When to Use
User asks about Singapore for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay | visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips | visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods | |
| Quick comparison | neighborhoods-index.md |
| CBD, Marina Bay, Raffles | neighborhoods-central.md |
| Orchard, Newton, River Valley | neighborhoods-orchard.md |
| Katong, East Coast, Bedok | neighborhoods-east.md |
| Novena, Toa Payoh, Bishan | neighborhoods-suburbs.md |
| Holland Village, Clementi, Jurong | neighborhoods-west.md |
| Woodlands, Yishun, Punggol | neighborhoods-north.md |
| Choosing guide | neighborhoods-choosing.md |
| Food | |
| Overview & hawker culture | food-overview.md |
| Local cuisine (chicken rice, laksa) | food-local.md |
| International & fine dining | food-international.md |
| Michelin stars & speakeasies | food-fine-dining.md |
| Best areas for dining | food-areas.md |
| Dietary, alcohol, practical | food-practical.md |
| Practical | |
| Moving & settling | resident.md |
| Transport (MRT, buses, Grab) | transport.md |
| Cost of living | cost.md |
| Safety & laws | safety.md |
| Weather & survival tips | climate.md |
| Local services (banking, SIM) | local.md |
| Career | |
| Tech industry & salaries | tech.md |
| Business setup & ACRA | business.md |
| Visas (EP, S Pass, PR) | visas.md |
| Startups & funding | startup.md |
| Lifestyle | |
| Culture & customs | culture.md |
| Healthcare & insurance | healthcare.md |
| Schools & education | education.md |
| Expat lifestyle & social | lifestyle.md |
| Driving & COE system | driving.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. City-State Reality
Singapore is a city-state with unique characteristics:
- Size: 733 km² — everything is accessible within 1 hour by MRT
- Population: 5.9 million (74% Chinese, 13% Malay, 9% Indian)
- Language: English is primary business language; Singlish widely spoken
- Government: Highly efficient, strict laws, low corruption
3. Visa Categories
Employment requires proper visa sponsorship:
- EP (Employment Pass): S$5,600+ salary, COMPASS framework (40 points)
- S Pass: S$3,300+ salary, quota-limited
- Dependent Pass: Requires S$6,000+ sponsor salary
- PR pathway: Typically 2-5 years with stable employment
See
visas.mdfor current requirements (Feb 2026).
4. Weather Reality
Singapore is tropical year-round:
- Temperature: 27-32°C constant, no seasons
- Humidity: 80%+ average — acclimatization takes 2-4 weeks
- Rain: Afternoon thunderstorms common, carry umbrella always
- Monsoons: NE (Dec-Mar), SW (Jun-Sep) — affects outdoor activities
See
climate.mdfor monthly breakdown.
5. Current Data (Feb 2026)
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| 1BR rent (CBD) | S$3,000-5,000/month |
| 1BR rent (suburbs) | S$2,000-3,500/month |
| HDB room rental | S$800-1,500/month |
| Senior SWE salary | S$12,000-20,000/month |
| MRT monthly pass | S$128 (adult) |
| Hawker meal | S$4-8 |
| Restaurant dinner | S$30-100/person |
| International school | S$30,000-55,000/year |
6. Cost Reality
Singapore is expensive but tax-efficient:
- No capital gains tax, no inheritance tax
- Income tax: 0-24% progressive (most pay 7-15%)
- Housing: 30-50% of budget typical for expats
- COE (car permit): S$100,000-150,000 for 10 years — most don't drive
- Hidden costs: Agent fees (1 month rent), security deposits (2 months)
- Hawker centres: Affordable meals (S$4-8) offset restaurant costs
7. Transit Excellence
Unlike most cities, Singapore has world-class public transport:
- MRT: 6 lines, 140+ stations, S$1-2.50 per trip
- Buses: Extensive network, same EZ-Link/SimplyGo card
- Grab: Primary ride-hailing, S$8-25 for most trips
- No car needed: 90%+ of residents don't own cars
See
transport.mdfor complete guide.
8. Neighborhood Matching
| Profile | Best Areas |
|---|---|
| Young professionals | Tiong Bahru, Tanjong Pagar, Robertson Quay |
| Families | East Coast, Bukit Timah, Holland Village |
| Budget-conscious | Woodlands, Jurong, Tampines |
| Tech workers | One-north, CBD, Tanjong Pagar |
| Beach lifestyle | East Coast, Katong, Sentosa Cove |
| Food lovers | Tiong Bahru, Jalan Besar, Katong |
Food Culture Context
Singapore is a UNESCO-recognized hawker food destination:
- Hawker centres: 100+ centres, 6,000+ stalls, heritage status
- Must-try dishes: Chicken rice, laksa, char kway teow, bak kut teh, chili crab
- Michelin: 3 three-star, 7 two-star, 32 one-star restaurants
- Speakeasies: Jigger & Pony (#3 Asia), 28 Hong Kong Street
- Halal: Widely available, MUIS certification
See food-overview.md for complete guide.
Singapore-Specific Traps
- Chewing gum ban — Importing gum for personal use is illegal. Don't bring it.
- Drug laws — Zero tolerance. Death penalty for trafficking. Even trace amounts = prison.
- Vandalism — Criminal offense including caning. Don't graffiti anything.
- Jaywalking — S$50 fine within 50m of crossing. Police do enforce.
- Smoking — Banned in most public areas. S$200+ fines.
- Littering — S$300 first offense, S$1,000+ repeat. Very enforced.
- Public intoxication — Liquor control areas 10:30pm-7am in some zones.
- LGBTQ+ — 377A repealed (2022) but limited protections. Discretion advised.
- Criticism of government — Defamation laws strict. Avoid public criticism.
- Photography — No photos at government/military installations.
- Overstaying visa — Criminal offense, caning possible. Don't overstay.
Legal Awareness
Key laws every visitor/resident must know:
- Drugs: Zero tolerance. Death penalty for 15g heroin, 500g cannabis.
- Weapons: Strictly prohibited including pocket knives.
- Alcohol: Legal at 18+, retail sales end 10:30pm.
- Public order: Unlicensed gatherings >1 person in public can be illegal.
- Internet: VPNs legal but bypassing government blocks is not.
- Employment: Working without valid pass = deportation + ban.
See safety.md for comprehensive legal guidance.