Deciding where in Singapore to live needs careful consideration, especially when you’ll most likely be locked into your house or apartment for two years. Here, we’ve put together a list of areas in the east of Singapore that will help you focus your search and ultimately allow you to make a more informed decision. For more ideas for your ideal neighbourhood, there’s the city, west, east south and a few gems a little further out for you to see too!
5 points to consider from the start
1. Where is the place of work for the main breadwinner in the family, and what will the commute be like? If you’re lucky enough to have a car, it’s more likely that it will be used by the parent responsible for overseeing the children’s schooling and extra-curricular activities – so don’t forget to look at public transport connections to the office, too. If you’re both working, it’s even more important to think about your commutes.
2. Once you’ve picked a range of locations with a commute that you’re satisfied with, have a think about what you’d like to surround yourself with. Is it important for you to be near a coffee shop or grocery store, for example, or a restaurant or pub? Do you want to look at greenery or the sea?
3. If you have children, look at the schools in those particular areas. Although there are school buses, if you’re too far away – at the first pick-up point for the bus, for example – you could have a very early start to your day. Some bus pick-ups start at 6.30am.
4. Do you want to be able to walk from your door and onto grass, or is a balcony enough?
5. What facilities do you want? Would you prefer a pool, gym and tennis court in the complex where you live, or would you be happy joining a club for access to these?
East Coast
The East Coast area runs from Kallang for 18km to Changi Airport, and has long been popular with expats. It’s usually breezy, and the East Coast Park with its cycling, running and entertainment options is a great attraction. There’s a mix of houses and condos for various budgets, and many people say that once you’ve lived in this area, it’s hard to move away. The ECP, KPE and PIE motorways provide easy access to the city, the north and the airport. UWC South East Asia, the Canadian School and Chatsworth have campuses here too, and there are also good preschools.
Katong / Joo Chiat
These inland areas are close to town and favoured by expats who are keen to experience local Peranakan culture or live in one of the beautiful shophouses. The colourful neighbourhoods boast several large malls, including Parkway Parade and 112 Katong.
Siglap / Bedok
These areas are further north and have more of a village feel. Housing options vary from apartments and townhouses to spacious, detached bungalows. The new purpose-built campus of UWC South East Asia is close by, as is OWIS. There are a couple of MRTs that run through this area, along to EXPO and the airport.
Tips from a resident of the East Coast
The East gives us that perfect balance. I like being nearer to the sea, and not as close to the urban and concrete jungle! There are great schools, and both local and now most international schools have campuses here. There are plenty of eateries and restaurants with all sorts of multicultural cuisine too. Even better, they’re starting to build a new MRT line close by. – Shivani
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This article first appeared in the City guide 2017 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
