Where to live in Singapore

[akay]

I know there are a lot of posts on this but I am none the wiser. I suppose everyone's tastes and needs are different so there is not a one size fits all.

I've just arrived in Singapore today and starting work Mon. My employer has kindly put me up in a Serviced Apartment for a month, and then I'm on my own!

I would like to be within walking distance of a MRT, and happy to commute upto 30mins+ to work (Marina Bay Financial Centre). I don't have any kids so proximity to school not important. Would like to be in nice quiet neigbourhood within walking distance of bars and restaurants (I find Orchard Rd a tad too much)

People have suggested that I look on the web but I have not found this particularly useful, as most of the listings only have pictures of the communal areas such as pool, tennis court, and nothing of the apartment itself or layout. What does it say about the apartment!!!!

My budget is SGD 4-5k. Any advice as to which area I should focus on would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[zzm9980]

The site you mentioned has a feature to search within X KM of a specific MRT station, which may be why it was recommended.

With your budget, since you're excluding 'Orchard' area, you can live pretty much anywhere you want. Hard to give recommendations since there are so many options open for you.

If you take the bus to work, look on the East Coast. Upper East Coast Rd/Siglap area, Tanjong Katong, and Joo Chiat Rd are loaded with small restaurants and bars, and there are plenty of private condo/apartments on small quiet streets within a < 5 minutes walk from any of those locations. The downside of course is the MRT is a bit farther, but there are lots of busses going to CBD, and busses that get you from those places to MRT in about 5-7 minutes.

You can consider the area around Kembangan MRT. Some nice condo options over there, also very quiet, food within walking distance. The three previous areas I described are within (long) walking distance of there, or nice biking distance.

Area between Tanjong Pagar MRT and Tiong Bahru area has lots of food and bars, but won't be as quiet and some of the units will be outside your budget.

I can go on and on honestly. More than half of the MRT stations in Singapore are within 30 minutes of CBD, and almost half of those meet your requirements. If it was me personally, I'd also look at a lot of the ones on the E-W (Green) line going west from CBD, and most of the stops on the circle (orange) line.

Also, you'll not find picture of the insides of most units in Singapore. No idea why. Agents probably think (and rightfully so) that many traditionally Chinese decorated units will scare away most expats. And I use the word 'decorated' in that sentence very loosely.

edit: fixed color of E-W line

[the lynx]

If it was me personally, I'd also look at a lot of the ones on the E-W (Red) line going west from CBD, and most of the stops on the circle (orange) line.

Ahem, green, ahem.

Anyway going westward, you can opt to stay anywhere up to Clementi MRT station for easy train ride to MBFC. Or from NS Line (Red) up to Ang Mo Kio MRT station.

[zzm9980]

If it was me personally, I'd also look at a lot of the ones on the E-W (Red) line going west from CBD, and most of the stops on the circle (orange) line.

Ahem, green, ahem.

Anyway going westward, you can opt to stay anywhere up to Clementi MRT station for easy train ride to MBFC. Or from NS Line (Red) up to Ang Mo Kio MRT station.

Oops thats right. Let me change the post.

Now, along the N-S (Red) line, If you value quiet, go one stop farther north even to Yio Chu Kang, lots of very nice condos over there, pretty cheap, and extremely quiet. No restaurants or bars within walking distance though, except hawker food. For those, you won't have any luck north of Novena, which may be a bit too Orchard-ish still for you, and not quiet. (Toa Payoh has one or two places by the HDB HQ tower, but I wouldn't move there for those!) If you still like north, look at the Sin Ming/Upper Thomson rd area near the Marymount MRT (circle line).

[akay]

Many thanks guys. Very helpful

[JR8]

I like Toa Payoh for many reasons, for years, but I've never 'gone out there'.

Capice.

[JennyJenny]

akay,
A good place to stay is Irrawaddy Road. It is a road that links Balestier to Novena which is very close to Marina. A number of apartments can be found there like Domus (being the newest), Marque at Irrawaddy, Iresidences, Pinnacle and so on. From there you can walk to Novena MRT, Novena Medical Centre and on the other side you have the ammenities available at Balestier Road and the upcoming Zhong Shan Park. You should go take a look at the apartment there. You will be able to enjoy the quiet living yet close to amenities and the city. The rental you will need to pay is way lower than that of apartments in Orchard.

[Casca01]

I work in the MBFC and find myself heading east on the green line for a place to live (just in the process of finalising the rental agreement), so I would echo the East Coast comment.
To get to MBFC right now the best place to exit the MRT is at Raffles, as you have a 10 minute underground walk to the MBFC. That means red and green lines are probably preferable as you will have a direct connection. As mentioned, the Orchard area is too expensive but especially along the green line there are several condo blocks adjacent to a MRT station. Most have some restaurants nearby too.

[AndrewV]

checkout the tanjong pagar area, the beacon, pinnacle@duxton, spottiswoode suites, cantonment towers, asia gardens etc...

[taxico]

checkout... pinnacle@duxton...

isn't this HDB estate < 5 years old?

[x9200]

checkout... pinnacle@duxton...

isn't this HDB estate < 5 years old?

I guess so but it is big enough so one may get lucky. A friend of mine stays there completely legally (as per hdb regulations) - hint, the owner is overseas.

[zzm9980]

I see a lot of rentals at Pinnacle@Duxton. I'm not sure how nice it is on the inside (typical HDB, or similar to condo?), but the prices are closer to condo than HDB.

[x9200]

In the flat it is nice and the only clear indication of HDB is the aircon trunking on the walls and lack of the bin chute inside. In the common area it is as dirty as in the EC I am living in right now and more dirty than in any regular condo I know.

[aster]

My budget is SGD 4-5k. Any advice as to which area I should focus on would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

I'd check out River Place as they tend to have good prices for the area and the pool is great as well. Riverwalk might be an additional option, but it's an older building (one day it will hopefully be redeveloped in an en-bloc sale).

[the lynx]

My budget is SGD 4-5k. Any advice as to which area I should focus on would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

I'd check out River Place as they tend to have good prices for the area and the pool is great as well. Riverwalk might be an additional option, but it's an older building (one day it will hopefully be redeveloped in an en-bloc sale).

Ooh Aster, it has been a while since we saw you around. How's it going?