Daily Living
Getting things done in Singapore is generally a breeze.
The nation’s reputation for efficiency translates into fast, readily available services, which make living here that much more convenient.
Basic Utilities
SP Services Ltd, part of the Singapore Power Group provides a convenient, one-stop service for electricity, water and piped gas supplies in Singapore. It also offers billing and payment collection services on behalf of other utility providers for services such as water and gas, and refuse collection.
The water from Singapore taps is safe for drinking.
To open a utilities account with SP Services, click here or call 1800 222 2333. You will need to open a bank account with a local bank from which the monthly utility bills will be drawn.
Telephones
Fixed line services is only offered by SingTel, one of three major telecommunication providers in Singapore. Free digital voice lines for home are often offered as part of a package by SingTel and Starhub, another telecommunication provider. For more information, click here.
Cable TV
Cable TV is offered by Starhub and SingTel. For more information, click here.
Newspapers
The main local newspapers are The Straits Times and The Business Times, both in English. Local newspapers in the three other official languages are Lianhe Zaobao (Chinese), Berita Harian (Malay) and Tamil Murasu (Tamil). All these newspapers are published by Singapore Press Holdings. You may buy them at newsstands, have them delivered to you home or subscribe to online editions.
Major international newspapers are also available, including the Financial Times, the International Herald Tribune, the Asian Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. To subscribe to these and other international newspapers, click here.
Many international magazine titles, such as National Geographic, Newsweek, topical magazines such as Asian Diver and Top Gear and the ever popular women’s magazines, are also sold here.
Groceries
The largest supermarket chain in Singapore is NTUC FairPrice, which can be found in most major malls in the Housing Development Board (HDB) estates. It also runs a small number of higher-end supermarkets called Fairprice Finest.
Other competitively priced supermarkets are Shop N Save, Giant, Carrefour, and Sheng Siong.
Cold Storage is a chain of supermarkets in Singapore popular for its large range of quality produce and sizeable selection from US, UK and Australia. Cold Storage also operates six MarketPlace stores, namely Jason’s the Gourmet Grocer at Orchard Towers, Tanglin MarketPlace in Tanglin Mall, Paragon MarketPlace in Paragon, Jason’s MarketPlace in Raffles City Mall, Naturally MarketPlace in VivoCity and ThreeSixty Market Place in ION Orchard. They offer a premium range of groceries, including organic produce.
Some supermarkets here specialise in niche products, such as Tierney’s at Serene Centre for Scandinavian, German and Swiss produce, Meidi-Ya at Liang Court for Japanese products, and a Korean Mart in Parkway Parade.
If you wish to imbibe in a totally local experience, check out the neighbourhood wet markets in Housing Development Board (HDB) estates. These markets often operate from the wee hours of the morning to noon, closing on Mondays. Be prepared to be greeted by the scents and sights of fresh fish, meat, seafood, fruit, vegetables and flowers amidst casually dressed locals going about their daily shopping.
Childcare
A luxury of Singapore life is affordable childcare and the range of preschool activities available. Child Care Centres (CCCs) run by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) provide half-day and full-day programmes for children from 18 months to 7 years of age. Infant care is available at some CCCs.
Many privately run centres also have their own curriculum and methodologies, some of which promote brand-name learning methods.
Visit the MCYS website for more details such as locations and subsidies, or to search through a comprehensive directory of privately run child care services.