A recent survey by HSBC has rated Singapore as the best place for expatriates to live and work. Singapore is also known as one of the most expensive cities in the world for expats to live, with transport in particular being particularly costly. Nevertheless, the higher salaries here can generally balance this out. This reason combined with great career opportunities and a stable economy means that Singapore is a popular place to live and work. The city-state is also highlighted as being a good place to start a business.
Expat Surveys
The HSBC Expat Explorer is an annual survey which asks expats around the world to vote on various aspects of their current destination. Over 20,000 expats were surveyed on their overseas experiences making it one of the largest surveys of its kind. The survey is now in its 8th year, previous destinations to top the list have been Switzerland, Thailand and China. Singapore usually features in the top ten list and also featured highly in the Internations Expat Insider report earlier this year, coming in first place in the Quality of Life Index.
Transport and Travel
Singapore is known for having excellent travel and transport links, in part due to its ideal location and also the good quality infrastructure. The Internations Expat Insider 2015 survey stated that 78% of respondents were very satisfied with transport infrastructure in the city-state. The World Economic Forum rated the transport systems in Singapore as 6.5 out of 7. Changi Airport is consistently rated as one of the best airports in the world, allowing expats a comfortable and convenient gateway to travel back home or elsewhere on business. The airport is almost a destination in itself and offers travellers a cinema, swimming pool, art installations and even a butterfly garden!
Quality of Life
No wonder Singapore has been named as the top destination for expats. Apart from the great transport links and opportunities to travel and explore Asia, the city-state can also offer expats a great quality of life and improved health and wellbeing. This is a key factor as the survey also showed that expats are increasingly moving abroad not just for financial or career reasons but to improve their quality of life. The nation is also featured as a good place for children with 65% of respondents saying that their children are healthier since moving there.
Why is Singapore Named as the Top Destination for Expats?
Overall Singapore is named as the top expat destination mainly due to the fact that it has a great balance between the three key categories – economics, family life and quality of life.
Other countries which scored highly in the league table include New Zealand, Bahrain, Germany and Sweden, countries which all have a lot to offer expats. Expats in Bahrain and other countries in the Middle East often benefit from airfare allowances meaning that the cost of at least one return trip home per year will be covered. Sweden is noted for its family-friendly culture and reduced cost of education, Germany for its employment opportunities and New Zealand for its friendliness to new arrivals which helps expats integrate well into their new home.
Useful Links
Further information on the HSBC Expat Explorer survey can be found here:
Balancing Life Abroad Infographic
Articles about moving and living in Singapore can be found here:
