Essentials
- City
- Sentosa Island, Singapore
- Population
- Approximately 1,500 permanent residents; over 20 million annual visitors
- Internet Speed
- Ultra-fast: 100-500 Mbps via fiber optics and island-wide 5G (Singtel/Starhub)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 SGD ≈ 0.74 USD; 1 USD ≈ 1.35 SGD. Major banks include DBS, OCBC, and UOB.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and meets WHO standards; high quality
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (British style 3-pin)
- SIM Card
- Singtel hi! Tourist SIM (100GB for $30 SGD) or Starhub Travel SIM
- Banking for Expats
- DBS Expat Program, HSBC Singapore, and digital banks like Revolut and Wise
- Accommodation
- Luxury resorts (W Singapore), high-end condos (Sentosa Cove), and integrated resorts (Resorts World)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, almost 100% cashless via Visa/MC, Apple Pay, and GrabPay
- Short Term Rentals
- Strict regulations; minimum 3 months for private condos. Hotels like Village Hotel Sentosa offer weekly rates.
- Budget Accommodation
- Siloso Beach Resort (approx. $180 SGD/night); most options are premium.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Resorts World Sentosa for families; Siloso Beach for young travelers
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Sentosa Cove (Quayside Isle) for high-end residential living and quiet vibes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Work Project (nearest at HarbourFront Tower, 10 min away via monorail) - $500/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Common Man Coffee Roasters at Quayside Isle (Coastal views, reliable Wi-Fi, great coffee)
- Networking Events
- ONE°15 Marina Events and regular business mixers at the Sentosa Golf Club
- Social Events for Expats
- Sentosa Cove Community Facebook Group and Quayside Isle weekend markets
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab, Gojek, and Tada (Average ride to city: $15-$25 SGD)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Ola Beach Club (Hourly rentals approx. $15 SGD) and SG Bike sharing
- Best Beach Nearby
- Tanjong Beach (Quiet, upscale), Palawan Beach (Family), Siloso Beach (Active)
- Top Regional Airline
- SilkAir (merged with Singapore Airlines) and Scoot (Low cost)
- Top International Airline
- Singapore Airlines (Changi Airport is 25 minutes away)
- Highway Access
- Sentosa Gateway connects directly to the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- HarbourFront MRT Station (linked via Sentosa Express Monorail or Boardwalk)
- Public Transport Passes
- EZ-Link Card or SimplyGo (linked to credit card); Island bus shuttles are free
- Regional Travel
- Ferry from HarbourFront to Batam/Bintan (Indonesia); Coach to Malaysia
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Gleneagles Hospital (15 mins away) or National University Hospital (NUH)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Auriga Spa at Capella Singapore (Premium treatments) and Ocean Health yoga classes
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- The Pit (Sentosa Cove) and hotel gyms for residents/guests
- Laundry Services
- Piing! (On-demand app) or laundry services provided at Sentosa Cove Village
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood, FoodPanda, and Deliveroo (Note: surcharge often applies for island entry)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Chilli Crab at Blue Lotus Chinese Eating House (Quayside Isle)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Ananda Bhavan (nearby HarbourFront) or The Cliff (refined Italian veg options)
- Best Dessert Spots
- LADY M at Quayside Isle (Mille Crêpes) and Gelatissimo at Siloso Beach
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Vivocity Shopping Mall (just off the island via monorail)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon.sg
- Grocery Delivery
- RedMart (Lazada) or FairPrice On; Jason's Deli at Quayside Isle for gourmet picks
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Siloso Beach Walk (Sand Bar, Rumours Beach Club) and Quayside Isle
- Local Brewery
- LeVeL33 (nearby at Marina Bay) or Brewerkz (nearby at Riverside)
- Wine Bars
- Wine Connection at Quayside Isle (Affordable glasses starting at $10 SGD)
- Street Food Stalls
- Malaysian Food Street (Resorts World Sentosa) for curated hawker favorites
- Popular International Cuisine
- Greek at Mykonos on the Bay; Italian at SolePomodoro
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, and the Wings of Time show
- Museums & Art Venues
- Madame Tussauds and Images of Singapore Live
- Historical Sites
- Fort Siloso (Singapore's only preserved coastal fort/WWII site)
- Religious Sites
- Sri Sivan Temple (nearby at Geylang) or Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Chinatown, 15m away)
- Annual Events
- ZoukOut Music Festival (December) and Sentosa Grillfest (Food festival)
- Cultural Districts
- Nearby Chinatown and Kampong Glam (reachable in 15 mins)
- Theater Venues
- Resorts World Theatre for Broadway-style shows
- Local Markets
- Sentosa Cove Farmers' Market (Monthly occurrence)
- Music Scene
- Beach club DJ sets at Tanjong Beach Club and Rumours
- Street Art
- Interactive murals near Siloso Point and Fort Siloso
- Cooking Classes
- D'Open Kitchen (Nearby HarbourFront) for Singaporean cuisine workshops
- Art Galleries
- The Art Sanctuary (Private appointments in Sentosa Cove area)
- Historic Buildings
- Capella Singapore (Restored British colonial military buildings)
- Local Heritage
- The 'Merlion' legacy (statue recently removed, but spirit remains in island branding)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sentosa Nature Discovery Trail and Imbiah Trail (Coastal rainforest)
- National Parks Nearby
- Labrador Nature Reserve (Accessible via cable car/bridge)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- 12km of cycling tracks across the island; Sentosa Boardwalk to mainland
- Scenic Viewpoints
- SkyHelix Sentosa (highest open-air panoramic ride) and cable car rides
- Birdwatching Locations
- Tanjong Beach and the forest edges of Mount Imbiah
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Private events at Ola Beach Club (Strictly regulated elsewhere)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Pick@Sentosa lockers and SingPost at HarbourFront Center
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Orchard Road (20 mins away) or Sim Lim Square for PC repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Community areas in Sentosa Cove residential compounds
- Language Classes
- Inlingua School of Languages (short drive to Orchard area)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- library@harbourfront (Vivocity Mall - massive views of the island)
- Community Centers
- Sentosa Cove Village Community Hall
- Gaming Lounges
- E-sports arenas at GR.ID mall (nearby city center)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Resorts World Sentosa Casino (Entry fees apply for PRs/Citizens)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Sentosa is premium: Approx. $22,000 per m² ($1.4M SGD for 60m²)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Mainland outskirts: Approx. $16,000 per m² ($960,000 SGD for 60m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $24,000 per m² ($1.6M+ SGD in Sentosa Cove)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $18,000 per m² ($1.2M SGD for 70m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $21,000 per m² ($2.1M SGD for 100m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $15,000 per m² ($1.5M SGD for 100m²)
- Corporate Tax
- 17% (with significant exemptions for startups)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (Singapore doesn't tax dividends)
- Tax System
- Territorial tax system (Income earned outside Singapore is generally not taxed)
- 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, Singapore generally does not have CFC rules
- Property Tax
- Progressive rates based on Annual Value (AV); higher for non-owner occupied
- Property Transaction Tax
- Buyer's Stamp Duty (up to 6%) and Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (up to 60% for foreigners)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No, unless using the ONE Pass or Tech Pass for high-earning individuals.