Which country offers the most savings for Singaporean expats?

Malaysia currently leads — roughly 59% lower cost of living than Singapore, with a healthcare proxy of 78/100.

Do Singaporean citizens need a visa?

Most destinations on this list offer a digital nomad, retirement, or long-stay visa accessible to Singaporean passport holders. Confirm specifics before relocating.

Will I still owe tax in Singapore?

Tax residency rules in Singapore typically depend on physical presence and ties — consult a cross-border adviser before relocating.

Best Countries for Singaporean Expats (2026)

With strong purchasing power but limited space at home, Singaporeans look to Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia for property and lifestyle expansion.

Updated March 2026

Key takeaway

Malaysia ranks #1 for Singaporean expats — about 59% cheaper than Singapore on cost of living and 86% cheaper on rent.

Score blends cost arbitrage, a healthcare proxy (78/100), safety (74/100), visa access, and English fluency.

City-level costs inside Malaysia vary a lot. Compare cities with Pro →

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

Higher = better cost arbitrage and lifestyle fit for Singaporean expats.

Malaysia

62.6

Portugal

62.5

Malta

59.9

United Arab Emirates

59.4

Cyprus

58.6

Estonia

58.0

Thailand

57.4

South Korea

57.3

Spain

57.1

Croatia

55.6

#	Country	Score	CoL vs Singapore	Rent vs Singapore	HC	Safety
1	MalaysiaVisa	62.6	−59%	−86%	78	74	vs Singapore →
2	PortugalVisa	62.5	−23%	−67%	88	90	vs Singapore →
3	MaltaVisa	59.9	−19%	−64%	82	84	vs Singapore →
4	United Arab EmiratesVisa	59.4	−10%	−35%	82	88	vs Singapore →
5	CyprusVisa	58.6	−18%	−71%	78	82	vs Singapore →
6	EstoniaVisa	58.0	−10%	−76%	78	84	vs Singapore →
7	ThailandVisa	57.4	−58%	−84%	76	70	vs Singapore →
8	South KoreaVisa	57.3	−18%	−68%	90	84	vs Singapore →
9	SpainVisa	57.1	−18%	−69%	92	80	vs Singapore →
10	CroatiaVisa	55.6	−32%	−80%	74	82	vs Singapore →
11	CanadaVisa	55.2	+17%	−47%	84	80	vs Singapore →
12	JapanVisa	55.1	−15%	−68%	92	95	vs Singapore →
13	IcelandVisa	54.9	+45%	−41%	88	96	vs Singapore →
14	HungaryVisa	54.8	−33%	−81%	72	78	vs Singapore →
15	GreeceVisa	54.7	−23%	−82%	78	78	vs Singapore →
16	LatviaVisa	53.4	−26%	−81%	70	78	vs Singapore →
17	RomaniaVisa	53.4	−42%	−84%	66	70	vs Singapore →
18	IndonesiaVisa	53.1	−59%	−88%	58	64	vs Singapore →
19	Slovenia	52.3	−21%	−76%	80	88	vs Singapore →
20	South AfricaVisa	51.9	−46%	−83%	62	36	vs Singapore →
21	Bahrain	51.8	−36%	−72%	74	80	vs Singapore →
22	GeorgiaVisa	51.6	−49%	−83%	60	60	vs Singapore →
23	Netherlands	51.4	+3%	−43%	90	88	vs Singapore →
24	Qatar	51.1	−3%	−35%	84	90	vs Singapore →
25	Taiwan	50.7	−28%	−80%	88	88	vs Singapore →

What we measured

Cost arbitrage — how much cheaper rent and overall cost of living are vs Singapore.
Healthcare proxy (0–100) — blended outcome data, infrastructure, and resident satisfaction.
Safety proxy (0–100) — petty + violent crime + perceived nighttime safety.
Visa access — whether the destination offers a digital-nomad or long-stay visa accessible to Singaporean citizens.
English fluency — day-to-day usability for new arrivals before learning the local language.

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

What we measured

Other origins