Singapore

When to Use

User asks about Singapore for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Visitors
Attractions (must-see vs skip)	visitor-attractions.md
Itineraries (1/3/7 days)	visitor-itineraries.md
Where to stay	visitor-lodging.md
Tips & day trips	visitor-tips.md
Neighborhoods
Quick comparison	neighborhoods-index.md
CBD, Marina Bay, Raffles	neighborhoods-central.md
Orchard, Newton, River Valley	neighborhoods-orchard.md
Katong, East Coast, Bedok	neighborhoods-east.md
Novena, Toa Payoh, Bishan	neighborhoods-suburbs.md
Holland Village, Clementi, Jurong	neighborhoods-west.md
Woodlands, Yishun, Punggol	neighborhoods-north.md
Choosing guide	neighborhoods-choosing.md
Food
Overview & hawker culture	food-overview.md
Local cuisine (chicken rice, laksa)	food-local.md
International & fine dining	food-international.md
Michelin stars & speakeasies	food-fine-dining.md
Best areas for dining	food-areas.md
Dietary, alcohol, practical	food-practical.md
Practical
Moving & settling	resident.md
Transport (MRT, buses, Grab)	transport.md
Cost of living	cost.md
Safety & laws	safety.md
Weather & survival tips	climate.md
Local services (banking, SIM)	local.md
Career
Tech industry & salaries	tech.md
Business setup & ACRA	business.md
Visas (EP, S Pass, PR)	visas.md
Startups & funding	startup.md
Lifestyle
Culture & customs	culture.md
Healthcare & insurance	healthcare.md
Schools & education	education.md
Expat lifestyle & social	lifestyle.md
Driving & COE system	driving.md

Core Rules

1. Identify User Context First

• Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
• Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
• Load relevant auxiliary file for details

2. City-State Reality

Singapore is a city-state with unique characteristics:

• Size: 733 km² — everything is accessible within 1 hour by MRT
• Population: 5.9 million (74% Chinese, 13% Malay, 9% Indian)
• Language: English is primary business language; Singlish widely spoken
• Government: Highly efficient, strict laws, low corruption

3. Visa Categories

Employment requires proper visa sponsorship:

• EP (Employment Pass): S$5,600+ salary, COMPASS framework (40 points)
• S Pass: S$3,300+ salary, quota-limited
• Dependent Pass: Requires S$6,000+ sponsor salary
• PR pathway: Typically 2-5 years with stable employment See visas.md for current requirements (Feb 2026).

4. Weather Reality

Singapore is tropical year-round:

• Temperature: 27-32°C constant, no seasons
• Humidity: 80%+ average — acclimatization takes 2-4 weeks
• Rain: Afternoon thunderstorms common, carry umbrella always
• Monsoons: NE (Dec-Mar), SW (Jun-Sep) — affects outdoor activities See climate.md for monthly breakdown.

5. Current Data (Feb 2026)

Item	Range
1BR rent (CBD)	S$3,000-5,000/month
1BR rent (suburbs)	S$2,000-3,500/month
HDB room rental	S$800-1,500/month
Senior SWE salary	S$12,000-20,000/month
MRT monthly pass	S$128 (adult)
Hawker meal	S$4-8
Restaurant dinner	S$30-100/person
International school	S$30,000-55,000/year

6. Cost Reality

Singapore is expensive but tax-efficient:

• No capital gains tax, no inheritance tax
• Income tax: 0-24% progressive (most pay 7-15%)
• Housing: 30-50% of budget typical for expats
• COE (car permit): S$100,000-150,000 for 10 years — most don't drive
• Hidden costs: Agent fees (1 month rent), security deposits (2 months)
• Hawker centres: Affordable meals (S$4-8) offset restaurant costs

7. Transit Excellence

Unlike most cities, Singapore has world-class public transport:

• MRT: 6 lines, 140+ stations, S$1-2.50 per trip
• Buses: Extensive network, same EZ-Link/SimplyGo card
• Grab: Primary ride-hailing, S$8-25 for most trips
• No car needed: 90%+ of residents don't own cars See transport.md for complete guide.

8. Neighborhood Matching

Profile	Best Areas
Young professionals	Tiong Bahru, Tanjong Pagar, Robertson Quay
Families	East Coast, Bukit Timah, Holland Village
Budget-conscious	Woodlands, Jurong, Tampines
Tech workers	One-north, CBD, Tanjong Pagar
Beach lifestyle	East Coast, Katong, Sentosa Cove
Food lovers	Tiong Bahru, Jalan Besar, Katong

Food Culture Context

Singapore is a UNESCO-recognized hawker food destination:

• Hawker centres: 100+ centres, 6,000+ stalls, heritage status
• Must-try dishes: Chicken rice, laksa, char kway teow, bak kut teh, chili crab
• Michelin: 3 three-star, 7 two-star, 32 one-star restaurants
• Speakeasies: Jigger & Pony (#3 Asia), 28 Hong Kong Street
• Halal: Widely available, MUIS certification

See food-overview.md for complete guide.

Singapore-Specific Traps

• Chewing gum ban — Importing gum for personal use is illegal. Don't bring it.
• Drug laws — Zero tolerance. Death penalty for trafficking. Even trace amounts = prison.
• Vandalism — Criminal offense including caning. Don't graffiti anything.
• Jaywalking — S$50 fine within 50m of crossing. Police do enforce.
• Smoking — Banned in most public areas. S$200+ fines.
• Littering — S$300 first offense, S$1,000+ repeat. Very enforced.
• Public intoxication — Liquor control areas 10:30pm-7am in some zones.
• LGBTQ+ — 377A repealed (2022) but limited protections. Discretion advised.
• Criticism of government — Defamation laws strict. Avoid public criticism.
• Photography — No photos at government/military installations.
• Overstaying visa — Criminal offense, caning possible. Don't overstay.

Legal Awareness

Key laws every visitor/resident must know:

• Drugs: Zero tolerance. Death penalty for 15g heroin, 500g cannabis.
• Weapons: Strictly prohibited including pocket knives.
• Alcohol: Legal at 18+, retail sales end 10:30pm.
• Public order: Unlicensed gatherings >1 person in public can be illegal.
• Internet: VPNs legal but bypassing government blocks is not.
• Employment: Working without valid pass = deportation + ban.

See safety.md for comprehensive legal guidance.