation. Everything is so within reach. It's not like that in bigger countries. But when you want more or different, it has to be out of the country. Whereas in bigger countries, you could travel to another state/province.

It's a great country.

Every country has its own pros and cons . No matter what ,I love Singapore and it’s people the most. Try to understand them a bit. So expensive it’s not only for us even the Singaporean people it’s self . TBH it’s like survival mode as the person described. Foreign talent is a common open concept around the world now. It’s not only here as well . Don’t get offended. People here are amazing ❤. But yes it’s getting so much expensive.

One cannot compare the salary it is savings Income- Expenditure, income is high, expenses is also high

Spent like a HDB locals. The cost of living should be OK.

#1 American said America is the bad place to live #2 UK said UK is the bad place to live #3 AU said AU is the bad place to live #4 Japan said Japan is the bad place to live #5 South Korea said South Korea is the bad place to live ###### Everyone now said their country is the bad place to live, So the question is "Where do you live on right now ?" Earth or Jupiter Quote: Everywhere is the same

Singapore has everything

"so be a bit humble" Yes the world would be a much better place if everyone followed that advice. Too many people with egos in the world causing animosity.

Singapore is a great country to live in with much to admire and adore. Yes, the cost of living is high and the current rental market is insane right now. Rentals are a big part of an expats life but whats also interesting to note is that the pay scales vary greatly. I know of expats younger than me i.e. in their late 20s earning at least 20-30% higher than my salary while on the other end the video shows the Japanese guy skipping lunch. Such extreme paradigms exist in most major cities nowadays and could be much worse in fact.

Best to draw the line clear early right from the start. The expats need to find a job and secure their permit and pr then they can go fret on finding where to live and what to eat. The locals if they are rich can continue to guard and expand their family business and rent out their properties to live off from the expats earnings. If the locals are not rich they best study and get a civil job that can shield them from the global competition and apply for a hdb flat where they can earn and live in comfort at a fraction of what the foreign labour class are paying in Singapore. As long as the job markets, hangout spots and habits are different everyone can tolerate each other and live together in separate pockets of communities. It all boil down to ratio. Too little and too much will destroy the delicate balance.

As a Singaporean, I'm glad to see most of them are enjoying their stay despite us not being the friendly host that we should always strive to be. 6:38 I actually felt bad for the household helper when she was stepping back while answering the question about the work that she is doing.

Love the Danish dude’s outlook on life.

My son and family have been PRs in Singapore for almost twenty years now. I have been visiting them every year and regard it as my second home and I love it. Even though I go there as a visitor I don't feel like a foreigner but more like local because being an SEAsian I am treated as one wherever I go. I have never faced any discrimination. I worked and studied for many years in the U.S and U.K where I always felt like a foreigner maybe because of my skin color. In Singapore even as a visitor it''s different. I feel very much at home on my short visits. Personally I think Singapore is a great place to live esp. when you have young children because of the excellent education system here.

Good idea for Expats to leave. High cost of living and alot of hidden taxes. Sorry to say cus Expats receive high salaries so they push the rental costs up.

Where's the line between "expats" and immigrants? Those two terms are always confusing to me as a non-native English speaker.