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An Expat’s Guide To East Coast Singapore

East Coast Singapore is perfect for expats with the right guide because of its extensive dining options, access to the Mass Rapid Transit line, medical clinics, and a top-rated international school. Rent prices in the area are also more affordable than in the downtown areas of Singapore.

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Are you looking to move to Singapore? Would you like to compare prices in popular areas and find the right niche for you or your family? Perhaps you’ve already fallen in love with East Coast Singapore, and you want more information.

In this guide, you’ll find all the basics you need to know. We’ll cover housing, dining, shopping, recreation, and education. You’ll also learn about healthcare and transportation in the neighborhood. The best tips for expats are at your fingertips, so keep reading!

Introducing East Coast Singapore To Expats

East Coast Singapore is the southeastern region of Singapore close to the shoreline that extends to the airport. It’s a popular area for expats that contains a lot of recreational options as well as world-class dining and shopping opportunities.

East Coast Park's Yellow Tower, Singapore

History And Background Of East Coast Singapore

The east coast of Singapore was rural in the early 1900s. Since then, rapid residential and commercial development has developed the area into the urban setting it is today. Even though most of the area is developed, Singapore has set aside areas for national parks.

Living In East Coast Singapore As An Expat

The East Coast region of Singapore offers easy access to the airport and wonderful seaside life. The area does offer many landed homes for expats who can afford them, but there are also many condominiums. Visa requirements for East Coast Singapore are the same as the rest of the country.

Housing In East Coast Singapore For Expats

For expats in Singapore, it’s typically easier to rent or buy a condominium rather than a landed property. That’s because there are fewer landed properties on the island, so they are more expensive and competitive. Expats must also have special permission to purchase a landed property.

To purchase a landed property, expats need to obtain approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU)

Rent Prices for Condominiums in East Coast Singapore

According to the latest real estate transactions, rent along East Coast Road currently ranges from S$3,000 to S$7,700 depending on the unit size. That’s USD $2,220 to USD $5,598 per month.

  • A unit with 600-700 square feet is about USD $2,220 per month.
  • A unit with 900-1,000 square feet is about USD $2,886 per month.
  • A unit with 1,200 to 1,300 square feet costs about USD $4,070 per month.
  • A unit with 2,100 to 2,200 square feet costs about USD $5,598 per month.

Purchasing a Condominium in East Coast Singapore

Recent real estate transactions in the area show that purchasing a one-bedroom condo on East Coast Road costs an average of S$1,805.50 per square foot. Purchasing a three-bedroom unit on East Coast Road costs an average of S$2,057.80 per square foot.

  • For a single-bedroom unit with 1,000 square feet, the total cost would be about USD $1.4 million.
  • For a three-bedroom unit with 1,500 square feet, the total cost would be about USD $2.28 million.

Visas For Expats To Singapore

To obtain a visa to live in East Coast Singapore, you must meet the criteria for a permanent resident visa for Singapore.

  • Spouse of a citizen or a permanent resident of Singapore
  • Minor children of citizens or permanent residents of Singapore
  • Be an aged parent of a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore
  • Have an employment pass
  • Be a foreign investor in Singapore
  • Be a student studying in Singapore

Keep in mind that male permanent residents will be required to register at 16.5 years old and be scheduled for enlistment at age 18 unless exempt.

East Coast Singapore Tips For Expats

The best tips for expats in East Coast Singapore include minimizing your need to travel on a day-to-day basis. This will help you avoid the traffic congestion that’s common in Singapore. Also be sure to respect elders in Singapore because that’s more important in Eastern cultures than in the USA.

Here’s an easy list of our recommendations:

  • Be aware that individualism is not as important of a value in the East, rather demonstrate cooperation and humility
  • Avoid driving in Singapore where possible to avoid tolls, parking fees, and traffic
  • Make sure that you have adequate health insurance since the single-payer system doesn’t cover everything

Dining And Entertainment In East Coast Singapore

Most of the dining options in East Coast Singapore are found along East Coast Road, but there are also cafes and other eateries throughout the area. The region also offers many well-loved bars for a fun evening out.

Best Restaurants In East Coast Singapore

The best restaurants in East Coast Singapore include bistros, North Indian food, burgers, and Japanese cuisine. The restaurants have 4.5 stars or more on Google Reviews and have dozens to hundreds of independent ratings from users. Here are some of the top-ranked restaurants in the area:

Shopping And Markets In East Coast Singapore

East Coast Singapore has multiple options for supermarkets. That’s great news for expats who love comparison shopping and stretching their dollars. There are also several large malls and shopping centers.

Best Supermarkets In East Coast Singapore

The best-rated supermarket in East Coast Singapore is Grocer Supermarket at 77 Upper East Coast Rd. FairPrice Finest Marine Parade is the second best for your day-to-day needs. East Coast also features Two Sisters Pantry, a well-liked organic market.

Malls In East Coast Singapore

Expats and tourists alike will want to visit Parkway Parade. It’s a massive shopping center in East Coast Singapore with 250 shops and 7 floors! Katong Shopping Center is another great mall that’s lasted since the 1970s with a food court.

Another option includes i12 Katong, another 7-story shopping center full of Singaporean and international goods. Coming soon, The Flow will be a brand-new mall in the area.

Cultural And Recreational Activities In East Coast Singapore

One of the best recreational opportunities in East Coast Singapore is East Coast Park, a national park with plenty of options. The park runs along the east coast of the island and offers playgrounds, gardens, sports, and more.

East Coast Park, Singapore Seaside

East Coast Park is popular because you can play beach volleyball and engage in multiple water sports. The large park has many bathrooms throughout the park, many of which are equipped with showers.

  • For expats who would like a camping adventure, overnight camping is also available at East Coast Park with a permit.
  • Enjoy dining at the cafes and restaurants in the park or pack your own picnic.
  • Expat families in Singapore will love visiting the playgardens in East Coast Park. These play areas are built with recycled natural materials like reclaimed wood.

Education And Healthcare In East Coast Singapore

East Coast Singapore’s international school options make the area a good place for not only single expats but families too! The area also contains a handful of medical clinics to address healthcare needs.

Western Medicine And Traditional Chinese Medicine In East Coast Singapore

The best-rated Western medical clinic in East Coast Singapore is the International Medical Clinic-Katong. For expats seeking Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments, Oriental Remedies Clinic (East Coast) has a 4.8-star average Google rating with a couple of hundred reviews.

The single-payer system in the country covers a significant portion of the healthcare in Singapore. For more information about healthcare in Singapore for foreign nationals or expats, read this article.

If you need help securing international health insurance, contact an insurance expert today!

International Schools In East Coast Singapore For Expat Children

5 Steps Academy, located in East Coast Singapore at 143 E Coast Rd, offers an excellent United States K-12 curriculum as well as SAT preparation and AP exams. The school promises highly qualified teachers with advanced graduate degrees.

EtonHouse International School Broadrick offers preschool and primary school education in the East Coast area of Singapore. They also have other campuses in Singapore, and the schools are rated well by Google users.

Transportation For East Coast Singapore

The East Coast region of Singapore is connected to the MRT with the Thomson-East Coast rail line. From there, expats can ride the MRT to connecting stations across the country. Expats may also utilize the bus network in Singapore to avoid having to drive on congested roads or pay tolls.

If you want to have a car in Singapore, be aware of tolls, parking fees, and other expenses associated with owning a car in Singapore. You can learn more about the driving laws and roads from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA).

Pros and Cons Of Living In East Coast Singapore

The recreational and cost benefits of living in East Coast Singapore will outweigh the challenges of the area. Expats won’t mind the longer commute times when they get to live so close to the beautiful seaside! Rent prices for condominiums are typically more affordable than downtown as well.

Tanjong Katong, East Coast, Singapore Street

Here’s a breakdown of the Pros for the East Coast Neighborhood in Singapore:

  • Lower rent prices for condominiums than neighborhoods closer to the Central Business District
  • Has more landed homes than other Singaporean neighborhoods
  • Seaside recreation
  • Shopping malls and supermarkets to choose from

Here are some of the Cons of the East Coast Neighborhood:

  • Being further from the Central Business District and Downtown often means a longer commute to the office
  • Although housing prices are lower in East Coast Singapore than in many neighborhoods, the housing is still very expensive

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Conclusion

East Coast Singapore is an amazing location for expats! Don’t miss the competitive rent prices and recreational opportunities. To read about more fabulous neighborhoods, check out our guides to Sentosa and Woodlands. You can also see our complete list of the best areas in Singapore.

Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime
Jantra Jacobs is a Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime with over 10 years of writing and editing experience. She writes and edits a diverse variety of online and offline copy, including sales and marketing materials ranging from articles and advertising copy to reports, guides, RFPs, and more.

Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.

Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.
Jantra Jacobs
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