Singapore - Post Report Question and Answers
What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
It is a mix. We went for an older building with much more space. Newer places tend to be very small. Rents are expensive, but my school pays for 3/4 of our rent. Most people live in apartments, but renting a house is possible. Our commute is about 20 minutes via bus/train combo, door to door. - Jul 2024
U.S. Embassy staff and families live in nice condos near the embassy. Average commutes range from a 5-minute walk to a 20-minute bus ride. - Mar 2022
Many people who are employed by U.S. Embassy live in condos, really nice condos if I may add which are pretty close to U.S. embassy. The commute is pretty easy since the Island is so small and public transport is excellent. There is no place the MRT or bus cannot take you. - Aug 2015
High rise apts. embassy staff is close proximity - 10 to 25 minute walk to Embassy. Of course by the time you get there you're soaked with sweat, but you have close-by living quarters. - Aug 2015
High rise condo living. Great bus system that makes commuting a breeze. - Apr 2012
Some live in houses on very small plots but most live in apartments/condos. There is amazing "public" housing that many nationals live in. - Nov 2011
Most expats live in condos with varying levels of facilities. A few people live in houses. Most locals live in HDB flats. - Mar 2010
Miami-ish condos with pools and other facilities the norm for expats; most locals live in highrise government housing (HDB flats) that are uniformly ugly: they look like the banlieue suburbs of Paris or Milan, though without the social unrest and bad upkeep of Paris's version. Charm is in short supply in Singapore. - Dec 2008
Beautiful housing, although it's getting smaller and further away from the Embassy (I was on our housing board and saw rents double in two years). Commutes are generally short unless people live up by the American school, in which case they can be close to an hour. - Aug 2008
Most expats live in condominiums, and Singapore is so small that commute times are never over an hour. Housing rental costs are not regulated though, and rents are going up extremely fast. - Jun 2008
