SINGAPORE: A provocative question turned up recently on Reddit that ignited a flood of opinions: Why do migrating Singaporeans choose high-cost-of-living (HCOL) cities and not the more reasonably priced alternatives?
The poster highlighted a pattern. According to this user, Singaporeans moving abroad settle in places such as Sydney or Melbourne in Australia, Greater London in the UK, or California and New England in the US. The Reddit poster rarely hears of citizens settling in more inexpensive locations like Darwin, Tyne, or the American Midwest. The poster added that even when transferring to China, the choices are always Shanghai or Beijing, sidestepping the less expensive countryside.
So, what’s driving this trend?
One Redditor reacted brusquely. “It’s not about the cost of living; it’s about the quality of life.” That idea resounded with other users.
Unquestionably, cities such as London, Sydney, and San Francisco are scandalously expensive; however, they have better infrastructure, healthcare systems, job markets, and public safety. For most Singaporeans used to high city standards, drifting into a low-cost but underdeveloped region is like a ‘step down,’ irrespective of fund reserves.
Another major factor is employment. “People need to migrate to where the jobs are,” one user wrote. “These are rarely out in the sticks and tend to be in the commercial centres.”
It’s a real-world truth — major cities are economic centres. For white-collar workers, who comprise a substantial percentage of Singaporean migrants, job prospects are clustered in urban centres. While other cities have a lower cost of living, they also provide fewer career opportunities, particularly for skilled professionals accustomed to the high expectations and viable earnings of Singapore’s workforce.
Many Redditors contended that the high cost of living is counterbalanced by higher paychecks. “New York is expensive,” one commenter wrote, “But if you save properly, the take-home can be more than in a low-COL place.” The idea is that even though expenditures are high, so is the pay, especially in the fields of tech, finance, and other high-demand industries. That’s what makes these cities financially worthwhile, even profitable, for migrants who astutely manage their finances.
Another user disputed the poster’s premise: “You’re wrong. Lots of locals do migrate to lower-cost places. Maybe your social circle is just small.”
That’s reasonable. Migration is personal and subjective; observations may not mirror the bigger picture. Nonetheless, there’s the social component to reflect on. New arrivals often settle where there are established communities, familiar facilities, and a cultural setup — schools, churches, and even Singaporean food. These are usually situated in big cities rather than bucolic places.
Some netizens also pointed out practical barriers. In countries like Australia, many blue-collar jobs — electrician, plumber, even chef — necessitate certifications that Singaporeans may not have. On the other hand, white-collar professionals do not face these types of barriers, and their jobs are clustered in cities like Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.
It’s enticing to view migration via a financial lens: high cost = bad, low cost = good. But for Singaporeans who are already residing in a high-cost, high-comfort environment, it’s more about relocating to places that provide similar or enhanced quality of life, professional chances, and personal safety.
Eventually, the cost of living is just one part of the migration issue and not necessarily the most important one.
