Singapore Expats

Are there any specific items I should purchase here in the US to bring with us to live in Singapore? What about clothing for larger women? Are linens/towels resonable and high quality? Do they have regular laundry detergents, foods, toiletries, etc? What are the prices like compared to the US?

The only thing you should worry about is clothing to fit you. Everything else, mostly, with a few notable brand exceptions, you will find here.

Price wise, US will be generally cheaper, and you will find that, as an expat, you adapt to how things are here.

There are a few notable exceptions. Ibuprofen is extremely expensive here, more than 50 cents a tab, compared to Walmart, 1/2 cent per tab. Others may chime in with other expensive products.

Singapore in many respects is a higher quality of life than you will find in many US cities. Come and enjoy.

If you're like me and are sensitive or just have a favourite deodorant, stock up. The options here are limited. If you're not used to hot weather you may not know what clothes to bring (I didn't) but clothes in sizes above a US 8-10 are extremely expensive if you can find them at all. Bring bras and underwear or any clothing you may not feel comfortable buying off the internet. If you use boutique skin care products (I like Biotherm) they are available here but cost about twice as much. Those are the only things I preferred to get from overseas. Everything else here is available at a slightly higher cost, but not so expensive as to make it worth it to bring from USA.
I wouldn't bother with bed linens unless you are bringing your own mattress- the beds here are slightly different sizes.

Thank you for the responses

Excedrin Migraine
Protein/Vitamin Supplements

are a couple I can think of other than my favorite hot sauce which I have fedexed over once a quarter.

JackDaniels wrote:Excedrin Migraine
Protein/Vitamin Supplements

are a couple I can think of other than my favorite hot sauce which I have fedexed over once a quarter.

Funny as I opened this thread I thought dietary supplements are way more $ in SG.... but you've said it anyway.

Clothes, as has been said. They tend not to cater to the better built of us.

For kitchen and cooking, you can get almost anything you'll need in the US, unless you are into really niche stuff (for example I cannot get British anchovy sauce for my fish pie recipe, but then as it is a peripheral ingredient you make do)

poodlek wrote: Bring bras and underwear or any clothing you may not feel comfortable buying off the internet.

Are undergarments not available for purchase in any of the stores there?

intbound wrote:

poodlek wrote: Bring bras and underwear or any clothing you may not feel comfortable buying off the internet.

Are undergarments not available for purchase in any of the stores there?

Yes of course they are, there just aren't many options for those of us with big (think average Caucasian size) booties. I've been here 16 months and have yet to get anything more than a blank stare when asking for my bra size.

poodlek wrote:

intbound wrote:

poodlek wrote: Bring bras and underwear or any clothing you may not feel comfortable buying off the internet.

Are undergarments not available for purchase in any of the stores there?

Yes of course they are, there just aren't many options for those of us with big (think average Caucasian size) booties. I've been here 16 months and have yet to get anything more than a blank stare when asking for my bra size.

Oh, okay! I hadn't thought of the size issue. I kept reading threads about bringing over certain things and it made me start wondering if undergarments, etc. are hard to find, but it's just certain sizes. Thanks!

Same goes for women slack/jeans. If you are over 5'8" tall and have legs the go from your ankles all the way to heaven, stock up there as well. But Jeans, if you like most of the major brands are easily orderable online from places like American Jeans or Levi's.com. They even have jeans sizes for different type of body/booty!

Don't forget your crystal light, tastycakes and ding dongs. My husband also packed our container with Tide detergent since it is VERY expensive here. We've switched to a local brand that is cheaper than in the US. I'd also stock up on cereal if you're passionate about some of the name brand Big "G" cereals. I love my Cinnamon Toast Crunch ($12 at Cold Storage per box) now it's a luxury.

Don't forget your feminine protection products. It'll take some trial and error to find something you like here in SG--good to have a few months suppy while you work it out.

boffenl wrote:Don't forget your crystal light, tastycakes and ding dongs. My husband also packed our container with Tide detergent since it is VERY expensive here. We've switched to a local brand that is cheaper than in the US. I'd also stock up on cereal if you're passionate about some of the name brand Big "G" cereals. I love my Cinnamon Toast Crunch ($12 at Cold Storage per box) now it's a luxury.

Don't forget your feminine protection products. It'll take some trial and error to find something you like here in SG--good to have a few months suppy while you work it out.

Those are good suggestions that I hadn't thought of. So what about things like crest toothpaste, shaving gel, and items like that?

Best to bring at least a 2 months supply. Crest and shaving cream are expensive (my husband goes to Mustafa and buys four cans at a time to save money--he's even cheaper than I am!). But we're hooked on Aquafresh now. You learn to adapt, but it's better to have your favorites as a back-up while you test.

Another one is fingernail polish--it is expensive for US brands (four to six times as expensive). If you have a container, and have room, bring food. Canned soups, salsa, even spices would be worthwhile. But again, I'm cheap and when I'm back in the US I fill a suitcase half with boxed Mac and Cheese and the other half with Crystal Light and kids crest (which you cna't get here FYI).

I also stock up on gum and licorice. Reading through this it's amazing my kid doesn't have diabetes.

Bring Triscuits!

boffenl wrote:Best to bring at least a 2 months supply. Crest and shaving cream are expensive (my husband goes to Mustafa and buys four cans at a time to save money--he's even cheaper than I am!). But we're hooked on Aquafresh now. You learn to adapt, but it's better to have your favorites as a back-up while you test.

Another one is fingernail polish--it is expensive for US brands (four to six times as expensive). If you have a container, and have room, bring food. Canned soups, salsa, even spices would be worthwhile. But again, I'm cheap and when I'm back in the US I fill a suitcase half with boxed Mac and Cheese and the other half with Crystal Light and kids crest (which you cna't get here FYI).

I also stock up on gum and licorice. Reading through this it's amazing my kid doesn't have diabetes.

Paying $6/box for Kraft Dinner prevents me from eating it more often than I should win/win. Agreed on the soups...they just aren't the same here. I prefer to make my own.