Singapore

South-eastern Asia

Asia

A low-tax Asian country with a top-tier passport, English as a main language and world-class universities, but a high cost of living and no dual citizenship.

82
Overall score
Excellent · 94% data coverage
Language
English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil
Currency
SGD
Citizenship
After permanent residence; discretionary
Personal tax
Progressive, up to 24%
Cost of living
$3,000 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown
78
Access
17%
98Residence12%
29Citizenship and passport5%
83
Earning power
25%
85Salary and work12%
82Buying power13%
85
Business and wealth
20%
82Taxes7%
96Business8%
70Investment5%
86
Daily life
25%
88Quality of life18%
81Education7%
75
Rights and institutions
13%
49Freedom6%
97Rule of law7%

Pros

  • A top-tier passport
  • English as a main language
  • World-class universities

Cons

  • A high cost of living
  • No dual citizenship

Best for

Low-tax relocatorsFoundersStudents

Score profile

Access
Residence
98
Citizenship
17
Passport
98
Earning power
Salary & work
85
Buying power
82
Cost of living
49
Economy
96
Business and wealth
Taxes
82
Personal tax
56
Corporate tax
51
Business
96
Investment
70
Wealth building
78
Daily life
Safety
90
Healthcare
83
Environment
82
Infrastructure
93
Education
81
HDI
95
Rights and institutions
Freedom
49
Rule of law
97
How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence
Openness to residents
Excellent
98
Migrant stock48.7% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality2.13 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
StudentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
WorkRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employedRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
PermanentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
Low
17
Years requiredAfter permanent residence; discretionary
Dual allowedNo
LanguageCheck the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
ResidenceTypical headline route: After permanent residence; discretionary; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
NotesRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Passport
Passport power
Excellent
98
194 / 198
Mobility
#1
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free147
  • On arrival38
  • eTA9
  • Visa required4

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Excellent
85
Output per worker$223,022 PPP (2024)
Unemployment2.8% (2025)
Participation69.7% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
FreelanceMarket access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job marketUse current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Excellent
82
GNI / person$135,750 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$36,168 PPP (2024)
Price level78 (US = 100) (2025)
Inflation0.9% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Moderate
49
Price level78 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentVaries substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly$3,000 / mo (single)
CitiesSingapore
Economy
Economic strength
Excellent
96
Output & income
GDP$603.9B (2025)
GDP / person$98,814 (2025)
GNI / person$135,750 PPP (2025)
GDP growth4.4% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation0.9% / yr (2025)
Unemployment2.8% (2025)
Output per worker$223,022 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture0.0% of GDP (2025)
Industry22.7% of GDP (2025)
Services71.6% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Financial servicesElectronics & semiconductorsTrade & logisticsPetrochemicalsBiotech
Top exports
Electronics & machineryRefined fuels & chemicalsPharmaceuticalsFinancial services
TypeHigh-income, finance- and trade-led
Key sectorsGlobal finance & wealth hub, Electronics & refining, Port & logistics
SummaryA wealthy city-state and global financial, trade and refining hub with a high-value electronics and biotech base.
CurrencySingapore dollar (managed against a basket)

Business and wealth

Taxes
Tax friendliness
Excellent
82
PersonalProgressive, up to 24%
Corporate17% headline
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Personal tax
Personal tax
Moderate
56
PersonalProgressive, up to 24%
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
Moderate
51
Corporate17% headline
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Business
Business friendliness
Excellent
96
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality2.13 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness2.28 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign companyGenerally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local companyAvailable company forms and capital requirements vary
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Investment
Investing environment
Good
70
Market cap137% of GDP (2025)
Private credit128% of GDP (2020)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxCheck current national and subnational rules
BrokersLocal and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
Good
78
Salary & work
Excellent
85
Business
Excellent
96
Investment
Good
70
Tax friendliness
Excellent
82
Cost of living
Moderate
49

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Excellent
90
Personal safety
Homicide rate0.1 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption1.97 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability1.23 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Excellent
83
Outcomes
Life expectancy83.3 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality2.7 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians2.83 per 1,000 (2022)
Hospital beds2.81 per 1,000 (2023)
Health spending$6,551 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
InsuranceCheck residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average costDepends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
82
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure15.1 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress33.3% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Excellent
93
Digital infrastructure
Internet use94.4% (2024)
Internet resilience81 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed100 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed81 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses0.2% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality4.60 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity35,830 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Excellent
81
Attainment
Expected schooling16.7 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.0 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment97% gross (2023)
Education spending2.2% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$10,000-40,000 / yr
Public universityVaries by institution, programme, and student nationality
LanguagesEnglish, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil
Student workRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
HDI
Human development score
Excellent
95
HDI0.946 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy83.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling16.7 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.0 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$111,239 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Moderate
49
Freedom in the World47 / 100 (Partly free)
Freedom on the Net53 / 100 (Partly free)
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Excellent
97
Rule of Law percentile97 / 100
Sources
Resources
Official references
UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.orgPwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comASEAN: Member Statesasean.orgUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.org
Quick links
Singapore visa & immigrationgoogle.comSingapore tax residency rulesgoogle.comSingapore citizenship requirementsgoogle.comCost of living in Singaporegoogle.com

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.