Essentials
- City
- Orchard, Central Region, Singapore
- Population
- Approx. 23,800 (District 9 / Orchard planning area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 250 Mbps (StarHub/Singtel fiber optic widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 SGD ≈ 0.74 USD; Major banks include DBS, OCBC, and UOB
- Tap Water
- Safe and drinkable directly from the tap (highest WHO standards)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G sockets (British standard)
- SIM Card
- Singtel, StarHub, M1; Prepaid Hi!SIM cards available at 7-Eleven for ~$15 SGD
- Banking for Expats
- DBS Expat Program, HSBC, and digital-friendly Wise or Revolut
- Accommodation
- High-end condos and serviced apartments; Orchard Scotts Residences, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high; PayNow, GrabPay, and contactless cards accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Hmlet (Coliving), Cove, and Thanksgiving Serviced Residences (min. 6 nights/3 months typically)
- Budget Accommodation
- Comfy Studio at Mt. Elizabeth (~$120 SGD/night) or nearby hostels in Little India (~$40 SGD/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Orchard Road central (near ION Orchard/Grand Hyatt) for shopping and transit
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Emerald Hill or River Valley (quieter, historic shophouses, walkable to Orchard)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Great Room (Ngee Ann City) - ~$750 SGD/month or ~$70 day pass
- Best Cafe for Work
- Walking on Sunshine (Orchard Central) - Large tables and garden vibes
- Networking Events
- Singapore Digital Nomad Meetup (via Meetup.com), General Assembly events at Somerset
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Singapore events, British Club or American Club (nearby Claymore Hill)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab, Gojek, and Tada; Zig for CDG street-hail taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Anywheel or HelloRide (Dockless sharing); approx. $1 SGD per 30 mins
- Best Beach Nearby
- Palawan Beach, Sentosa (approx. 20 mins by car/taxi)
- Top Regional Airline
- Scoot (Budget regional carrier)
- Top International Airline
- Singapore Airlines (SIA)
- Highway Access
- Central Expressway (CTE) provides direct north-south access
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Orchard MRT (North-South Line / Thomson-East Coast Line) and Somerset MRT
- Public Transport Passes
- EZ-Link card or SimplyGo (pay with mobile wallet); ~ $0.95 - $2.30 per trip
- Regional Travel
- Cross-border bus to JB (Malaysia) from Newton Circus nearby; flights via Changi Airport
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Mount Elizabeth Hospital (3 Mount Elizabeth) - Top-tier private care
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Pure Yoga (Ngee Ann City); Jal Yoga (Orchard Towers)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness First (Paragon); Virgin Active (Wheeler’s Yard/Orchard)
- Laundry Services
- LaundryMart (Self-service at Killiney Rd) or Piing delivery app
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood, FoodPanda, and Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Hainanese Chicken Rice at Chatterbox (Hilton Orchard) - ~$27 SGD
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Real Food (Orchard Central); Joie by Dozo (Fine dining vegetarian)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Sunday Folks (ION Orchard) for soft-serve; Tiong Bahru Bakery (Tang Plaza)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lucky Plaza (low-cost retail); FairPrice Finest (Scotts Square)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shopee, Lazada, and Amazon.sg
- Grocery Delivery
- RedMart (via Lazada app) or Pandamart
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Emerald Hill (Peranakan shophouse bars) or Cuppage Terrace
- Local Brewery
- Brewerkz (Orchard Rendezvous Hotel) - Local craft beers
- Wine Bars
- Wine Connection (Cuppage Terrace) for affordable glasses
- Street Food Stalls
- Newton Food Centre (10 min walk) - FAMOUS for satay and seafood
- Popular International Cuisine
- Din Tai Fung (Paragon) for Taiwanese; Ippudo (Mandarin Gallery) for Japanese Ramen
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- ION Sky Observatory and the historic Emerald Hill shophouses
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Museum of Singapore (bottom of Orchard Rd); Opera Gallery (ION)
- Historical Sites
- Istana (Official Residence of the President) - Open on select public holidays
- Religious Sites
- Church of the Sacred Heart (Tank Road); Masjid Al-Falah (Bideford Rd)
- Annual Events
- Christmas Light-up (November-January); Great Singapore Sale (June/July)
- Cultural Districts
- Emerald Hill (Historic Peranakan neighborhood)
- Theater Venues
- SOTA (School of the Arts) Drama Centre at Dhoby Ghaut
- Local Markets
- Far East Plaza (Youth culture/street fashion market)
- Music Scene
- Hard Rock Cafe (Cuscaden Rd) for live bands; KTV lounges in Orchard Towers
- Street Art
- Street art murals along Somerset Skate Park and Grange Road
- Cooking Classes
- ABC Cooking Studio (Takashimaya S.C.)
- Art Galleries
- Y_Space (Orchard Central); various galleries in Tanglin Shopping Centre
- Historic Buildings
- Goodwood Park Hotel (National Monument architectural style)
- Local Heritage
- Vanda Miss Joaquim (National Flower) gardens near botanical access
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Fort Canning Park (walking distance from the end of Orchard Rd)
- National Parks Nearby
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (UNESCO Site - 5 mins by MRT/Bus)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Alexandra Canal Linear Park (nearby park connector)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- ION Sky (Level 56) for panoramic city views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Eco-Lake at Botanic Gardens
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Not permitted in the city area; strictly Sentosa beach zones with permits
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SingPost (Killiney Road branch); NinjaVan lockers (Pick-up points)
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Orchard Road (Official); Far East Plaza level 3 for indie repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Pickleball/Table tennis at nearby CSC Tessensohn (10 mins drive)
- Language Classes
- Linden Language Centre (Orchard Road)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- library@orchard (Orchard Gateway) - Most beautiful public library
- Community Centers
- Tanglin Community Club (approx. 1 km from main strip)
- Gaming Lounges
- Wanyoo Esports (Orchard Gateway)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Marina Bay Sands Casino (15 mins away by MRT)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $28,000 per m² ($1.1M SGD for 40m²)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $16,000 per m² ($640k SGD for 40m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $26,000 per m² ($1.56M SGD for 60m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $15,000 per m² ($900k SGD for 60m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $24,500 per m² ($1.96M SGD for 80m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $14,500 per m² ($1.16M SGD for 80m²)
- Corporate Tax
- 17% (with partial exemptions for startups)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (Singapore follows a single-tier corporate tax system)
- Tax System
- Territorial tax system (Generally no tax on foreign-sourced income)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 24% (for income above $1,000,000 SGD)
- VAT
- 9% GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No strict CFC rules in the traditional sense
- Property Tax
- Progressive rates based on Annual Value; higher for non-owner occupied
- Property Transaction Tax
- Buyer's Stamp Duty (up to 6%) + Additional BSD for foreigners (60%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No capital gains tax and no tax on foreign income remitted to Singapore