People always ask Americans living in Singapore, "I'm moving to Singapore. What should I bring from the US?" Truth is, you can find most everything in Singapore that you can get back home, just at a premium.
Cold Storage has a really wide selection of expat-friendly foods and you can always order from iHerb. Amazon ships to Singapore and you can even order Prime Shipping on many items. If it's something you really have to have that you can't ship directly here, you send stuff using a reshipper such as ComGateway. So don't panic that you'll move here and not be able to get something you really need. You might even discover a replacement for something you've always used an love it more!
Still, Singapore is a foreign country and things are not the same as back home. So here is a list compiled with lots and lots of input from folks on Facebook.
What Not to Bring
Let's start with what you don't need to bring from Singapore: appliances. The voltage in the United States of America (120 V) which is less than in Singapore (230 V). So if you do bring appliances, you'll need a voltage converter. Even then, it's much easier to just buy new appliances. I've burned up too many motors to count.
Do you plan to live without the air con on? If so, then you might want to leave your leather couches and scrapbooks at home. And do not put leather in your shipping container if you can help it!
By the way, lamps can easily be upgraded by changing the plug so if you have a favorite lamp, bring it.
Some important documents to consider carrying include:
Passports with at least six months’ validity and two blank pages. If your passport is nearing its renewal date, apply for a new one early to avoid needing to do so on arrival.
Visa or pass for entering Singapore. This is likely to be handled by your employer. If it is in process, bring all related documents or a letter from your employer proving your relocation appointment. If you don’t have them, you can enter Singapore on a tourist visa.
Employment contract
Home country identification card and/or driver’s license
Original (or certified true copies) academic certificates, transcripts and professional diplomas. (You will actually really need these if you apply for a job!)
Marriage certificate, divorce and settlement documents birth certificates or guardianship affidavits
Any other legal documents, such as wills and trusts, real estate contracts and lease agreements, car contracts
Financial documents, such as recent bank statements, investment, pension and insurance documents
Income and tax slips for the last three years
Medical and dental records, including vaccine records and prescriptions (some doctors will helpfully email you electronic copies)
Pet quarantine documents moving/shipment documents Note: Ensure all official documents are translated into English to avoid any difficulties on arrival. This includes any diplomas that are in Latin.
What to Bring
Keep in mind that Amazon, Lazada and Shopee deliversalmost everything here, but at a premium.
If you're bringing furniture, keep in mind that apartments here are smaller than US homes. Giant L-shaped sofas don't always fit. Mattresses are different sizes here so if you're bringing your bed frame, bring a mattress and vice versa.
Below is a list of items people have suggested to AAS to bring over the years.
Clothing
Sizes here are for tiny Asian frames so if you are wear larger sizes, bring clothes with you – especially bras. And if you have big feet, buy your shoes at home!!
Bring lots of casual clothes, flats, dresses. Singapore is a casual places and it's very warm so you'll need mostly summer clothes.
But don't forget a few winter items. If you decide to go skiing in Japan, home at Christmas or to visit Australia in the winter, you'll need sweaters and jeans. These items are pricey and hard to find in Singapore.
Groceries
Food is delicious in Singapore. Cold Storage has almost everything you want and they even bring in special items for holidays like Thanksgiving. Spices are much better here, too! But there are some things you just get can't here yet and some things are here, then they aren't here due to shipping issues, then they're back again.
Cheez-its
Cornbread mix
Costco nuts
Diet Dr Pepper
Dried chilis such as ancho, chipotle et al
Everything but the Bagel seasoning
Everything you love from Trader Joe’s
Fritos
Frosted Poptarts (they only have unfrosted in Singapore)
Gravy mix packets
Jolly Rancher candies
Jones breakfast sausage patties
Heinz 57
Kraft Mayonaise
Pumpkin spice
Ranch dressing (powdered)
Shelf stable coffee creamer
Velveeta
Here's a tip:
If you have a Yeti cooler, you can bring frozen food all the way to Singapore without it thawing!.
Medications & Toiletries
Singapore has many over-the-counter meds, but may not have your favorite. This is true for lots of things like tampons, deodorants and more.
Advil
Antibiotic cream
Benadryl
Children's Medicine (pain relievers and cold medicines)
Cortisone Cream
Crest toothpaste
Dayquil/Nyquil
Deodorants
Over-the-Counter meds if you have favorites
Pepcid
Pepto BIsmol
Q tips
Sunscreen
Tums
Vitamins (pricey here!)
Other Items
All of these items are available in Singapore, but at a premium so it may be best to bring your own from home:
Baby cribs & strollers
BBQ grills (tho note that some condos only allow electric)
Bicycles
Cards for birthdays and other occasions
Coleman or Yeti cooler
Sheets to fit your mattress (mattress sizes are different here)
Wrapping paper
Tips for Buying
Obviously, there are many beautiful stores here where you can find things to furnish your home, but you can also find lots of used items in great condition from expat leaving. Many expats leave Singapore in May and June and then again in December. If they're repatriating, they'll be selling all those appliances, furniture and even plants they bought to fit in. So bring your basic necessities and then top up when you get here.
New appliances can be really pricey so some feel that bringing their US appliances and a converter is worth it, but you can often get really good deals on used items, too. People repatriating need to dump their appliances as much as you need to buy them – maybe even more so.
There are several Facebook pages where you can find great stuff:: Expats Leaving Singapore Selling Goods CLASSIFIEDS - The Original Singapore Expat Women
Carousell.sg is also great for purchasing used items.
Truth is, you can find amazing and unique items for your home in Asia. Bespoke furniture can be made at reasonable costs. If you open up your mind, you can create a special dream home that you won't find back in Kansas. You can also find special items on your travels throughout Asia.
Closing Thoughts
I've now been here twelve years. When I first moved, I'd come back from visits home with massive suitcases loaded with precious cargo. But every year I go, I bring back less and less stuff. I have let go to my emotional ties to things and found other items I just like as much if not more.
For a more complete list, purchase Living in Singapore 16th Edition Reference Guide. This book is the bible for life in Singapore. Written by expats for expats, it covers everything from the move to shopping to hiring helpers to where to travel.
Did we leave something off the list you wish you'd known before? Email us at communications@aasingapore.com so we an update this list!
And for more about moving to Singapore in general, check out Living in Singapore Reference Guide. It's the bible for life on the Little Red Dot.