Country research
Singapore
Singapore is an island city-state of 6.2 million people, nearly 2 million of them foreigners living there without permanent residence. Prices overall are about 0.60 of United States prices at market exchange rates, and people living abroad rank it 2nd of 31 countries for quality of life. The residence routes we read that do not start with a local job offer are two work passes with fixed monthly salary tests of about S$22,500 and about S$30,000. To be safe, have more than S$23,000. [N1] [N2] [C1] [Q2] [O1] [O2]
The Fernshore Index
How it grades, factor by factor.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
53 of 100Mixed
Price level 0.605 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
Climate
0 of 100Weak
Singapore, using Changi station: every month has an average daily high above 30 °C (the coolest, December, is 30.5 °C), so 0 comfortable months a year.
Source: Climate of Singapore: climate station means 1991–2020, Changi. Checked 15 October 2026.
Safety
75 of 100Strong
Global Peace Index 2026: 8th of 163.
Source: Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank. Checked 15 October 2026.
Healthcare
92 of 100Strong
WHO UHC service coverage index 88 (2023).
Source: UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1). Checked 15 October 2026.
Schools
Unknown
Our research doesn't cover schools yet.
Community
67 of 100Strong
Expat Insider 2026 Ease of Settling In: 12th of 31.
Source: Expat Insider 2026: Ease of Settling In. Checked 15 October 2026.
Lifestyle
85 of 100Strong
Expat Insider 2026 Quality of Life: 2nd of 31.
Source: Expat Insider 2026: Quality of Life. Checked 15 October 2026.
Work and career
15 of 100Weak
Weak: neither test holds. The pages read show work passes with salary tests (about S$30,000 and about S$22,500 a month) and no residence route for remote workers, and fixed broadband is 27.81 per 100 people (2024), under the 30 line. To be safe, have more than S$31,000.
Source: Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass: eligibility; Personalised Employment Pass: eligibility; Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
Retirement
15 of 100Weak
Weak: no residence route for people living on a pension or passive income on the immigration pages read; the investor route is for business owners and family offices.
Source: Becoming a Permanent Resident; Becoming a Long-Term Visit Pass Holder; Global Investor Programme (GIP) factsheet. Checked 15 October 2026.
Internet
62 of 100Mixed
27.81 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (2024).
Source: Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
English
100 of 100Strong
English is one of Singapore's four official languages under Article 153A of the Constitution. EF EPI doesn't cover Singapore, so the official-language rule applies.
Source: Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, Article 153A (official languages). Checked 16 October 2026.
Visa, United States passport
Unknown
Research for United States passports is being checked
Visa, Canada passport
Unknown
Research for Canada passports is being checked
Visa, Australia passport
Unknown
Research for Australia passports is being checked
Visa, New Zealand passport
Unknown
Research for New Zealand passports is being checked
Cities
Cities in Singapore.
Each city page shows which figures are its own and which are the country's.
Topics
The detail on Singapore.
Guides
Singapore, by passport.
Each guide is written for citizens of one country.
For your situation
Singapore for different circumstances.
Questions about Singapore.
How do prices in Singapore compare with the United States?
Prices overall are about 0.60 of US prices at market exchange rates (World Bank, 2025), an average, not a budget. Eight one-bedroom condominium adverts seen on 15 October 2026 asked S$3,800 to S$4,600 a month. Utilities, groceries and transport are not priced here, so they are unknown.
Can I live in Singapore without a Singapore job?
We found no remote-worker or retirement visa. The one pass that needs no Singapore job offer is the ONE Pass: a fixed monthly salary for 12 months (to be safe, more than S$31,000) at an established company, for up to 5 years. Other routes need a Singapore employer, business or family sponsor.
How long can I stay in Singapore without a visa?
None of the four passports is on ICA's list of those needing a visa, and ICA sets the stay at the checkpoint. The State Department says US citizens may visit for up to 90 days; Canada's advice says 30 days. Stay lengths for Australian and New Zealand passports are not known here.
Do I pay tax in Singapore if I work remotely from there?
IRAS taxes work done in Singapore even when a foreign employer pays you abroad. A non-resident employee is exempt for 60 days or less in a calendar year; at 183 days or more you are a resident, taxed at 0% to 24%. Overseas income received in Singapore is generally not taxed, with exceptions.
Is there a retirement visa for Singapore?
We found none. ICA's permanent residence and Long-Term Visit Pass pages list family, work pass, student and investor categories, with none for retirees or people living on a pension. The Global Investor Programme is for business owners, fast-growth founders and family offices.
How safe is Singapore, and how is its healthcare ranked?
The Global Peace Index 2026 ranks Singapore 8th of 163, and WHO's UHC service coverage index is 88 out of 100 (2023). A private 2026 survey of people living abroad ranks it 2nd of 31 for quality of life. These are national scores, not a view of one neighbourhood or hospital.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [N1] Indicators On Population, Annual (table M810001), Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat). Checked 15 October 2026. Data updated 25 September 2026, read through the SingStat Table Builder API on 15 October 2026. At end June 2026: total population 6,208,523 (residents 4,231,524; non-residents 1,976,999). Singapore is one island city-state.
- [N2] Share Of Non-Resident Population By Pass Types, At End June (table M810791), Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat). Checked 15 October 2026. Data updated 25 September 2026, read through the SingStat Table Builder API on 15 October 2026. Non-residents are foreigners working, studying or living in Singapore without permanent residence, excluding tourists and short-term visitors. 2026 shares are rounded: Employment Pass 10%, S Pass 9%, Work Permit 45%, migrant domestic workers 16%, Long-Term Visit and Dependant's Pass 15%, Student's Pass 5%.
- [C1] Price level index (GDP), Singapore, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 60.49 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [Q2] Expat Insider 2026: Quality of Life, InterNations (Expat Insider survey, private). Checked 15 October 2026. Singapore ranks 2nd of 31 countries.
- [O1] Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass: eligibility, Ministry of Manpower, Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026. Page last updated 14 September 2026. A work pass for top talent: a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 for the 12 months before applying, or a Singapore employer offering it, or outstanding achievements in some sectors; up to 5 years, renewable. The page mentions no nationality restriction. Not a remote-worker or retirement route.
- [O2] Personalised Employment Pass: eligibility, Ministry of Manpower, Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026. Page last updated 27 November 2024 (key facts page 22 March 2024). A work pass for high earners: a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 (overseas applicants: last drawn within 6 months), up to 3 years, issued once and not renewable; the holder must stay employed in Singapore (up to 6 months without a job). The pages mention no nationality restriction.
- [G5] Rural population (% of total population), World Bank, World Development Indicators. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 0% of the population is rural (national definitions; a city-state).
- [G6] Agricultural land (% of land area), World Bank, World Development Indicators. Checked 15 October 2026. 2024: 0.9% of land area.
- [G7] The World Factbook: Singapore, Geography and People and Society, Central Intelligence Agency. Checked 15 October 2026. Location: islands between Malaysia and Indonesia; coastline 193 km; highest point Bukit Timah 166 m; terrain low-lying, gently undulating central plateau; urban population 100% (2023); one urban area of 500,000 or more (Singapore, 6.081 million, 2023); official languages English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil; capital coordinates 1 17 N, 103 51 E; UTC+8. Read from the Factbook's published data on GitHub (factbook.json), because the cia.gov page does not render without JavaScript.
- [W1] Climate of Singapore: climate station means 1991–2020, Changi, Meteorological Service Singapore (National Environment Agency). Checked 15 October 2026. Page last modified 21 August 2024; table 'Records of Climate Station Means (Climatological Reference Period: 1991-2020)' from Changi Climate Station, on the east of the island and used for the whole country. Mean daily maximum 30.5 to 32.4 °C; monthly rainfall 105.1 to 331.9 mm. Singapore is not in the WMO normals archive that Thailand's files use.
- [S1] Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank, Institute for Economics and Peace. Checked 15 October 2026. Singapore ranks 8th of 163 countries.
- [H1] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026. Singapore: 88 out of 100 (2023).
- [Q1] Expat Insider 2026: Ease of Settling In, InterNations (Expat Insider survey, private). Checked 15 October 2026. Singapore ranks 12th of 31 countries (read from the page's full ranking graphic).
- [K2] Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Singapore, International Telecommunication Union, via the World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2024: 27.81 per 100 people, read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [R1] Becoming a Permanent Resident, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026. Lists who may apply: spouses, children and parents of citizens or permanent residents, Employment Pass and S Pass holders, students, and foreign investors (through the Global Investor Programme). No category for retirees or people living on a pension or passive income.
- [R2] Becoming a Long-Term Visit Pass Holder, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026. Lists who may apply: spouses, children and parents of citizens or permanent residents, graduates seeking work, family of students and others, all tied to a sponsor. No category for retirees or people living on a pension or passive income.
- [E1] Global Investor Programme (GIP) factsheet, Economic Development Board (Contact Singapore), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026. Factsheet updated 5 May 2025, linked from the page (last updated 15 October 2026). Permanent residence for established business owners (company turnover of at least S$200 million), founders of fast-growth companies and family office principals (net investible assets of at least S$200 million), with an investment of S$10 million, S$25 million or a family office. Not a route for living on a pension or passive income.
- [L1] Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, Article 153A (official languages), Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers). Checked 16 October 2026. Article 153A(1): 'Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English shall be the 4 official languages in Singapore.' Current version as at 16 October 2026. The site refuses requests without a browser user agent (HTTP 403 to plain curl); it loads in a browser.