Living in Sentosa puts you right in the hotspot for lovers of luxury and the seaside. With plenty of high-end condominiums and lavish waterfront bungalows with unique oceanfront views to choose from. It’s especially popular with single professionals and couples looking to embark on their new Singapore expat life.
If you decide to move to Sentosa, you’ll feel like you’re constantly on holiday. Since it’s essentially another island on its own, it’s like living in a resort. You’ll also get to know your neighbours and see familiar faces all around as Sentosa Cove is the only residential area on Sentosa Island. Most residents on Sentosa are also expatriates as it’s the only place in Singapore where foreigners are allowed to purchase landed property.
Distance from the CBD
To get to the CBD, it’ll take about 15-30 minutes by car. There aren't any public transportation options in Sentosa so you’ll need to take the monorail from Sentosa into Vivocity before either taking a train from HarbourFront MRT station or a bus from HarbourFront bus interchange. All in all, it’ll take you about 50 minutes to get to the CBD by public transportation.
Living in Sentosa: Morning, day and night
While in Sentosa, you’ll perpetually feel like you’re on vacation. In the morning, go for a relaxed walk on the pristine beaches, or play a game of beach volleyball on Siloso Beach. In the afternoon, take your pick from walking down a 44-meter high vertical wall to sitting on some thrilling rides at Universal Studios or walking on glass panels at the Skybridge. The casino at Resorts World Sentosa is also brimming with activity and a place to test your luck, or you can opt for a relaxing massage at any of the spas within the Sentosa hotels.
While there aren’t any public gyms available in Sentosa, there is a fitness centre at ONE 15 Marina in Sentosa Cove that has stunning views of the marina along with a wide range of equipment.
In the evening, admire the sunset and head to any one of the beach bars situated in Sentosa. There’s the Hawaiian-themed Ola Beach Club with Tiki cocktails, FOC Sentosa with Spanish gin and tonics, along with Tanjong Beach Club for its chilled-out selections. There’s also live music at The Rock Bar at Hard Rock Hotel along with vibrant Cuban nights at Bob’s Bar at Capella Singapore.
Shop
The main shopping mall located near Sentosa Cove is Quayside Isle. It’s tucked away in a quiet corner of Singapore and has plenty of restaurants and shops. It also houses a Jason’s supermarket that'll have all the groceries that you need. There’s also a Cold Storage supermarket located right in Sentosa Cove.
Another shopping area includes Resorts World Sentosa – a popular spot that you could spend the entire day at. Festive Walk in particular is a haven for shoppers with a multitude of dining options and attractions to keep you occupied.
Eat
While there aren’t any local hawker centres in Sentosa Cove, there is a Malaysian Food Street at Resorts World Sentosa for those that are looking for some local delights. At Sentosa Cove, most of the dining options are a little more expensive but serve incredible food. SKIRT for example is a great restaurant for meat lovers craving delicious food with a great variety. Other dining options include The Knolls that’s located right inside the Capella hotel and The Cliff for some of the best Italian that’ll leave you satiated and ready to return for more.
See
Since Sentosa is a tourist spot, most of the attractions you’ll see in Sentosa are also a tad more touristy. There’s the Trick Eye museum that allows you to play with perspective photography along with Mega Adventure – a giant zip line that zips across the sea to a strip of shore at Siloso Beach. Other sights at Sentosa include The Royal Albatross, a tall pirate ship that’s housed behind the SEA Aquarium, along with Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, 4D Adventureland, and more. Fort Siloso is also situated on Sentosa island and is a well-preserved fort that was built by the British in the 1880s.
The downside
Since Sentosa is such a tourist-centric area, you’ll feel more like a tourist and less like a local from living in this area. Rental is also one of the highest in Singapore and it’ll take longer to commute to the city in comparison to other areas. It’s also hard to book a taxi to get out of the island as there are booking surcharges and other surcharges you’d need to pay just from the taxi entering the island. There’s also only one prep school in Sentosa, and it’s not easy to head in and out of the island unless you’ve got a car.
Making the most of your move to Singapore
If you are in the process of planning your move, make sure you read our comprehensive and refreshed 2021 Moving to Singapore Guide to learn more about the real cost of living in Singapore, what you need to prepare for and insights on family and work-life as an expat.
You can also use our free relocation dashboard to discover other areas to live, chat with a community of likeminded people and begin setting up for your new life in Singapore... all before you land.