Over the past two years, we’ve seen an ongoing tug-of-war between the “work-in-office” camp and the “work-from-home” (WFH) camp. Some organisations, including large employers such as Grab and universities like NUS, have requested that returning to the office is necessary for maintaining culture, fostering collaboration, and enhancing productivity.
On the other hand, many employees argue that they have proven themselves, particularly during the COVID-19 period, to be capable of working independently, and that flexibility should be a given, not a privilege.
Personally, I think both parties have merit to their argument. But this isn’t going to be another discussion about who is right.
Even bosses who expect their workers to come to the office daily recognise that there are very real advantages to working from home. Not having to commute frees up time. Some people find they have better focus at home than in an open office. Parents gain flexibility in managing family responsibilities. And for knowledge workers, especially, work is increasingly something we do, rather than a place we go to.
At the same time, if we zoom out from personal preference and look at the economics and realities of living in Singapore, we may have to confront a somewhat uncomfortable conclusion: Singapore could actually be one of the worst places in the world to work remotely from.
Singapore Is Just…Expensive
Let’s call it what it is: Singapore is one of the most expensive places to live in.
Naturally, this also means that we will be expensive employees. If we are going into the office, attending in-person meetings, and serving customers here, our employers may justify the cost as necessary because we are physically required to be present.
But if we are working entirely remotely and rarely (or never) come into the office, the equation changes. Why would a company pay Singapore-level wages for a job that can technically be done from anywhere, especially when there are people in the same time zone who can do the job at a much lower cost?
One way to consider this is to imagine relocating to an expensive global city, such as New York or Hong Kong. If you were paid a high salary to work there, it wouldn’t make much sense to move to the city, only to stay inside your apartment all day and work remotely. Doing so means you are paying an (unnecessary) premium to live in an expensive city without fully benefiting from being there. The same logic applies to Singapore.
Remote Work Means You Are Competing With Everyone
The argument here isn’t about capability or value. It’s pure labour economics. If the job does not require physical presence, the competitive landscape becomes global.
Instead of competing with Singaporeans or foreigners with work passes, you may now be competing with equally qualified professionals in other countries. These workers may have similar skills, but with a significantly lower cost of living.
For companies, especially those that are cost-sensitive or have an international presence, hiring someone in Singapore simply because they are in Singapore becomes harder to justify. Ironically, the more remote work becomes normalised, the less Singapore’s geographical advantage matters.
Accessible Public Transport
Singapore has a good public transport system. Most of us live within thirty to sixty minutes of our workplace. In a country this small, with a well-connected and reliable public transport network, it becomes difficult to claim that commuting is a problem for workers.
Even people from Johor are coming to Singapore daily to work.
Consider Exploring Beyond Singapore If You Are A Remote Worker
“Working from home” in Singapore is quite different from working from home in many other countries. The irony is that remote workers who truly embrace the WFH lifestyle are also often the ones who want to “work from anywhere.” They are the ones living in different cities, experiencing new cultures and environments, and they rarely choose to base that lifestyle in Singapore.
Instead, many remote workers keep their Singapore-based jobs but base themselves elsewhere. In places like Thailand, Vietnam, Portugal or Bali, living costs are lower, accommodation is more spacious, and the daily rhythm feels less rushed. They continue to earn Singapore salaries, but their income stretches significantly further, allowing them to enjoy a quality of life that feels fuller and more balanced.
In that sense, for those with the option to work entirely remotely, it often makes far more sense to live outside Singapore than to work from home in Singapore.
Read Also: Can A Singapore Employee (On Work-From-Home Or Work-From-Anywhere) Move To Malaysia?
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