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How's life as a tech guy in Singapore? I'm thinking of relocating there. (I've lived in Hong Kong and China, so I'm not an Asia noob, but Singapore seemed bett

How's life as a tech guy in Singapore? I'm thinking of relocating there. (I've lived in Hong Kong and China, so I'm not an Asia noob, but Singapore seemed better as a long-term place to settle).

ghshephard 11y ago
I came here directly from the valley after 16+ years. It's a super safe, clean place to live with almost unlimited (and awesome) places to eat, and tons of stuff to do outside (if you don't mind a little bit of heat), along with super cheap transportation (taxis, MRT, and Buses). Housing is pretty expensive - though you can find some reasonable places - keeping in mind that the locals have never heard of CraigsList, so if you look for a place there, it's targeted at ExPats (PropertyGuru is a more common tool for locals, in much the same way Burpple is superior to yelp). Owning a car is pretty pricey as you would have to pay $60K or so for a "Certificate of Entitlement" just for the right to purchase a car. But, you asked, as a "Tech Guy" - and, with the exception of SimLim Towers/Squares (which are awesome electronics outlets - even better than Frys) - I feel a little out of the stream of things here, in ways I never did back in the valley. I used to go out all the time and hang out with colleagues who had worked for startups Two, Three, four generations back and were at yet a new startup, building new technology. That sort of liquidity and networking doesn't seem to be happening here in Singapore (that I've discovered, perhaps there are niches - I know that there is an Ubisoft office here). So, that's the challenge - I know 500+ people back in Silicon Valley that I've worked with through one startup after another - and I know maybe 5 people here in Singapore 3 years later. It's not like you go to work for a company here that starts with 6 people, and grows to 600 in five years (which I've done a couple times now in the valley) - particularly if you are working for a branch of a company based out of somewhere else. Taxes are great though.
- voidnothings 10y ago
  Is it the same case at Ayer Rajah? The last time I checked it's more vibrant compared to 2 years ago. Where are you working at?

How's life as a tech guy in Singapore? I'm thinking of relocating there. (I've lived in Hong Kong and China, so I'm not an Asia noob, but Singapore seemed better as a long-term place to settle).

ghshephard 11y ago

I came here directly from the valley after 16+ years. It's a super safe, clean place to live with almost unlimited (and awesome) places to eat, and tons of stuff to do outside (if you don't mind a little bit of heat), along with super cheap transportation (taxis, MRT, and Buses). Housing is pretty expensive - though you can find some reasonable places - keeping in mind that the locals have never heard of CraigsList, so if you look for a place there, it's targeted at ExPats (PropertyGuru is a more common tool for locals, in much the same way Burpple is superior to yelp). Owning a car is pretty pricey as you would have to pay $60K or so for a "Certificate of Entitlement" just for the right to purchase a car. But, you asked, as a "Tech Guy" - and, with the exception of SimLim Towers/Squares (which are awesome electronics outlets - even better than Frys) - I feel a little out of the stream of things here, in ways I never did back in the valley. I used to go out all the time and hang out with colleagues who had worked for startups Two, Three, four generations back and were at yet a new startup, building new technology. That sort of liquidity and networking doesn't seem to be happening here in Singapore (that I've discovered, perhaps there are niches - I know that there is an Ubisoft office here). So, that's the challenge - I know 500+ people back in Silicon Valley that I've worked with through one startup after another - and I know maybe 5 people here in Singapore 3 years later. It's not like you go to work for a company here that starts with 6 people, and grows to 600 in five years (which I've done a couple times now in the valley) - particularly if you are working for a branch of a company based out of somewhere else. Taxes are great though.

voidnothings 10y ago
Is it the same case at Ayer Rajah? The last time I checked it's more vibrant compared to 2 years ago. Where are you working at?