Singapore PR vs Canada PR, which one is better for the long term?

[malcontent]

I have always puzzled over how to do a fair comparison between transportation in the US vs SG. The cost of public transport in SG is always going to be lower than car ownership in the US, in fact, it is the only category of expense that I saw a reduction after moving. Basically my public transit expenses ended up being equal to just my car insurance cost (which was around 40% of my total car ownership cost back then).

However, for anyone who has taken public transit consistently (as I did for decades), it can really try your patience at times… and it’s not always fun in a downpour. I actually kept a dry pair of socks in my desk drawer at work for the times I’d come in drenched from the knees down.

[ivicts]

I have always puzzled over how to do a fair comparison between transportation in the US vs SG. The cost of transport in SG is always going to be lower than car ownership in the US, in fact, it is the only category of expense that I saw a reduction after moving. Basically my public transit expenses ended up being equal to just my car insurance cost (which was around 40% of my total car ownership cost back then).

However, for anyone who has taken public transit consistently (as I did for decades), it can really try your patience at times… and it’s not always fun in a downpour. I actually kept a dry pair of socks in my desk drawer at work for the times I’d come in drenched from the knees down.

I usually take the time to read books while on public transport, so I feel that it is actually not time wasted. I guess other people do something else as well. While driving, you need to concentrate most of the time, and you cannot do anything else. I agree with the weather being a negative of public transport, though I am lazier to use it while raining. At least SG has two seasons, which can be a positive compared to four-season countries.

I guess my main question is, for the long term, if I have kids, would they be better off in SG, Canada, or the US? My feeling is the US has more opportunities for my kids..

[malcontent]

May I know which cities / states do you live? I guess the closest to SG would be NYC and if I move to the US I would probably live in NYC.. Public transports, high rise apartment, busy cities..

I grew up in a small town on Lake Michigan, population 5,000, just a couple of hours drive from Canada actually, so I know the climate well. We would typically see 5 months of cold, along with gloomy skies… so, like @jalanjalan, I don’t like cold weather. NYC is essentially the same weather.

Weather aside, in my home state, everyone I knew felt nothing but pity for those who lived in NYC, couldn’t think of a more dreadful place to live and wondered why anyone would subject themselves to it. However, I’ve always had some level of fascination with big cities, so I withheld judgment. I did get a chance to visit NYC for the first time around 7-8 years ago, and I have to say it isn’t for me… but it’s well worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. Toronto used to be my favorite major city in North America, and I would frequently visit, however, during my last visit around 3-4 years ago, I was shocked at how far downhill it has gone.

What a lot of people outside the U.S. do not realize is that every major city has some areas that are top notch places to live, often in suburban areas. In the greater LA area for example, Irvine is as clean and safe as Singapore, with great schools, great weather, great dining and great shopping. Honestly, living in the “inner city” isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, although some young adults still like it. I currently live on the edge of the inner city and I’m one of the oldest here, at age 52.

[jalanjalan]

How do you compare living in Canada Vs Singapore? Which ones are better for the long term? Most Canadians hate Canada, I guess haha. I will probably go to big cities, Toronto, Vancouver, Alberta.. the places where immigrants go..

Why would you think Canadians hate Canada? It's a great place in its way and I'm glad I grew up there for lots of reasons. I chose to migrate for my own reasons (winter is part of it but a small part )

Big cities in Canada are also expensive. Affordable housing is hard to find and job opportunities can be very competitive. That's what I hear from friends there, as I've not lived there in 30 years. There's no free lunch anywhere so do your homework and have a return ticket, is my advice.

[MOCHS]

Why would you think Canadians hate Canada? It's a great place in its way and I'm glad I grew up there for lots of reasons. I chose to migrate for my own reasons (winter is part of it but a small part )

My best friend (Singaporean), had horrible chronic migraines in SG weather, so she moved to Canada and her migraines are now manageable. She prefers the cold to the heat. But she does say getting a job can be difficult and a lot of government jobs require you to be able to know French. Healthcare can have long waiting times. She’s a Canadian PR but won’t give up her SG citizenship.

I feel if you want convenience in the US, you gotta be near/in the city. Outside of major cities, even though it can be cheaper, it’s not that convenient & you gotta make peace that you’ll have to drive a bit to get what you want.

[ivicts]

How do you compare living in Canada Vs Singapore? Which ones are better for the long term? Most Canadians hate Canada, I guess haha. I will probably go to big cities, Toronto, Vancouver, Alberta.. the places where immigrants go..

Why would you think Canadians hate Canada? It's a great place in its way and I'm glad I grew up there for lots of reasons. I chose to migrate for my own reasons (winter is part of it but a small part )

Big cities in Canada are also expensive. Affordable housing is hard to find and job opportunities can be very competitive. That's what I hear from friends there, as I've not lived there in 30 years. There's no free lunch anywhere so do your homework and have a return ticket, is my advice.

Well, if you see online, most redditors bash Canada like it's a third-world country. Reddit is super biased against Canada, to be honest. Which one is more competitive, Canada or Singapore in terms of job market? Singapore is way smaller, so I guess it's more competitive?

[jalanjalan]

Well, if you see online, most redditors bash Canada like it's a third-world country. Reddit is super biased against Canada, to be honest. Which one is more competitive, Canada or Singapore in terms of job market? Singapore is way smaller, so I guess it's more competitive?

Oh you've been reading reddit. Never mind them, they're always grouchy.

For job competitiveness, depends on sector and career level. The main difference in Canada is you may have to be willing to move across country or to a smaller city depending on your career. If you don't have a family in tow that's easier but you still may end up in a place that's not to your liking.
In Singapore you'll always be able to commute, no need to move house.

[ivicts]

What if I top up my CPF from abroad? And rented my HDB to pay the income tax? Of course, all of these all hypothetical, I don't think I would go through such a hassle if I don't foresee a future in SG.. Too much trouble.. What happens to the HDB if my PR is not renewed? Will the govt force me to sell it?

Without getting into all the ins and outs of property rental: If you rent out your HDB flat as non owner occupied at $4,000 per month, you'll pay about $7,000 per year in property taxes in addition to the income taxes paid on the rent you receive.

https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/property- ... tes#title3

As for topping up CPF, you still have the income reporting problem, even when reporting rent... you otherwise have no job... a red flag.

I speak anecdotally from 20 years worth of experience on this board: What you are trying to do is exactly what the Singapore gahmen doesn't want people to do... obtain PR and then not really be a resident. And the gahmen is getting much better at ferreting out these folks.

Over the years there have been a bunch of people posting on this forum, primarily Indians, whose sole purpose, it seems, in obtaining PR, is to use PR as a stepping stone to Canadian or Australian PR. So may posts here with titles like, "I've got PR and want to work in India," or "I've got PR but want to birth my child in XXX," or "I lost my job - can I keep PR and work overseas"... the list is endless.

My point is that what you are trying to do is nothing new, the gahmen is well aware of the "problem", and they really don't want PR's of this nature... why grant you residency when you're not resident?

There have also been posts, many more recently, from people whose REP has been denied or only extended for a year. It seems pretty clear to me that the ICA has hooked up with IRAS, MoM, and probably a host of other government agencies, to track what is happening with their PR's.

The stated intent of PR is a stepping stone to eventual citizenship... with the attraction of "foreign talent" becoming less of a priority. I'm part of the problem... I kept PR for 6 years with a second 5 year renewal but gave it all up to return to the states.

My conclusion: You are going down a perilous road with no guarantees that the rug won't be pulled out from under you.

Btw, if you gave up your PR basically by letting the REP expire, will you be able to get a PR again if you reapply?
I know that if we renounce our PR ourselves, we might not be able to get it again because they think we don't want it.
But what if we just let the REP expire, can we go back to SG via EP and apply for PR again, let's say?

Or a better way, probably directly studying or working abroad without applying for SG PR, and come back with EP and later PR if we think that SG is a better place? This way, ICA cannot say that we threw away our PR since we never applied. Will this have a better success rate?

[ivicts]

Well, if you see online, most redditors bash Canada like it's a third-world country. Reddit is super biased against Canada, to be honest. Which one is more competitive, Canada or Singapore in terms of job market? Singapore is way smaller, so I guess it's more competitive?

Oh you've been reading reddit. Never mind them, they're always grouchy.

For job competitiveness, depends on sector and career level. The main difference in Canada is you may have to be willing to move across country or to a smaller city depending on your career. If you don't have a family in tow that's easier but you still may end up in a place that's not to your liking.
In Singapore you'll always be able to commute, no need to move house.

Most Redditors bash Canadian job markets. The unemployment rate is very high right now like 7%. I am a bit worried about not being able to find a job as a new PR. Every LinkedIn job posting has over 100 applicants.. I dont know whether this is because culturally canadians and americans are more open to critize the goverment or maybe its a real issue..

[ivicts]

Seems that retired PR can get their REP renewed:

"1. A Re-Entry Permit (REP) may be renewed if the Permanent Resident (or PR) meets the prevailing criteria for renewal, including whether he or she is gainfully employed and still contributing to Singapore, and his or her family roots here. For PRs who have retired, we will generally renew their REPs, in recognition of their past contributions to Singapore."

https://www.mha.gov.sg/mediaroom/parlia ... velopment/

[sundaymorningstaple]

Seems that retired PR can get their REP renewed:

"1. A Re-Entry Permit (REP) may be renewed if the Permanent Resident (or PR) meets the prevailing criteria for renewal, including whether he or she is gainfully employed and still contributing to Singapore, and his or her family roots here. For PRs who have retired, we will generally renew their REPs, in recognition of their past contributions to Singapore."

https://www.mha.gov.sg/mediaroom/parlia ... velopment/

Not a problem. My 5 year REP was just renewed in July 2025 I just turned 78 4 days ago. Retired in March 2019. Been a PR since 1995.

[ivicts]

Seems that retired PR can get their REP renewed:

"1. A Re-Entry Permit (REP) may be renewed if the Permanent Resident (or PR) meets the prevailing criteria for renewal, including whether he or she is gainfully employed and still contributing to Singapore, and his or her family roots here. For PRs who have retired, we will generally renew their REPs, in recognition of their past contributions to Singapore."

https://www.mha.gov.sg/mediaroom/parlia ... velopment/

Not a problem. My 5 year REP was just renewed in July 2025 I just turned 78 4 days ago. Retired in March 2019. Been a PR since 1995.

Thanks for the info!
Did you get your PR via Family Ties Scheme (FTS) or the Professionals, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) scheme?

[sundaymorningstaple]

FTS Wife is a SGC been married 42 years.

[jalanjalan]

Most Redditors bash Canadian job markets. The unemployment rate is very high right now like 7%. I am a bit worried about not being able to find a job as a new PR. Every LinkedIn job posting has over 100 applicants.. I dont know whether this is because culturally canadians and americans are more open to critize the goverment or maybe its a real issue..

Yes, you'll likely have a tough time job hunting in Canada. You need to have in-demand skills, willingness to move anywhere the opportunities are, and, preferably, an established network, to have a decent chance. But I can't think of any other country where this isn't the case now.