Choosing between living and working in Shanghai or Singapore?
When expats choose a destination within the APAC region, be it Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Bangkok, or Singapore, each city has its unique traits.
Some of my recent work involved welcoming visitors to Shanghai for a tour while they were deciding whether to move to Shanghai or Singapore for a new job with their families. On the other hand, several others from Singapore are coming to set up a new base in Shanghai, which is a fascinating phenomenon. I am sure there are a lot of factors involved in the decision-making. So, today’s article shares some insight on this topic: Shanghai vs. Singapore.
It’s been more than 10 years since I last visited Singapore; in May 2024, I saw the most recent Singapore in person. Knowing several expat friends who moved there within the last 2 years to a decade and local Singaporeans who I worked with in Shanghai, I had the chance to experience and gain insight first-hand from friends and expats who are now living and working in Singapore. This also makes me wonder about the comparisons and differences from different perspectives.
One said, “Moving to a new country is like falling in love with someone you don’t know.” I think this is very well said. However, there are ways to get information, such as connecting with people already on the ground to gain more insight.
One thing I hear the most about Singapore is that it’s tiny and boring. Most expats are concentrated in the finance and shipping industry, and the high cost of living sounds notorious. They call Singapore the “Switzerland of Asia,” while I call Shanghai the “New York of Asia.”
Below are the aspects I observed and discussed with friends during my visit to Singapore:
1. Size of the City:
China is over 13,000 times bigger than Singapore in terms of area. And Singapore is 11% in terms of size of Shanghai city.
Singapore has 5.9 million population (29% non-resident) while Shanghai has over 24.8 mllion residents
2. Living cost:
The housing rent, transportation, food are 2-5 times more expensive in Singapore than in Shanghai.
The cost of Living in Singapore is 100.2% higher than in Shanghai (without rent) ; Cost of Living Including Rent in Singapore is 116.5% higher than in Shanghai.
“Singapore is the most expensive city for an upper-class lifestyle, pushing Shanghai off the podium, marking the first time the Asian city-state topped the ranking.”
3. Language barrier:
Singapore is multilingual, with 4 official languages: English, Malay, Tamil, and Singaporean Mandarin. Most Singaporeans are multilingual. However, it might be difficult for foreigners to communicate with locals initially. Indeed, English is the official and commonly used language, but Singaporeans mostly use Singaporean English (Singlish, a language that is English but evolved with a mix of all other local languages, Malay, Cantonese, Hokkien, Mandarin, Teochew, and Tamil)
While in Shanghai, Mandarin is widely spoken in the city, the Shanghainese native has their own Shanghainese dialect, which is very different from the official Mandarin language. Highly educated people and those who studied and returned from overseas can be fluent in English and many other foreign languages such as French, German, Spanish, Russian, etc. According to the State Council Report in March 2024, Shanghai has become home to 956 regional headquarters of multinational corporations and 561 foreign-funded R&D centres. In 2023 alone, 65 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 30 foreign-funded R&D centres have made Shanghai their new home. With the highest number of WFOE (Wholly foreign-owned enterprises) registered and also serving as APAC Headquarters for some MNCs, the level of English is the best among all cities in China.
4. Transportation:
Shanghai and Singapore have well-developed metro/subway/underground/mass rapid transit systems throughout the city.
Electronic payments and contactless travel passes are accepted.
The service is also available in multiple languages, including English.
Singapore has 6 lines, 134 stations, 230km (104 mi), and a 1.2 billion annual ridership.
Shanghai has 18 lines, 408 stations, 802km (498.3 mi), and 3.9 billion annual ridership.
The major difference is the price and speed. Shanghai Subway is faster and cheaper to get across town. The density of metro stations is also higher downtown, making it an easy 500m-1km walk you will get to a metro station. The base fare is 3 RMB (0.4 USD) ( for journeys under 6 km, then 1 yuan (0.14 USD) for each additional 10 km. In Singapore, a single-trip adult ride ranges from 1.9 SGD to 2.4 SGD (1.4-1.76 USD), depending on distance and density.
Uber is not available in both cities; the major platform for car-hailing, as an alternative to taxis, are
Grab in Singapore, as well as Zig and Gojek.
Didi in Shanghai is also directly available on navigation maps, and multiple vendors share the same platform.
5. Entertainment and Art Culture:
As of April 20, 2024, there are 116 museums and 20 art galleries in Singapore. In Shanghai, as of January 2024, there are a total of 165 museums and 103 art galleries listed by SmartShanghai. Additionally, Shanghai has 72 different theatres that host various local and international shows, including musicals, dance performances, symphonies, dramas, and concerts.
6. Healthcare:
Both cities offer both public and private medical institutions. The private healthcare system stands out with its modern, state-of-the-art facilities, English-speaking doctors and staff, and top-quality care. Expats in both countries are usually covered by medical insurance to ensure proper healthcare while living there.
7. Schooling:
Shanghai has more expat international schools with greater diversity, but the school fees are slightly more expensive than Singapore's due to its competitiveness, high demand, and operating costs. Most international schools in Shanghai offer bilingual education, with classes conducted in English and Mandarin.
8. Geographic location:
Shanghai and Singapore are a 5-5.5 hour flight away from each other. Singapore is situated near the equator, resulting in a typical tropical climate with consistently high temperatures ranging from 28-33°C throughout the year and frequent heavy rainfall. Friends in Singapore have mentioned that they miss the distinct seasons and winter. The climate in Singapore is always humid and hot. On the other hand, Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate, which has four distinct seasons. Additionally, Shanghai is close to other countries such as South Korea and Japan, while Singapore offers travel destinations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Most of my friends say they have to travel more within the APAC region after moving to Singapore for business trips, while in China, they mostly travel within China, sometimes to other countries.
9. Food
As someone who loves food and photography, I was impressed by the diverse food scene in Singapore. The city is known for its multicultural heritage, including Peranakan, Singaporean, Chinese fusion, and abundant seafood. The hawker centres, popular among locals, expats, and tourists, offer affordable and delicious meals, despite being crowded. A typical meal in a Western restaurant in Singapore costs around 25-35 SGD ($16-$26) including tax.
Meanwhile, in Shanghai, I never have trouble finding a wide variety of affordable international cuisines (Texas BBQ, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian, South African, Peruvian, North Korean, you name it). The prices were about half of what I paid in Singapore, and I was pleased to see that food safety has greatly improved over the last decade. My clients from around the world also found the authenticity of their native cuisines in Shanghai to be quite good, as there are expats who are the chefs in the community to provide such authentic food from their homes. The cost of dining out, groceries and alcoholic beverages in Shanghai is, of course, also cheaper than in Singapore, if you can imagine.
10. Public Policies:
Both countries have specific laws and regulations to follow and comply with, while the ones in China can be altered and updated often.
For example, both countries have tough drug laws. Singapore also strictly bans the importation or sale of chewing gum. There are serious penalties for jaywalking and littering. The locals told me that the fines and penalties in Singapore are very heavy, but many still do what they do as long as they don’t get caught.
In China, there is always a sensitivity to nationalism, geopolitics and religious topics, hence the internet censorship. Expats and locals would install VPN services on their devices to access global services like Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and other media streaming services.
You can visit this link for more interesting facts and comparisons of these two cities,
Conclusion
Choosing between Shanghai and Singapore depends on your personal and professional priorities. Shanghai offers a dynamic, rapidly evolving environment with significant business opportunities, especially if you want to tap into the Chinese market. However, it comes with challenges, such as language barriers and cultural differences. It’s definitely more exotic and adventurous.
On the other hand, Singapore provides a more predictable and stable environment with a higher quality of life, but it comes with a much higher cost and many other artificial things. The higher cost of living is a trade-off for the comfort and convenience it offers.
Ultimately, your decision should consider factors like career goals, lifestyle preferences, family needs, and how well you might adapt to each city's unique environment. Both cities are exciting in their own right and can offer a fulfilling expat experience.