4 Lifestyle Differences I Felt Immediately ☁️
Took felly 4 months to settle into life abroad, and here’s 4 biggest differences felt 🥲
1️⃣ Food Options
🙂 Restaurant standards are undoubtedly higher and more unique in Melbourne, but if you talk about affordable and quick fixes? Singapore’s hawker centres and food courts are second to no other!
😚 But if you’re looking for a restaurant with nice ambience, throw a stone, and you would probably land on one in Melbs. Prices are similar to SG’s too.
2️⃣ Transport
😖 Trams frequency are so erratic and cancellations so often that a 20 minutes ride into CBD from where I live took up to 45 minutes once. And suburbs are so far out, you’d be lucky if they are connected via PT.
😏 But cars are affordable, so… yes to driving!
3️⃣ Groceries
😎 Step into Coles or any supermarket in Melbs and you’re guaranteed to be spoilt for options. Variety of meat cuts, fresh fruits and veggies, you take your pick!
🙂 So, I realised that they only offer free range egg options in Melbs, and hence they are more expensive than Singapore’s eggs. But comparing the same brand of eggs in SG, at $7, that’s considered cheap!
4️⃣ Weather
🌦️ 4 seasons in a day = Melbourne? Ahah. Been there, done that.
🥲 And my skin has become so very dry and cold rash is real, I must say that I do miss SG’s humidity.
Unpopular opinion but, I’d take Singapore’s weather any day!
Adjusting to life abroad means embracing new habits, especially around food choices and eating routines. Coming from a culture like Malaysia where family-style eating is common, I found it helpful to create simple tricks to control portions without strict dieting. For example, I use smaller plates or bowls to serve my meals, helping me manage how much I eat intuitively without feeling deprived. Weighing food occasionally in the kitchen can also provide a practical sense of portion sizes, especially if you want to balance carbs and proteins better. It doesn’t have to be complicated—just a quick check to build awareness and healthier patterns over time. In Melbourne, where eating out is great but sometimes less affordable for quick meals, preparing and portioning your own food helps both health and budget. It also suits a busy lifestyle where public transport is unpredictable and owning a car is more common. For those missing the tropical humidity of Singapore or Malaysia, skin hydration becomes a daily ritual to combat dryness and cold rashes caused by Melbourne’s weather. Simple skincare and adjusting wardrobe layers to sudden weather changes can make a big difference. Overall, adopting small lifestyle tweaks and local habits gradually helps you feel settled and healthy abroad, turning challenges into new routines that work for you.
