NEW CITY. A SMALL HEAD START.
Getting settled comes with enough decisions.
Here are a few good places to start.
A personal shortlist for life in Singapore.
A good deal should be clear. Some links are referrals. You’ll see what you get, what I get, and the conditions before you click.
A PRACTICAL START
THE SHORTLIST
Useful picks, with the details up front.
Prices and offers are dated snapshots.
STEP 1
Start with a Singapore number for calls, data and account signups.
Affordable mobile plans on the Singtel network.
VIVIFI is an MVNO on the Singtel network, offering affordable SIM-only plans with Singtel coverage and 5G speeds on eligible plans. Its VIVIFI Share family plans let multiple lines pool data, talktime and SMS under one account.
STEP 2
Start with a bank account, then compare cards and other useful finance tools.
Official starting points for expats and foreigners new to Singapore.
A local bank account for newcomers.
DBS has a dedicated guide for foreigners new to Singapore, with digibank application routes with or without Singpass. Prepare your identification, valid pass or accepted in-principle approval, address and tax-residency documents.
Banking when you move to Singapore.
HSBC’s Everyday Global Account page explains how newcomers living in Singapore can apply through its app using Myinfo or EasyID, with identification and proof of address.
Account opening and documents for foreigners.
Standard Chartered’s official account-opening FAQ lists the documents needed for foreigners working in Singapore and explains online and branch application routes.
A Singapore digital bank for everyday banking.
Trust is a digital bank backed by Standard Chartered and FairPrice Group. Start with its savings account; credit cards require separate approval.
An eligible new credit-card signup gets a golden scratch card with cashback up to S$8,000. Rewards vary; the maximum is not guaranteed.
S$50–S$8,000 cashback from a golden scratch card for an eligible credit-card referral. For a savings-account referral, I get S$8–S$1,888 cashback instead.
Be new to Trust and use the owner's referral code when signing up for an eligible credit card.
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A guide to credit-card signup offers.
The MileLion explains how to choose and use Singapore credit cards. Its Current Credit Card Sign Up Bonuses page compares welcome offers.
A place to start investing.
A platform for advised portfolios and fund selection, with published fees.
S$20 in Endowus Fee credits.
S$20 in Endowus Fee credits.
Invest at least S$1,000 and remain invested for at least 90 days.
H6NMZEarn rewards on eligible payments and purchases.
Cashback opportunities on eligible PayNow payments.
Use Google Pay for PayNow payments to earn scratch cards with a chance of cashback on eligible transactions. Opt in to offers and rewards to participate.
S$3 after opting in to offers and rewards and making your first eligible payment of at least S$10. Check the current amount and requirements in the app before paying.
My reward for this offer is not specified. Check the current referral offer in Google Pay.
New accounts only. Enter 0z75b6u, opt in to offers and rewards, and check the first-payment requirements before paying.
0z75b6u
Deals, payments and cashback in one app.
Fave combines deals and cashback at participating merchants. Use the referral code on your first eligible purchase.
S$1 off your first eligible purchase of at least S$20, as shown in my Fave invitation.
S$1 in Fave Cashback after you redeem your qualifying purchase.
First purchase only: use FAVEADAM1291 on an eligible purchase of at least S$20.
FAVEADAM1291STEP 3
Sort electricity and broadband for your new place.
Electricity, sorted.
Fixed electricity rates make it easier to budget.
S$20 electricity bill rebate on eligible online sign-ups.
S$20 electricity bill rebate for a qualifying referral.
Online sign-ups only. Give Us A Try and Get It 7 To 7 are excluded.
88309485
Home internet, up and running.
A range of home broadband plans, with discounted options through Friends with Benefits.
Discounted monthly subscriptions on selected FWB broadband plans.
Base credit of S$2/month for 24 months (S$48 total); higher tiers depend on active referrals.
New broadband subscriptions ordered online using the referral link and FWB promo code.
FWBSTEP 4
Useful places to shop, earn rewards, eat and get around.
Cashback on shopping you already planned.
ShopBack lets you earn cashback by clicking through to participating shops before buying. Tracking and confirmation can take time.
Earn Max Miles on eligible purchases.
HeyMax is an option for collecting travel rewards on purchases you already plan to make.
200 Max Miles after phone verification and an approved qualifying purchase.
200 Max Miles per qualifying referral; 500 from my 11th qualifying referral onwards. Earlier rewards are not increased.
Enter BF7459E5 during signup, even when using the install link. New users must verify their phone and complete an approved purchase within 180 days.
BF7459E5
Singapore Airlines' everyday spend rewards app.
Kris+ lets you earn miles at participating shops and dining outlets. Eligible purchase miles can be transferred to KrisFlyer for flight rewards within the permitted window; referral bonus miles stay in Kris+ for spending.
500 KrisPay miles, advertised as S$5 for spending in Kris+. This is not cash or transferable flight miles.
500 KrisPay miles, advertised as S$5 for spending in Kris+, after your qualifying transaction.
New Kris+ users: register with S116144 and make a payment of at least S$5 through Apple Pay or Google Pay in Kris+ at a Singapore partner.
S116144
Points for everyday shopping.
Yuu brings everyday rewards together across partners including Cold Storage, CS Fresh, Giant, Guardian and 7-Eleven, plus foodpanda and Gojek. Scan your yuu ID at checkout in participating stores, or link it with supported online partners, to earn points. Use points to offset purchases or redeem rewards in the app.
An app-ordered coffee to get started.
Luckin lets you order and pay in its app before picking up your drink. The S$0.99 first-drink offer makes it an inexpensive option to try.
Your first eligible drink for S$0.99. This is also available as a general new-user offer.
A coupon for my next eligible drink at S$0.99 after you register through my invitation and make your first qualifying purchase.
For eligible new users. Open the invitation before registering; I receive my reward after your first qualifying purchase.
Cake, bakery treats and PB Rewards.
Paris Baguette is an option for a cake slice or bakery stop. Its free PB Rewards membership offers referral vouchers alongside purchase rewards.
A 50%-off voucher for an eligible sliced or short cake after signup and your first transaction. Check your account for the voucher before expecting a discount.
A S$2 voucher after you sign up through my invitation and make your first qualifying transaction.
Sign up through my PB Rewards invitation and make your first qualifying transaction to trigger both rewards.
Rewards for bakery and dining stops.
BreadTalk Group Rewards brings participating food outlets' vouchers and purchase rewards into one app. It can be useful for regular bakery or dining stops.
A S$2 Cash eVoucher for an eligible new signup using my referral code.
A S$2 Cash eVoucher when you sign up with my code and make your first in-app top-up or purchase.
New signups only. Use my referral code when registering; your first in-app top-up or purchase triggers my reward.
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Meals, groceries and yuu rewards.
foodpanda delivers meals and groceries. You can also order from Giant or Cold Storage through foodpanda shops at advertised in-store item prices. Link your yuu account to earn points on eligible orders.
One S$12 food delivery voucher when you sign up through my invite link.
S$8 worth of vouchers after your first qualifying order of at least S$15.
Sign up through my invitation link. Your first qualifying order must be at least S$15 to trigger my S$8 voucher reward.
Ride-hailing with yuu rewards.
Gojek gets you around Singapore and earns yuu points when you link your accounts. It pairs with the DBS yuu Card for eligible ride rewards.
Another option for getting around Singapore.
TADA is a ride-hailing option when you need a car. pandapro members can also claim 8% off ride codes in the foodpanda app; voucher caps and expiry apply.
New-user ride vouchers with SIFBFQ. Check their value, eligible rides and expiry in the app before booking.
Reward details aren’t available.
Use SIFBFQ during new-account signup.
SIFBFQ
Book a shared car when you need to drive.
GetGo is an option for occasional self-drive trips without owning a car.
S$8 off your first drive when you sign up with my referral code.
S$8 off my next drive, applied automatically after you complete your first drive.
Use 14EZKE45 during new-account signup. Complete your first drive to trigger my next-drive discount.
14EZKE45
Book attractions, activities and travel extras.
Klook is useful for comparing attraction tickets, tours and travel extras in Singapore and abroad.
An S$5 promo code when you sign up through my referral.
An S$5 discount after you sign up through my referral and complete a qualifying booking.
New users: sign up through my referral link or use 5FGBPA during signup. My reward is triggered after you complete a qualifying booking.
5FGBPA
An app for arranging local deliveries.
Lalamove is an option for sending items locally when you need a delivery vehicle.
Check the app for any new-user coupon when signing up with this code.
Reward details aren’t available.
Confirm an active referral offer in the app before expecting a coupon.
BfIj6bQbA few more referrals, beyond Singapore.
An extra referral, wherever you are.
An online shop for supplements and everyday essentials. This referral is international.
Reward details aren’t available.
10% in Rewards on a new customer’s order; 5% on returning customers’ orders.
Rewards are subject to programme terms and qualifying orders.
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An international email service referral.
Fastmail is a paid email service with calendar and contacts tools. This is an international referral, useful wherever you are.
10% off Fastmail purchases for your first year when you sign up and pay using my referral link.
A $10 reward through PartnerStack per qualifying new customer. Confirm the payout currency with Fastmail.
For new customers using my referral link. This international offer is not specific to Singapore.