Whenever you think of expats living in Singapore, you often picture a lavish apartment tucked away in an affluent part of Singapore, like Keppel, or Bukit Timah, or Orchard. However, there are signs that more expats are turning their heads towards the quieter and oft-overlooked heartlands, once thought restricted to local families. Despite being perceived as largely uneventful, the reality is that our heartlands are constantly modernising and developing, and they’re no longer the sleepy neighbourhoods of decades past. If you’re looking to live somewhere more authentic, here’s why you should consider serviced apartments in Queenstown and other heartlands around the country.
Cheaper Rental Costs
As the world struggles with inflation and other economical hardships that are slated to carry on for the foreseeable future, money is fast becoming a concern, especially when rent prices are also soaring around the world. The same can be said for rent in land-scarce Singapore, and even more so for apartments located in prime areas like the city centre. If you’re finding yourself on a tighter budget, consider moving to the heartlands, where rent is marginally cheaper, and so are everyday expenses like groceries. If you’re coming over with a family, you could probably afford a more spacious abode, like a 3-bedroom serviced apartment in Singapore when you settle down in the heartlands, compared to a far more expensive neighbourhood.
Lifestyle & Family-oriented Amenities in the Heartlands
Heartlands are centred around Singapore’s families, so it’s only understandable that you’ll find more lifestyle and family-oriented amenities there, such as parks, playgrounds, after-school daycare, and of course, schools. Malls also feature more family-friendly shops, and the pace of life in the heartlands is generally more suitable and conducive to raising a family. For instance, living in a Clementi service apartment places you in close proximity to West Coast park, which features a wide variety of playgrounds, and there’s even a sprawling McDonald’s to complete the perfect weekend family picture.
More International Schools are Moving to the Heartlands, Too
One of the biggest telltale signs that more expats are moving into the heartlands is that international schools are also following suit. Families who live in Jurong East service apartments, for instance, are just a stone’s throw away from two international schools, the Canadian International School in Boon Lay, and Dulwich College in Bukit Batok. This means you won’t be too far away from an expat community that should help you and your family settle down in your new environment more seamlessly.
Immerse in Local Culture
There’s a lot of local flavour to be found in Singapore’s heartlands, as they are where generations of families have resided; this is more apparent in older neighbourhoods. Living in serviced apartments in Queenstown is a great way to experience authentic local culture, as not only is it one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Singapore, it’s adjoining neighbourhoods like Redhill, Alexandria, and Bukit Merah, are all long-time fixtures of Singapore’s storied history and feature an abundance of local cuisine and history, giving you just the right balance of old and new.
Greater Accessibility Compared to Remote Locations
Many heartlands are situated far away from the city centre, where most offices are located, but they are by no means any less connected to the city, or even to the rest of the country. On the contrary, heartlands have greater accessibility compared to remote and more affluent locations, like Bukit Timah, where most families can get around by car. In the heartlands, you’ll find many bus stops with services that take you to the nearest train station, or even to other parts of the country. Singapore is well known for its efficient public transportation system, and the full extent of its capabilities are best witnessed in the heartlands as it effortlessly transports more than half the nation’s population to their destinations. Jurong East, for instance, is a bus and MRT interchange that has services that take you to all four corners of the country, so residents of Jurong East service apartments can enjoy even greater accessibility and convenience.
Learn more: Serviced Apartments in Singapore: What’s Living in Jurong Like
Live to your heartland’s desires with Expat Corporate Apartments today. For more information on our apartments and services, please check out our website.
