Tech entrepreneur Meng To, known for his work in design and startups, has shared a glowing account of life in Singapore after two years of calling the city-state home. Having just renewed his visa for another three years, To described Singapore as a “paradise,” citing low taxes, seamless bureaucracy, safety, and an enviable lifestyle as reasons behind his decision.
In a social media post that quickly gained attention, To contrasted his experience in Canada — where he paid over 50% in taxes and faced long waits for medical appointments — with Singapore’s highly efficient and low-tax environment.
“I was paying over 150k in taxes every year in Canada. Here, I paid just 5k my first year. The more you earn, the more you save in Singapore,” he wrote.
Key Benefits Highlighted by To:
Tax Savings: Income tax rates between 5% to 15% for high earners, no capital gains tax, and just 9% GST.
Efficient Governance: Almost no paperwork for taxes due to auto-reporting; Singpass and PayNow systems make ID and payments seamless.
Safe & Affordable Living: Extremely safe streets, widely available services like domestic help, tutors, and affordable transport apps such as Grab and Lalamove.
Education & Healthcare: Affordable international schools with flexible admissions, and high-quality, same-day medical care that is fast and cost-effective.
Food & Lifestyle: World-class Japanese cuisine, access to premium international groceries, and a vibrant food culture at hawker centres.
Climate & Environment: Year-round tropical weather allows for daily swimming and outdoor living — a stark contrast to Canada’s seasonal lifestyle.
To also praised the ease of setting up and running a business through platforms like Sleek, and noted how daily life in Singapore has begun to feel like an early retirement — despite being more productive than ever.
“Living next to water, with palm trees, hot weather, and amazing amenities… but I’ve never worked so hard,” he added.
While acknowledging Singapore’s high rent — comparable to San Francisco — To noted that the tax savings far outweigh the housing costs, especially for high-income individuals and entrepreneurs.
His post offers a personal lens into why Singapore continues to attract global talent and investors looking for efficiency, safety, and financial advantages — a combination that, according to To, feels like paradise.
I just renewed my Singapore visa for 3 years. It’s a paradise here.
– 5-15% income tax for high income (100k to 500k). No capital gain tax, 9% sales tax, no-tipping culture.
– English speaking and top schools for our kids. Best medical system I’ve experienced.
– 26-32º all-year… pic.twitter.com/BM8pQhVd6S— Meng To (@MengTo) July 4, 2025
