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Important Factors to Include on the Decision for Moving Family to Singapore: Should I Go or

Should I Stay

Erica DuPriest

Department of Business, University of South Florida

MAN 3025: Principle of Management

Professor Karlins

November 20, 2022

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My American-based company has allowed me to spend three years living and working in

Singapore and asked me if I would take the position. The idea of moving to Singapore is an

enormous decision, requiring a lot to consider. Specifically when it involves a family. I am

married and have two children, ages 9 and 14. Even though moving is an extraordinary

opportunity, it is essential to evaluate all of the factors. The option is only a temporary move.

Nothing would be official, like homes, cars, or furniture. Some elements that need to investigate

would be schooling for the kids, language barrier, home expenses, rules and laws, and whether

this would impact the family positively or negatively.

The first factor to consider would be: how much would it cost for housing? Singapore

was ranked the second most expensive city in the world (Singapore: Is it really the most

expensive place to live, 2021). The estimated goal to be budgeted is at least $700 to $3,500 a

month if renting a place and $1,500 to $6,000 a month if you are a Singaporean/PR buying a

home and eligible to purchase HDB property. (Poh, 2021). Since I would only be living in

Singapore for three years, the best decision would be to rent. However, based on the size of the

house or apartment could still cause hinder our bank. A standard unfurnished, three-bedroom

apartment in Singapore is around 5,840 SGD (4,215 USD) per month. (Rent and housing in

Singapore as an ex-pat, 2022). Depending on how much I make at the company, and how much

my husband makes at his job, we could be in a tight situation with our finances. There could be a

possibility of getting two rooms and one bathroom, but with four members in my family, that

could be a tight space. Depending on where the business is in Singapore, if I purchase an

apartment in Orchard and get a 2-bedroom apartment, the cost would roughly be $7,000 (Poh,

2022). Now, in America, if I rent a 2 Bedroom House/Duplex, the estimated average cost would

be $3,852.50 (Community Rentals, 2022). Comparing the two, it looks like the one in America
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would be the cheaper option. The housing factor seems to lean more toward staying in America,

but let us continue looking at the other main factors.

The second factor to consider would be whether my husband can get a job in Singapore. I

would need to apply for a work visa, but the real question is would my husband be able to get a

job in Singapore or maintain his previous job in the States? Singapore requires everyone to have

a valid pass or permit. If you are engaging foreigners to work in Singapore, you must ensure that

people hold valid pass. (Work Passes, 2022). Even though this is a tedious task, it is worth the

long run since we will live in Singapore longer than a year. Another element we would have to

consider is how much my husband earns in America compared to how much he could earn in

Singapore. If he has the potential to earn more in America, it may be smart if I do not go. Since I

would be earning the same amount I would be earning in America. However, if he has the

potential to earn more in Singapore, it may be worth taking the job. However, the cost in

Singapore for almost everything is expensive.

Another cost that would need to consider would be transportation. Singapore has one of

the best and least expensive public transportation systems. The average price for a one-way bus

fare is about S$1.60. If you combine the MRT and bus transport, the cost would be no more than

S$150 a month, considering an average weekend cost of around S$10 and a daily commute of

around S$3.50. (The cost of transportation in Singapore, 2020). Meaning that traveling would be

easy and cheap from the house to work or for the kids to go to school. Owning a private car in

Singapore can be an expensive luxury due to the heavy government taxes that come with it. (The

cost of transportation in Singapore, 2020). Again, this job position is temporary, so there is no

need to purchase an item, like a car, for a brief time.

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The third factor to consider would be: how would the school system work for the

children. Education for my children is a factor since we need to build their future with good

schools. Singapore has a different format compared to the United States. In Singapore, the

system includes six years of primary school, four to six years of secondary school, and one to

three years of postsecondary school. The curriculum for primary schools is common for all

students in years one to four. (Singapore 2022). In the United States, the system has been broken

down into three stages: elementary school (Grades K–5), middle school (Grades 6–8), and high

school (Grades 9–12). (Marriage, 2019). Showing that there is a difference between both school

systems, and could be confusing for my children to attend.

For the children to attend a school in Singapore, they would have to take the centralized

admission tests (, which) will be conducted in English (Studying in Singapore, 2021).

Determining what the children have learned in the United States, they may not have the

knowledge that is equivalent to what they need to know in Singapore. If the children do not pass

the test this could mean that they could not get into a Singapore school. Singapore is known for

having high standards in its public Schools. Singapore’s public schools maintain high standards

of teaching and learning. According to IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2015, Singapore

was ranked among the top three in the world for its educational system. (Studying in

Singapore, 2022). One of the mandatory musts in a Singapore school is that they need to learn

English, which is a pro for the kids, but the majority of the students are taught their official

mother tongue as their second language. Meaning that Mandarin Chinese would be taught to

Chinese students, Malay would be taught to Malay students, and Tamil would be taught to South

Indian students.
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Another difference between the American school system and the Singapore school

system is the cost. Parents are paying an average of $6,000 to secure a primary or secondary

place at one of its 70-plus international schools. This includes a typical cost of $1,300 to

complete the school application form. (Allan, 2022). Again, this would also be just for three

years, which is not enough reason to move them from their friends and learn a different format.

Plus, getting them into the school is expensive compared to if they stay and continue their

education in America. The cost of public education in America is free. The schooling factor and

home expense factor are already signs of not going, but we continued to look at other factors that

are necessary to determine whether I should go or decline the offer.

The fourth factor to consider would be: how different rules and laws in Singapore are

compared to the United States. Many of Singapore's laws are backed up by stiff fines, such as

failing to flush a public toilet ($100); spitting or smoking in public places ($300); eating or

drinking on the subway ($300); littering ($600); selling chewing gum ($1600). The government

came down against chewing gum after vandals began sticking wads on elevator buttons and

subway car doors. Elevators in apartment buildings even have urine detectors that, when

activated, take the guilt’s picture and lock the door until the police arrive. The fine is $1200.

(Bria 10 1 B Singapore: Model society or city of fear?) Some of these fines seem ridiculous. For

example, the littering one makes sense, but selling chewing gum and you get fined $1,600 seem

to be an overly excessive amount. However, these fines are over certain factors that we could

easily avoid.

Another aspect that Singapore is strict on is its permits or passes. In the case where he or

she remains unlawfully for a period not exceeding 90 days, shall be liable on conviction to a fine

not exceeding $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both. (Search
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within legislation, 2021). Meaning that if my family and I overstay, there is a chance that we

could be fined or imprisoned. Now, many situations could arise from this, like the furniture we

purchased for the rental needs to be sold or removing the kids from their schools, which could

lead to us having to stay a bit over time. However, we could plan around this and make sure that

we do not exceed our stay. However, this could give us some stress. For Singapore to be an

option, there would have to be less stress, which seems like it is not an option.

The fifth and final factor that needs consideration would be if there are restrictions on

religion. There is no restriction on the majority of religions in Singapore. The 2020 Census

indicates that 31.1% of Singaporeans are Buddhist, 18.9% are Christian, 15.6% are Muslim,

8.8% are Taoist, 5% are Hindu, and 0.7% belong to other religions. (Home, 2022). Now, I am

religious, and the fact that Singapore is open to multiple religions is a big pro. The only religion

they have banned is Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Unification Church. The constitution, laws, and

policies provide for religious freedom, subject to restrictions relating to public order, public

health, and morality. The government continued to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Family

Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church). (U.S. Department of State,

2021). The reasoning behind their banned was that they went against Singapore’s Government

rules. However, the fact that Singapore is open to multiple religions is a benefit.

There is some difference between the United States of America and Singapore. For

instance, the currency is different. The local currency is the Singapore Dollar, but there is a

reciprocal arrangement with Brunei to accept their local currency (Foreign, C. & D. O, 2022),

whereas, in The United States of America, they use USD. That would take time to get used to,

and there is no difference. A Singapore dollar is roughly equal to .73 cents in the United States.

Another difference would be that America does not follow the metric system, whereas everyone
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else in the world (including Singapore) uses the metric system. Now, the benefit of having

technology would help us measure and understand how much an object is or how far a place is,

but this would only be temporary.

There is an option that my husband and two kids could stay in America while I am in

Singapore. However, that would be double the cost expense, I would be missing a lot of

moments with my family, and not seem worth the hassle. The main reason I would be taking this

position is if this benefits the whole family. When making decisions for work, you have to have

the mindset of if it is beneficial or harmful to the family. Having a job is needed for the family,

but I do not want to miss my children growing up if I have the choice. Life is short, and certain

moments are more precious. There are times when an opportunity might seem nice. However, I

value family over work opportunities that do not benefit the whole family.

I would decide to not take the position. Singapore seems like a decent place to visit but

not a place to live, even if it will only be for three years. Especially when I have a family, which

would make moving hard. Three years seem like a decent amount of time, but to me, that seems

like a short time. For example, one year to get situated in Singapore, one year to enjoy

Singapore, and the last year would be trying to prep everything to move back to America.

Singapore seems to be extremely strict on its laws and rules.

It does not seem to be smart to just up and move everyone for three years than try to find

another location in the U.S. and have my kids lose their bonds with their friends. There would

also be the hassle of my kids having to try to change schools because Singapore has a high

education system for their kids. I think the opportunity would be for a coworker who is not

married or already has a family since they would not have to worry about school fees, permits,

and passes for a spouse or have to get a place to rent out for the whole family. They could
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purchase one bedroom and one bathroom for half the price it would cost if I planned to move

with my family. The best decision for my entire family would be grateful for the opportunity, but

to decline this offer and stay in America.

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References

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Community Rentals. Rental cost statistics. (2022, July 12). Retrieved November 18, 2022, from

https://communityrentals.ucsc.edu/cost/index.html

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Foreign, C. & D. O. (2022, October 18). Money - Singapore Travel Advice. GOV.UK. Retrieved

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Marriage, R. (2019, November 14). The US education system explained: From K-12 to advanced

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