Which country offers the most savings for Singaporean expats?

Portugal currently leads — roughly 36% lower cost of living than Singapore, with a healthcare proxy of 88/100.

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

Portugal ranks #1 for Singaporean expats — about 36% cheaper than Singapore on cost of living and 67% cheaper on rent.

Score blends cost arbitrage, a healthcare proxy (88/100), safety (90/100), visa access, and English fluency.

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

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

Portugal

64.1

Malaysia

62.1

United Arab Emirates

61.5

Estonia

61.4

Malta

60.4

Iceland

60.2

Cyprus

59.9

Canada

59.2

Spain

59.1

South Korea

57.1

#	Country	Score	CoL vs Singapore	Rent vs Singapore	HC	Safety
1	PortugalVisa	64.1	−36%	−67%	88	90	vs Singapore →
2	MalaysiaVisa	62.1	−55%	−86%	78	74	vs Singapore →
3	United Arab EmiratesVisa	61.5	−27%	−35%	82	88	vs Singapore →
4	EstoniaVisa	61.4	−37%	−76%	78	84	vs Singapore →
5	MaltaVisa	60.4	−23%	−64%	82	84	vs Singapore →
6	IcelandVisa	60.2	+2%	−41%	88	96	vs Singapore →
7	CyprusVisa	59.9	−28%	−71%	78	82	vs Singapore →
8	CanadaVisa	59.2	−15%	−47%	84	80	vs Singapore →
9	SpainVisa	59.1	−34%	−69%	92	80	vs Singapore →
10	South KoreaVisa	57.1	−16%	−68%	90	84	vs Singapore →
11	ThailandVisa	57.0	−54%	−84%	76	70	vs Singapore →
12	JapanVisa	56.8	−29%	−68%	92	95	vs Singapore →
13	HungaryVisa	56.8	−50%	−81%	72	78	vs Singapore →
14	CroatiaVisa	56.5	−39%	−80%	74	82	vs Singapore →
15	GreeceVisa	56.4	−37%	−82%	78	78	vs Singapore →
16	LatviaVisa	55.6	−43%	−81%	70	78	vs Singapore →
17	RomaniaVisa	54.8	−53%	−84%	66	70	vs Singapore →
18	Slovenia	54.2	−36%	−76%	80	88	vs Singapore →
19	Netherlands	53.8	−17%	−43%	90	88	vs Singapore →
20	Qatar	53.7	−23%	−35%	84	90	vs Singapore →
21	Finland	53.3	−17%	−64%	86	90	vs Singapore →
22	Sweden	53.2	−20%	−66%	88	84	vs Singapore →
23	IndonesiaVisa	53.0	−59%	−88%	58	64	vs Singapore →
24	ItalyVisa	52.8	−32%	−73%	86	74	vs Singapore →
25	South AfricaVisa	52.8	−53%	−83%	62	36	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