Foreigners flock to Singapore despite high living cost

Quality of life, education facilities, and a transparent and professional business environment are elements making Singapore attractive to foreigners despite its high living cost. ​
Foreigners flock to Singapore despite high living cost ảnh 1Singapore's iconic Marine Bay (Photo: New Straits Times)
 
Singapore (VNA) – Quality of life,education facilities, and a transparent and professional business environmentare elements making Singapore attractive to foreigners despite its high livingcost.
The finding was part of the latest annualreport recently published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) under TheEconomist magazine.
According to the report, Singapore was ranked asthe most expensive city for expatriates and business travelers for the fourthtime in a row.
However, living cost is only one of many factorsfor an individual to make decision for a work destination, said human resourcesspecialists. 
In addition, the transparency of governance andease of doing business, combined with government efforts to create a positiveenvironment for start-ups and innovation makes Singapore a highly attractivebusiness hub for people to grow their careers.
It is also an ideal place for FinTech (financeand technology combination) or research and development (R&D), which is whymore European and Asian nationals move to Singapore recently.
The EIU survey compares prices of 160 productsand services, including food, clothing, household supplies and personal careitems, home rents, transport, utility bills, private schools and recreationalcosts, between 133 cities across the world with New York city (the US) as thebaseline.- VNA 

VNA

See more

A commemorative publication titled “50 Years of Germany – Vietnam Relations: Partners in the Past, Present and Future”, published in 2025, offers a timely and comprehensive reflection not only on the 50th anniversary but also on the two countries' strategic path ahead. (Illustrative photo: the Vietnamese – German University)

German economic cooperation ministry praises Vietnam’s development

Commenting on the German Government’s prominent reference to Vietnam’s achievements in a key policy document shaping the future direction of its development policy, Dr Kambiz Ghawami, President of Germany’s World University Service (WUS), described this as highly significant.

Indonesia’s meat industry faces widespread job loss risks (Photo:en.infosawit.com)

Indonesia’s meat industry faces risk of mass layoffs

The Indonesian Meat Entrepreneurs and Processors Association (APPDI) said the total beef import quota for private companies this year has been cut to 30,000 tonnes, down sharply from 180,000 tonnes in 2025. The figure accounts for only a small fraction of Indonesia’s overall import plan of 297,000 tonnes of beef and buffalo meat for 2026.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (left) and Lao Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Khamlieng Outhakaysone (Photo: VNA)

Laos focuses on building comprehensive all-people national defence posture

Reporting on defence and security work over the past five years, he noted that despite numerous challenges, Laos has recorded significant achievements under the direct, comprehensive and resolute leadership of the LPRP, the guidance of the Central Commission for Defence–Security, the solidarity and efforts of administrations at all levels, sectors, local authorities and the Lao people, along with cooperation from strategic partners.

Governor of National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas RI) of Indonesia Dr. Ace Hasan Syadzily (Photo: VNA)

Indonesia's programme to develop visionary leaders unveiled

This programme is designed to equip prospective senior leaders with strategic leadership mindset, geopolitical and geostrategic vision, and the capacity to formulate policies and govern the country amid a dynamic domestic and international environment.

Indonesia moves to build clean energy ecosystem for new capital (Photo: indonesiabusinesspost.com)

Indonesia develops clean energy ecosystem for new capital

The involvement of Indonesia's strategic state-owned companies such as Pertamina will strengthen the vision of developing Nusantara into a “forest city” with low carbon emissions, through close collaboration between the government and the business community.

Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia at a press conference in Jakarta on January 8, 2026 (Photo: ANTARA)

Indonesia to reshape coal policy in 2026

From January to September 2025, Indonesia’s coal production fell 15% year-on-year to 509 million tonnes, while exports declined 4.7% to about 285 million tonnes. Shipments to China and India dropped by 16% and 12%, respectively.