This page covers Daily Living, Financial Matters and Staying Safe
Daily Living - Groceries, Household Items, IT Equipment, Stationery, etc.
Things you need when you drop down that luggage in your dorm. Find everything in the following stores. We have recommended places nearest to our campus. Please note that for Electronics and Appliances, Singapore uses 230 Volts, 50 Hertz, and a British-style plug with three flat pins or prongs, also known as the Type G plug
Note: Due to Covid 19, opening hours and services may differ. Safe distancing measures are in force in most places. For more info, please refer to the respective retailer's website.
Note: Due to Covid 19, opening hours and services may differ. Safe distancing measures are in force in most places. For more info, please refer to the respective retailer's website.
IKEA
The ideal one-stop shop to make your room feel like home. All your start-up needs like household items, kitchen utensils, and bathroom accessories can be found here.
Timings: 10 am – 10 pm Location: Alexandra Road, near Queenstown MRT Getting there: Bus 14 from ESSEC, alight 5 stops later next to IKEA Online Order: www.ikea.com/sg |
NTUC Fairprice
Grocery store for daily needs. Widest network in Singapore and lowest prices.
Timings: Most outlets open till 11pm. Some are open 24 hours Location: Fair Price Holland Drive, near Buona Vista MRT Getting there: Bus 74, 91, 191, 200 from After ACJC stop, alight 3 stops later next to NTUC. Online Order: https://www.fairprice.com.sg/ |
Cold Storage
Classy grocery store. More imported items than Fairprice, and pricier.
Timings: 8:30 am – 10 pm Location: Fusionopolis Basement 2, next to one-North MRT entrance Getting there: Walk towards one-North MRT – 4 mins from ESSEC Online Order: https://coldstorage.com.sg/ |
7-11
24-hr store to pick up snacks, phone and bus top-ups. Prices are steeper though.
Location: NUH Medical Centre, outside Kent Ridge MRT Getting there: Take MRT and alight at Kent Ridge, 1 stop away. Walk 2 mins Website: https://www.7-eleven.com.sg/ |
Mustafa Centre
This mega-mall carries over 100, 000 items – clothes, electronics, grocery, jewelry.
Timings: 24 hours Location: Syed Alwi Road, Little India Getting there: Take MRT and change 4 stops later at Botanic Gardens to Downtown Line. Alight at Little India 3 stops later and walk 10 mins. Online Order: https://www.mustafa.com.sg/ |
Le Petit Depot
Le Petit Depot is the place of choice in the hearts and the fridge of many French people and fans of French products in Singapore. It's the leading French online product sales platform, and has more than 8000 products.
Website: www.lepetitdepot.com/fr/index1.php |
Popular Bookstores
Singapore's largest chain of bookstores - selling books, magazines, stationery, office and school supplies. See list of stores here.
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Challenger IT Stores
Singapore’s largest homegrown consumer electronics chain Challenger has grown to serve over half a million ValueClub members across over 40 stores islandwide. Shop here for the latest IT gadgets, lifestyle products and services. See list of stores here.
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Financial Matters
As a financial hub in Asia, Singapore boasts excellent, state-of-the-art banking and financial services. Many local and international banks and financial institutions offer a full suite of financial services to meet all your financial needs. You will be glad to know that though Singapore has one of the highest standards of living in Asia, its cost of living is kept at an affordable level compared to many Western countries. In this page, we provide an overview of the financial market in Singapore, latest currency exchange rates, cost of living information and procedures for opening a local bank account.
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Opening a Bank Account
Online account application is only available for Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and foreigners with a valid Singapore work pass (e.g. employment / S pass) or student pass. For Online Personal or Joint-Alternate Account Application, each applicant will need to upload photos or scanned copies of the required documents. For Branch Account Application, each applicant will need to bring along the original copy of the required documents.
1. Identification Document a) Provide valid Passport (biodata) b) For Malaysian - Provide front and back of Malaysian IC 2) Proof of Study in Singapore a) Matriculation card/ Student card (includes In-Principle Approval by ICA) b) Acceptance letter from school (restricted to official letters from educational institutions or schools under the purview of Council for Private Education or Ministry of Education) 3) Proof of Residential Address a) Provide the latest copy (within last 3 months) of any of the items below: Overseas residential address is acceptable. b) Local utility/ telecommunication bill Local bank statement/credit card statement c) Acceptance letter from school (restricted to official letters from educational institutions or schools under the purview of Committee for Private Education or Ministry of Education) |
Cost of Living
Estimated Monthly Living Expenses (SGD)
Meals: $400 - $900 Personal Expenses: $50 - $200 Local Transportation: $100 Cost of books / supplies: $0 - $20 Accommodation (Private): $1,500 - $1,800 Utilities*: $50 - $80 Telecommunications: $10 - $50 Miscellaneous: $100 Total: $2,210 - $3,250 *Utilities may be included in accommodation costs You may also use the Cost of Living Calculator by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to estimate how much it may cost to live in Singapore. |
Currency & Exchange Rates
The Singapore currency is in dollars and cents. 100 cents are equivalent to one Singapore dollar. The notes run in denominations of $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $1,000 and $10,000. The coins run in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and $1. Cashless payment methods include credit cards, debit cards a.k.a. Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS), EZ-Link cards and mobile/internet banking.
Exchange Rates (as of 20 October 2023) For the latest rates, please go to Oanda United States S$1 = 0.72 USD Euro S$1 = 0.68 Euro China S$1 = 5.32 Yuan India S$1 = Rs 60.59 Indonesia S$1 = 11, 544 Rp Japan S$1 = 109.1 Yen Malaysia S$1 = RM 3.47 Morocco S$1 = 7.58 Dirham Philippines S$1 = 41.38 Peso Russia S$1 = 70.7 Ruble South Korea S$1 = 989.2 Won Switzerland S$1 = 0.65 CHF Taiwan S$1 = NT$ 23.59 Thailand S$1 = 26.53 Baht United Kingdom S$1 = 0.6 GBP Vietnam S$1 = 17,903 Dong |
Staying Safe
Singapore is famous for being one of the safest countries in the world. However, a low crime rate does not mean no crime at all. So do exercise caution as required.
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Legal System
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Emergency Numbers
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Medical Facilities
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Singapore has a very strict legal system. You will be fined if you are caught jaywalking, chewing gum, spitting, smoking in prohibited areas and littering. Carry your ID card when you go to night clubs for security purposes. Identity theft is a major offence; don’t try using somebody else’s ID to get into a place.
Smoking: Smoking is not permitted in all public indoor places and most outdoor places. Those who wish to smoke may do so at smoking zones or boxes often denoted by a signboard followed by a yellow box drawn on the floor. In addition, smoking is not allowed at all entertainment nightspots unless within approved smoking zones. Offenders can be fined up to SGD$1000 and the throwing of cigarette butts on the floor will carry a fine of $300. Chewing Gum: Chewing gum is not allowed to be brought into Singapore or to be consumed locally as it is banned unless the gum serves medical purpose such as dental-health gums and nicotine gums which help people to quit smoking. Offenders who are caught bringing chewing gum will be fined SGD$500 – SGD$1000. Spitting and littering: Spitting and littering is an offence and carries a fine of SGD$300. Drug Abuse and Trafficking: Drug abuse is viewed seriously in Singapore. Illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is strictly prohibited. Offenders will be sentenced to a long jail term or even death if caught possessing more than 15g of heroin. More info at
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Fire/Ambulance 995
Non-Emergency Ambulance 1777 Police 999 Please also note down the contact details of your country’s embassy in Singapore. We have included below the links to a few embassies: 1. Embassy of France in Singapore https://sg.ambafrance.org/-Francais- 2. High Commission of Canada to Singapore https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/singapore-singapour/index.aspx?lang=eng 3. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Singapore http://www.chinaembassy.org.sg/eng/ 4. High Commission of India, Singapore https://www.hcisingapore.gov.in/ 5. Embassy of Indonesia in Singapore https://kemlu.go.id/singapore/en 6. Ambasciata d'Italia Singapore https://ambsingapore.esteri.it/ambasciata_singapore/en 7. Embassy of Republic of Korea to Singapore http://overseas.mofa.go.kr/sg-en/index.do 8. High Commission of Malaysia, Singapore https://www.kln.gov.my/web/sgp_singapore 9. Taiwan Representative Office in Singapore https://www.roc-taiwan.org/sg_en/ 10. Royal Thai Embassy, Singapore https://www.thaiembassy.sg/contact-us 11. U.S. Embassy in Singapore https://sg.usembassy.gov/ 12. Embassy of Vietnam in Singapore https://vnembassy-singapore.mofa.gov.vn/en-us/Pages/default.aspx |
The Clinic @ Fusionopolis The nearest clinic to our campus
Fusionopolis Place #01-05 Getting there: Walk towards one-north MRT – 4 mins from ESSEC Opening hours: Monday – Friday 8:30am to 1:00pm 2:00pm to 5:30pm Saturday 8:30am to 12:30pm Phone: 6466 0602 (It is better to book appointments during busy periods) National University Hospital (NUH) The nearest hospital to our campus, it serves as a tertiary hospital, clinical training and research center for the medical and dental faculties of the National University of Singapore (NUS) 5, Lower Kent Ridge Road Getting there: MRT to Kent Ridge, walk 2 mins Opening hours: A & E is 24 hours. Other clinics and services vary 6799 5555 (24 hours) More details at https://www.nuh.com.sg/ |
