Spent time as a business visitor between 1976 and 1983. Wonderful food in various locales including chili crabs at fisherman's wharf. That was quite some time ago so all might be changed now.

S'pore has some great advantages, many of which have already been listed, and I would endorse some of the restrictions as well. Have you thought of banking difficulties? If you need a local S'pore account to do business [deposit from an employer, pay vendors] you may have difficulties. There are a few banks there that will work with US citizens/residents, but it's pretty limited. Also, make sure you get your money out before you leave the earthly plane -- their probate system is slow and even banks that will deal with Americans will not do anything without orders from the S'pore probate court, which can take a LOOONG time to get.

Sadly, true. When I was growing up, it was a vibrant place with a job for anyone willing to work. Heck, as a paper boy I made more than any burger boy comparable income today. All I had was two streets but they were all 2 family flats and two apartment buildings. 50 cents for a weeks worth of printed info, and $10 a week (200 customers). for me. Big dough in those days.

Yes. I've seen him interviewed from there a few times.

Maryland Crab, YES!
Sorry you have to tolerate the neighbors, Bethesda-gal.
The Dark Center has the most expensive facade on a crack whore city in the universe. Sink it in the swamps it came from.

I spent time in Detroit a long time ago. Since then my relatives have left there for warmer climes and better economies. As you say, the Motor City isn't on anyone's desirables list now.

Hi FreedomFor all
You left out my home town -- Detroit. Which rarely comes up to the level of Beirut.

I have a friend who lived there for 5 years. His description was that of a strictly run hustling place. No tolerance for miscreants and lots of lauding for business people. I don't know what you do, and he wasn't more specific and only spoke of it in passing. I hope it helps a bit.

As far as I know, its a muslim dominated culture. Assuming thats so, it sucks.

Yes. It is a big city, like Seattle maybe but to me more like Sydney. If you are not a big city guy check out carefully.
Clean, orderly- clean water, reliable power, public transport is clean cheap reliable and busy, there is a big fee to own a private motor vehicle (about $40,000?). Alcohol is pricey after high taxes. Economic freedom is high, remarkably low tax rates, but watch out for restrictions on what can be said in particular about the government and its members. Not as staid as it was a generation ago, nearby Kuala Lumpur in Muslim Malaysia is more laid back. Health care is good and not expensive (by US standards), school standards range from ok to very good. Social welfare for citizens is basic, for a non-citizen, if you lose your job and become destitute expect to be quickly escorted onto a departing flight.

"It's warm, humid, and crowded. The government is the opposite of libertarian. It's worse than Germany in terms of telling you what you can do with your day to day life." There is also some separation between the whites, Chinese, and Malay.

According to the person with whom I share a house, who has been there.

DC, the cleanest city ?? Since when ? They barely enforce jwalking in DC, and so folks get mowed down regularly. I haven't heard of any littering laws being enforced recently/ ever.
But then there is the whole issue of Congress.....

Haha. Caught me there ! Ok, let's call it a tradition. ;)
Although I wonder if it had some engineering purpose originally, to not build too high, since DC was built on swamp. No symbolism there !

I have in-laws who lived there for six years. Does that count?

you mean regulations like building height restrictions? :)

Hey, hey hey. Being a native of " the DC Metro region" ( Maryland burbs) I take exception to that ! Sort of. :)
DC, esp in spring and fall, is one of the prettiest cities in the world. Aided by the building height restriction, so the whole area feels/ looks like a park. However.....in a city where " I got stuck in traffic blocked by a motorcade" is a valid excuse for being late to work, coupled with unappealing local taxes and regulations, sadly we will likely relocate in the next few years. :-/
But it is a beautiful area. If only I could get rid of most of the people here....

Just don't spit on the sidewalk.

BTW, author and investor Jim Rogers relocated there some years ago, saying he thought that it was the best place to be as an investor to raise his family.
http://www.amazon.com/Investment-Bike...

Passed through Singapore in February of 1968. Recovering from malaria that I got in Indonesia, my only concern was trying to find good food (other than rice and dog meat) to eat. Vibrant, busy, happy and friendly was the mood I experienced.

I spent my career in shipping and port services. There are a lot of people who missread stats out of Singapore. On paper they look like a major exporter until you dig deeper and see that they are just a transload port.

It was nice when I was there, but it's been 30 years.

Haven't been. Sorry. I did just Google their population though (since multiple people mentioned the big city feel) and it looks like their at 5.399 million with a steady increase over the last decade. I wouldn't mind visiting but I'm definitely not up for living in a high density place.

I really enjoyed a few days, there is a very good diversity of people getting along, I frequently call Honolulu, little Singapore. It's a very clean, and orderly society, but can loosen up and have some fun. Some excellent food, and it has a huge harbor. Have they celebrated their 50 year of independence? Have fun.