Singapore is a sunny, tropical island in Southeast Asia, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Singapore is a city, a nation and a state. It is about 275 square miles, smaller than the State of Rhode Island, and inhabited by five million people from four major communities; Chinese (majority), Malay, Indian and Eurasian.
Singapore is known as a City in a Garden and nearly 50 percent of the island is green space. It is a thriving metropolis offering a world-class infrastructure, a fully integrated island-wide transport network, dynamic business environment, vibrant living spaces and a rich culture largely influenced by the four major communities in Singapore with each offering different perspective of life in Singapore in terms of culture, religion, food, language and history.
Singapore is a financial centre in Asia having worlds’ busiest port and one of the world’s most prolific oil refining and distribution centres. Singapore’s healthcare and educational systems hold their own against developed cities.
Singapore’s crime rates are meagre and are generally considered safe, even at night. Singapore has a well-integrated and convenient public transportation and world-class communications. Singapore also has a lot of activities and sports for leisure and entertainments.
| Official name | Republic of Singapore |
| Land area | 733.1 km2 |
| Climate | Tropical. Temperatures usually range from 23 to 32 °C (73 to 90 °F) |
| Currency | Singapore Dollar (S$) (SGD) |
| Population | 5.61 million (Approx.) |
| Ethnic Groups | Chinese 74.3%, Malay 13.3%, Indian 9.1%, other ethnicities 3.2% |
| Official Languages | English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. Malay is the national language. |
| Religions | Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Taoism and Hinduism. |
Students in Singapore on an average spend about S$ 600 to S$ 1,100.00 a month on living expenses. Amount of costs varies depending upon individual lifestyles and type of accommodation.
The below table guides on the expected estimated cost of living in Singapore:
| Item | Monthly Estimated Expense |
| Accommodation rental | S$ 300.00 to S$ 600.00 |
| Food | S$ 200.00 to S$ 300.00 |
| Transport | S$ 50.00 to S$ 100.00 |
| Others | S$ 50.00 to S$ 100.00 |
| Total | S$ 600.00 to S$ 1100.00 |
Accommodation
Most of students opt for renting a residential unit nearby. Students may engage a property or housing agent to help to look for accommodation. Living in a hostel is also a good choice. They often offer different types of services such as single to multi-bedded shared accommodations with basic amenities like laundry and internet services.
Transportation
Singapore is considered as one of the most accessible cities to get around. The public transportation system here is comprehensive, safe, efficient and convenient, not to mention secure on the pocket. The Mass Rapid Transit, popularly known as MRT & Buses has got most of Singapore frequently covered available from 05:30 in the morning to 00:30 past midnight. For travelling on the MRT and bus, you may either purchase single trip tickets or the more convenient EZ-link card which is a stored-value card. The EZ-link cards are available to be purchased or topped up at any bus interchanges and MRT stations.
Grab or Taxis’ are easy to get booking via phone or at taxi stands. The fares are considered relatively cheap compared to other major cities in the world.
Food
Most students, especially from South Asia, prefer to cook their meals, helping them to keep the expenses affordable. Round-the-clock Prata shops, food courts, the 7-11 convenience store are popular eating places for students which serves hot food. Several fast-food chains also provide 24-hour delivery services. Fast-food chains like Burger King, Mc Donald, Pizza Hut and Vegetarian outlets are readily available. Singapore has the presence of many causal dining options and fine dining restaurants.
Healthcare
Singapore’s healthcare system with state-of-the-art medical facilities has gained an international reputation for impeccable standards. These services are accessible and affordable to everyone. Outpatient services are offered by government polyclinics as well as private clinics. There are few public hospitals comprising of general hospitals, psychiatric hospital and women’s and children’s hospital.
There are many healthcare centres & Singapore General Hospital. In the event of medical emergencies, a student may head straight for a hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit.