If you have ever come back from a trip thinking, “I miss it already, and I wish I could live there,” you are not alone. Many Singaporeans return from holidays in Japan, Australia, Europe, or the United States with glowing reviews about how they enjoy their slower mornings, friendlier people, lower cost of living and an overall better quality of life.
But here is the uncomfortable truth: we often love these countries more precisely because we are on holiday. In other words, when you travel for a holiday, even if it’s a month-long extended trip, you are merely watching the highlight reel, not the whole game. Think of it as just watching F1 highlights (instead of the full race) and claiming you are a massive fan of racing.
Why Everything Feels Better When You Are Just Visiting
When we travel, we naturally experience the best a country (or city) has to offer. We eat the food we researched, stay in neighbourhoods recommended by travel blogs, and move around with a sense of excitement rather than routine. You choose to experience the best.
There is no daily commute, no office politics, no bills to pay, and no pressure to “make it work”. Even minor inconveniences feel charming. A late or packed train becomes part of the adventure. A language barrier becomes a funny story.
Living there is different. Daily life comes with daily commute, bills to pay, local bureaucracy and tons of other problems that tourists will rarely see and experience. Every country will have its frustrations. It’s just that we do not encounter them when we are passing through as tourists.
But if you are living there, you have to experience both the good and the bad, not just the good.
Earning In Singapore Dollar (SGD) But Spending In Foreign Currencies
For Singaporeans, money plays a bigger role in shaping our travel experience. More than we would choose to admit.
Given the strength of the SGD, many of us can afford to spend luxuriously during our travel without feeling the pinch. We can take a Grab to get to where we want to go in Bangkok, go for quality massages in Vietnam, and enjoy a top-notch bowl of ramen in Japan for just ¥1,200 (S$8.20).
This concept only works because we are coming from a higher-cost-of-living country, Singapore, where we naturally earn more, to a lower-cost-of-living country.
If we lived in those countries, the maths would change completely. We would be earning and spending in the same local currency. The favourable exchange rate disappears. That “cheap” lifestyle suddenly becomes normalised, or even expensive, relative to the income we earn.
Culture Is Always Easier To Appreciate From The “Outside”
Travelling overseas for a holiday means experiencing a different culture. Living in a country, however, means fully immersing yourself in its culture. That is not always a bad thing, but it is definitely more demanding.
Take Japan as an example. It is a fantastic travel destination. The food is excellent, public transport works beautifully, and the streets feel safe and orderly. Many Singaporeans also enjoy Japanese culture, whether it’s the quiet trains, the courteous people, or the deep sense of respect for rules and social harmony that make everyday life feel calm and predictable.
But living in Japan is a very different experience from visiting. It means adapting to social norms, work culture, language expectations, and many unspoken rules that tourists are shielded mainly from.
Daily life can feel structured and demanding, with long working hours, rigid hierarchies, and a strong emphasis on conformity as compared to Singapore. Communication is often indirect, expectations are rarely stated outright, and reading the room becomes an essential skill. For some, this structure brings comfort and clarity. For others, it can feel restrictive and exhausting — a reminder that what works beautifully for a holiday may not always translate just as well into a place to call home.
Taxes & Benefits: The Singapore Advantage
One of the biggest blind spots when comparing life overseas is taxes.
Singaporeans enjoy relatively low personal income tax rates, especially compared with those of other developed countries.
When travelling to countries like the United States or Australia, most of us are treated as non-residents for tax purposes. We enjoy the roads, parks and public spaces without having to contribute to them.
Living there is different. As a resident, you would be paying significantly more through income taxes, social security contributions and other compulsory charges. In Australia, personal income tax rises quickly as your income increases. In the United States, healthcare costs and insurance premiums are significant expenses.
Once these are factored in, the lifestyle that felt affordable on holiday often comes with a much higher monthly price tag.
Enjoying A Holiday Destination Is Not The Same As Living In A Place
We are not saying Singapore is perfect, or that living overseas is a bad idea. Many Singaporeans do thrive abroad, especially when career opportunities, family needs and personal values align.
But it does mean we should be careful about romanticising countries based purely on our holiday experiences. A holiday shows you how it feels to spend money there, not how it feels to earn, save and build a life there.
Before making big decisions, it helps to separate the joy of travel from the realities of living. Ask different questions: What is the take-home pay? What are the taxes? How easy is it to integrate, and what do locals dislike about their own country?
Sometimes, the conclusion is not that another country is worse. It is simply that Singapore looks a lot better once you factor everything in.
So by all means, enjoy your holiday overseas. But be careful not to confuse a great travel experience with being an easy place to build a life.
Read Also: Does It Make Financial Sense To Bring Your Domestic Helper With You For Holiday?
Travel Tips
As more countries move towards a cashless society, we can now visit countries with less physical cash required. Cashless transactions are not only safer and more convenient, but would allow us to enjoy more competitive exchange rates as compared to traditional moneychangers.
If you do not have a multi-currency account or wallet, you can register for YouTrip, and receive a S$5 welcome credit when you use the DollarsAndSense promo code “DNS5”). In addition to making payments in over 150 foreign currencies, YouTrip allows you to exchange and store up to 10 currencies in your wallet.
