Singapore is Asia’s most efficient city: spotless, very safe, green, with the region’s best airport, multi-gigabit internet and hawker centres serving some of the best cheap food in the world. It is also one of the most expensive places to live, and it has no nomad visa, so most remote workers come for a few weeks at a time between cheaper bases.
This guide covers what you need for a stay of a few weeks to a few months. For sights as a visitor, see the Singapore travel guide.
Singapore for Digital Nomads at a Glance#
Why Singapore Works for Remote Workers#
- Everything works. Transport, healthcare, internet and public services are world-class.
- Safety. One of the lowest crime rates in the world.
- Hawker food. Michelin-listed stalls and meals for S$5 to S$8.
- A regional hub. Changi Airport connects to the whole of Southeast Asia, often for less than $100.
- English. It is an official language and used everywhere.
Who It Suits (and Who It Doesn't)#
Singapore suits high earners, people who need a stable, orderly base for a few weeks, and anyone working with Asian or Australian teams. It suits you less on a budget, for long stays without a work pass, or if you want nightlife at reasonable prices: alcohol is very expensive. It is hot and humid all year.
Visas#
Most Western visitors get 30 or 90 days visa-free depending on nationality (US, UK and EU citizens usually get 90). Everyone fills in the free SG Arrival Card online before arriving. Singapore has no nomad visa. High earners can apply for the Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass, a five-year pass for people earning at least S$30,000 a month, and employees of Singapore companies use the Employment Pass.
What It Costs#
These are monthly costs for one person in a room in a shared condo, coliving or a small studio, in US dollars at about S$1.30 to the dollar. A whole one-bedroom flat costs much more.
| Monthly cost | Typical range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Room in a shared condo or coliving, or a small studio, monthly | $1,500 - $3,200 | Rooms about S$1,800-2,800; studios and one-beds from about S$3,500 |
| Utilities | Usually included in rooms and coliving; air-con adds up in a whole flat | |
| Home internet | 1-10 Gbps fibre is standard and cheap | |
| Coworking | $200 - $400 | Day passes about S$25-70; hot desks from about S$250-300 a month |
| Food (hawker centres plus eating out) | $400 - $800 | Hawker meals about S$5-8; restaurants much more |
| Transport | $60 - $130 | MRT and buses with a contactless card; Grab and Gojek |
| Phone plan with data | $10 - $25 | Prepaid plans from Singtel, StarHub, M1 or budget brands |
| Gym | $40 - $120 | ActiveSG public gyms are cheap |
| Social life and extras | $300 - $700 | Alcohol is very expensive; hawker beer is cheaper |
These are ballpark estimates, not quotes. Real costs vary hugely with your lifestyle, which neighbourhood you live in, how often you eat out or take taxis, the season and the exchange rate. Use them to compare places, then check current prices before you commit.
Ways to save: eat at hawker centres and kopitiams, use the MRT, use ActiveSG gyms and pools, and rent a room rather than a whole flat. Drinking is the biggest budget-breaker.
Where to Live#
Most nomads live close to the CBD, in Tiong Bahru, Tanjong Pagar, Robertson Quay or Kampong Glam, or out east in Katong.
| Neighbourhood | Vibe | 1-bed / month | Best for | Getting around |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiong Bahru and Tanjong Pagar | Art deco flats, cafes and bakeries next to the CBD and its coworking spaces | $1,700-3,500 | Cafe workers and walking to coworking | East-West, North-East and Thomson-East Coast MRT lines |
| Riverside (Robertson Quay) | Riverside walks, restaurants and condos near Clarke Quay | $2,000-4,000 | A central, green base | Fort Canning and Clarke Quay MRT |
| Bugis and Kampong Glam | Arab Street, shophouse cafes, bars and Haji Lane's boutiques | $1,700-3,300 | Character and nightlife | Bugis MRT (East-West and Downtown lines) |
| Katong and Joo Chiat (East Coast) | Peranakan shophouses, laksa and the East Coast Park by the sea | $1,500-3,000 | Food lovers and runners | Thomson-East Coast MRT line |
| Novena and Balestier | Residential and practical, with hospitals, malls and local food | $1,400-2,800 | Value close to town | North-South MRT line |
Short-term stays (under three months) in private homes are restricted by law, so short-stay nomads use serviced apartments, coliving operators and hotels. Rooms for three months or more are listed on PropertyGuru, 99.co and in Singapore room-rental Facebook groups.
Coworking Spaces#
Day passes cost about S$25 to S$70. Prices below are as published or recently reported.
JustCo
Singapore’s best-known homegrown coworking brand, with spaces across the city and even inside Changi Airport.
Best for: Working anywhere in the city
The Work Boulevard
Stylish, wellness-oriented spaces in the CBD with complimentary specialty coffee for members.
Best for: A polished desk at a fair price
The Hive Carpenter Street
A design-led space in a shophouse building near the river, part of The Hive’s Asia-Pacific network.
Best for: Creative community
WeWork Singapore
Several large buildings in the CBD, good value only if you already have a global WeWork membership.
Best for: WeWork members
Public libraries, especially the National Library and library@orchard, have free Wi-Fi and quiet desks, and many cafes in Tiong Bahru and Kampong Glam welcome laptops.
Internet and SIM Cards#
Home fibre of 1 to 10 Gbps is standard and cheap, and 5G covers the whole island. Tourist SIMs and eSIMs are sold at Changi Airport and convenience stores; free Wi-Fi (Wireless@SG) is widespread.
Getting Around#
The MRT and buses reach almost everywhere and accept contactless cards and phones. Grab, Gojek and taxis are reasonably priced. Walking is pleasant in the evenings and through covered walkways; the heat makes long midday walks hard.
Weather and When to Go#
Singapore is hot (31 to 33°C by day) and humid all year. February to April is usually the driest and sunniest. The northeast monsoon from December to early March and the southwest monsoon from June to September bring heavy showers; November and December are often the wettest months. Haze from fires in Indonesia can affect the air in some dry seasons.
Community and Meeting People#
Coworking events, Meetup groups, startup events, run clubs, and Singapore expat and nomad groups on Facebook and Telegram are the easiest ways in.
Health, Safety and the Law#
Singapore is extremely safe. Laws are strict: drug offences carry very severe penalties, and fines apply for littering, jaywalking, eating on the MRT and chewing-gum sales. Healthcare is excellent and expensive; carry health insurance.
Singapore Digital Nomad FAQs#
Is Singapore good for digital nomads?
For short stays and high earners, yes. It is safe, efficient and well connected, with excellent internet and food. It is expensive and has no nomad visa.
How much does it cost to live in Singapore as a nomad?
About $4,500 a month with a room in a shared condo or coliving, from about $3,200 on a budget, and much more with your own flat. These are ballpark figures.
Does Singapore have a digital nomad visa?
No. Visitors get 30 or 90 days visa-free depending on nationality. The ONE Pass is for very high earners, and the Employment Pass is for people employed by Singapore companies.
Where should digital nomads stay in Singapore?
Tiong Bahru and Tanjong Pagar for cafes and coworking near the CBD, Kampong Glam for character, and Katong for food and the East Coast Park.
Last reviewed October 2026. Prices and venues change: check before you commit to a month.