Expat Living City Guide – June 2018

East Coast

The East Coast area runs from

Kallang for 18km to Changi

Airport, and has long been

popular with expats. It’s usually

breezy, and the East Coast Park

with its cycling, running and

entertainment options is a great

attraction. There’s a mix of houses

and condos for various budgets,

and many people say that once

you’ve lived in this area, it’s hard

to move away. The ECP, KPE

and PIE motorways provide easy

access to the city, the north and

the airport. The Canadian School

and Chatsworth have campuses

here too, and there are also good

preschools.

Katong / Joo Chiat

These inland areas are close to

town and favoured by expats

who are keen to experience local

Peranakan culture or live in one

of the beautiful shophouses. The

colourful neighbourhoods boast

several large malls, including

Parkway Parade and 112 Katong.

Siglap / Bedok

These areas are further north

and have more of a village feel.

Housing options vary from

apartments and townhouses to

spacious, detached bungalows.

The new purpose-built campus of

UWC South East Asia is close by,

as is OWIS. There are a couple of

MRTs that run through this area,

along to EXPO and the airport.

Upper Bukit Timah

Further west of Bukit Timah

Nature Reserve, the area that

includes Bukit Batok and Dairy

Farm Road has a large selection

of good-value condominiums

and semi-detached houses plus

several decent shopping centres.

The PIE and BKE expressways

are easily accessible for those with

cars, and MRT access has opened

here. It’s conveniently close to the

Singapore American School, and

with easy access to Malaysia. Some

properties have forest views.

WEST COAST

We live in Bukit Batok and love the

area because it’s close to the MRT, it

has a very friendly vibe, we know our

neighbours and we love the fact that

there’s a nature reserve right across the

street. We have lovely green views. – Mel

NOVENA & NEWTON

We chose to live in Novena when we first arrived

because my husband works in the Novena Medical

Centre. We’ve since moved condo three times but

have chosen to stay within Novena. We love that

it maintains a lot of local charm and history while

still being so close to the hubbub of Orchard, Little

India, Kampong Glam and the CBD. Plus, we can

get much more living space for our money here

compared to other more ‘hip’ areas like Tanjong

Pagar or Robertson Quay. – Dana

SENTOSA

Sentosa Cove is by the water and it feels

like you’re on holiday every day. I also love

that we have strong community here, and

there are so many activities on offer for the

whole family, from tennis to Zumba! – Beth

We now live in Sentosa, and love the feel of

always being on holidays! Everyone here just

seems so much more relaxed and happy. It’s

a great community as well, and there are so

many activities here to do – Pilates, Aquafit,

boot camps, walking groups, yoga, mahjong,

kids’ activities. Plus, we’re a short walk

away from some great cafés, restaurants,

hairdressers, massage centres, pet shops,

dry cleaners, groceries and even a wine shop.

It really is like living on a beautiful resort. The

hardest thing is to leave the island! – Linda

#4 West

#3 East

70 CITY GUIDE 2018

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