Greetings world travelers, this is the definitive guide to house sitting in Singapore. Hannah and I used house sitting for all but 1 night of our entire stay in Singapore, it saved us a fortune! In this article, I’ll give you all the information you need to secure and enjoy a house sitting experience there too.
We spent an amazing month in Singapore. Of all the incredible places we have visited since leaving the UK it ranks as one of our favorite locations so far. It also holds quite a lot of family significance for me as my Grandad was taken as a POW in Singapore in February 1942, so visiting the memorials and battle sites was personally poignant, too.
I can’t wait to tell you all about Singapore, so let’s get going!
Why Everyone Should Visit Singapore
Singapore is much more than just an international transit hub. Sure, many stop there for a spell en route to Australia or China, but having just spent a good amount of time in the island city, I learned it has so much to offer. From a great bar and restaurant scene to incredible museums and immaculate parks there is something for everyone.
If you’ve been traveling around Asia, Singapore is like suddenly transporting back to Western familiarity. The differences between Singapore and a city like Hanoi or Bangkok are off-the-charts. Having just spent 5 months exploring Vietnam and Thailand, it felt amazing to feel immediately at home in a far-off land like Singapore.
Central Singapore has a big-city vibe without the overbearing pressures and constraints of big-city living. The architecture will take your breath away, skyscrapers in Singapore can compete with any other city worldwide. Unique structures that dominate the skyline sometimes appear to have entire forests growing from their center. While rooftop bars, infinity pools, and scenic restaurants are too many to mention.
What to Expect in Singapore
Singapore is a huge center for big business and commercial activity. As the gateway to most of Asia, Singapore’s international airport is one of the largest transport hubs in the world. A 5th terminal is scheduled to be built making Changi Airport as large as London’s Heathrow.
With this level of financing in play, Singapore is not a cheap place to live. Prices for accommodation, dining out, drinking, and general day-to-day life are considerably more expensive than in many other Asian countries we have visited. However, I found prices are comparable with most big UK and US cities.
A year-round hot to very hot climate means Singapore is a great place to escape the winter cold. Although prone to heavy downpours and huge thunderstorms, many public walkways are covered. An amazingly efficient (and cheap) MRT and bus system connects Singapore effortlessly. There is excellent hiking, clean beaches, and a pulsating social scene.
House Sitting in Singapore
Accommodation is not cheap in Singapore. An average hotel room costs around $111/night, and even hostels and sleep pods can easily run $50-$100/night. House sitting in Singapore is a viable option that can save travelers thousands in their travel budgets.
My Experience of House Sitting in Singapore
Singapore was initially meant to be a short stopover for us en route to Indonesia and then eventually on to Australia. I wanted to tick off several WW2 sites and enjoy the feel of a big city before heading to the more tranquil climbs of Bali. But as more house sits became available we decided to extend our stay to almost a full month, and I’m so glad we did.
We managed to secure three house sits which almost ran concurrently. Other than one night in a hotel between Singapore house sits 1 and 2, we avoided paying for any accommodation during our trip. All three house sitting postings were in different areas of the city but with the excellent public transport systems, getting around was very easy and cheap.
During a month in Singapore, we took care of three very different but equally lovely homes and several pets too. A house rabbit called Papook, a couple of sleepy dogs called Reuben and Mowgli, and an energetic pup called Ramen provided us with some fun times and an enhanced experience on top of the usual sightseeing and activities we did.
Read more about our experiences of back-to-back house sitting in Hannah’s article – How to Navigate Back-to-Back House Sitting.
House Sitting Opportunities in Singapore
Like much of Asia, house sitting is an emerging market in Singapore. But don’t let this put you off. We are living proof that not just house sitting but back-to-back house sitting placements can be secured. A large ex-pat community and a transient nature mean Singapore is one of the best locations in Asia for securing a house sit.
Hundreds of active users are currently registered with sites like Trusted Housesitters. A quick check just now brought up numerous listings looking for house sits that range from a 4-day city center stay to 2 whole months across the summer holidays. Many listings are in complexes with communal pools, tennis courts, and convenient transport links close by.
Although Singapore’s house sitting listings are generally fewer than in many US and UK cities, there are still plenty of opportunities for eager house sitters to apply for. Next, we’ll talk about how you should go about securing them.
How to Secure a Singapore House Sit
To officially apply for a house sit in Singapore you will need to be a paying member of a house sitting site. Trusted Housesitters is our site of choice. Their easy-to-use web and app-based platform is the best in its field and currently has thousands of listings worldwide. A basic membership starts at $129/year, that’s about how much 1 night in a Singapore hotel costs! Use code BEACHES25 to save 25% on any paid membership, click here to sign up.
Build a thorough and truthful profile that showcases your best qualities and reasons for wanting to be a house sitter. Be sure to complete all the verification checks to offer potential hosts assurances about who you are. If you feel comfortable doing so, include social media profiles and online professional links to add a further layer of assurance.
Finding the Right House Sit and Applying
Use the search filters to identify sits that fit your dates and requirements. If nothing comes up straight away, be sure to save your searches, the THS app will alert you when someone lists a house sit that matches your criteria. Be sure to respond quickly to any alerts as great house sitting placements in Singapore can be quite sought after.
Always read the house sitting listings carefully and apply with a personalized message. Be sure to address any issues or specific factors that the listing referenced. Always present yourself as committed to traveling to Singapore for the listed dates. Don’t appear ambivalent or indecisive around the time frame. Although dates may vary, at this stage get yourself in the running.
If the hosts like your application things may progress to a call. This is a great chance to put faces to names and discuss the house sit in further detail. From this point, the host will make a decision and officially offer the sit to their favorite applicant.
Best Bars in Singapore
After successfully saving a small fortune on accommodation costs, Singapore’s bustling social scene awaits! Drinking in Singapore can be quite expensive, but happy hours are commonplace and there are great deals in some awesome bars. Here are a few of my top suggestions;
Best Bars in Singapore
- Ice Cold Beer. With the feel of an American dive bar, Ice Cold Beer is one very cool place to go drinking. The casual vibe is complimented by some good deals on beers, a vibrant street-facing front patio, and a menu of delicious bar snacks.
- Good Luck. Situated on Haji Lane, a popular walking street lined with great bars, cafes, food options, and vintage shops, Good Luck is a stand-out place to visit. The small and welcoming craft beer house reminded me of a few of my favorite micro-pubs back home in England. The small but varied menu of beer options ensures that only quality beers are served here.
- Level 33. The world’s highest urban microbrewery, Level 33 serves a range of excellent made-in-house beers and offers some of the most stunning views in Singapore. With panoramic sea and city vistas that overlook the fabulous Marina Bay Sands Hotel among many other sights, the drinks are pricey but the beers are great and it’s worth it for the view.
Best Place to Eat in Singapore
There are an abundance of food options in Singapore and unlike drinks, prices are much more affordable. High-end luxury dining is easy to find but so are many delicious street food and traditional local food options. Here are a couple of the best places I visited in Singapore;
Best Places to Eat in Singapore
- Satay Street. A trip to the home of satay sticks is a must in Singapore. Satay Street which forms part of the outside dining area at the Lau Pa Sat Hawker is a fantastic experience. Chefs cooking over flaming grills serve up a variety of delicious meats on sticks for very affordable prices.
- 2 It & Drink. If you’re looking for an authentic Italian experience in Singapore head to 2 It. Having visited Italy many times I consider myself a connoisseur of good Italian food and the pizza and wine options here did not disappoint. They offer a terrific weekday lunchtime offer including 2 courses, coffee, and a glass of wine for around $15pp.
- Phat Burger Bro. With good burgers, great sides, and an excellent draft beer selection, Phat Burger is the ultimate indulgent food spot in Singapore. The daily happy hour knocks down the drink prices and the huge burgers are a food challenge I dare you to take on. The relaxed vibe makes for a friendly dining experience.
Best Things to do in Singapore
There’s plenty to keep you occupied whilst house sitting in Singapore. Here are just a few of the things to consider adding to your Singapore agenda:
Best Things to do in Singapore
- Go Hiking. Despite its very urban appearance, great hiking is easy to find in Singapore. A short MRT ride will bring you to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. It has a couple of excellent well-maintained trails including one that leads to the highest point in Singapore. You’ll likely come across lots of wild monkeys.
- Visit Historic Military Sites. There are numerous excellent WW2 sites to visit in Singapore. The Old Ford Factory is an informative museum and an important historical building, it was the location of the British surrender to the Japanese in 1942. Additionally, the Battlebox Bunker is an incredible, huge, and immaculately maintained WW2 bunker buried beneath Fort Canning Park.
- Visit the Quays. Clarke Quay and Boat Quay are two closely connected areas within the city center. Both are lined with cool bars and a variety of excellent places to eat. The views out onto the river are the best in the city and most bars offer great happy hour deals.
- Take a Cable Car Ride. Visit Sentosa Island via cable car from Mount Faber Park. The stunning transport system is a great way to take in the views of the city, the bustling port, and the amazing scenic hills. Sentosa Island was once a significant military base but now has an excellent boardwalk with themed gardens, cafes, and shops.
- Stand in Pole Position. Once a year Formula 1 brings the city to a standstill with a stunning night-time street race. However, the starting grid, pit lanes, garages, and opening race corners are permanent fixtures. It’s a free and public area of the city that’s open year-round (apart from around race weekend!).
Conclusion
I hope my guide to house sitting in Singapore has given you some food for thought. We really enjoyed our stay and although the vibe is more akin to that of a Western country, many unique features made our trip to Singapore special.
It’s somewhere that we have already earmarked as a return destination and with the number of house sitting opportunities available, we hope it will be sooner rather than later.
Enjoy your time in Singapore!
*Owners consent given to show property and pets