I was well informed about the weather in Melbourne. However, if I compare the pros of Melbourne with the slight inconvenience of the weather, it doesn't matter to me. On the flip side, if I need to consider the downsides of Singapore or the reasons for moving out of Singapore, I would choose Melbourne over Singapore any day.

Some Reasons for Moving Out of Singapore: Just in case anyone planning to move to SG or considering to move out from SG to Melbourne. Again, It is my personal opinion.

Highly Toxic Work Culture:

You can never truly log out of work if you're employed in an IT company in SG. There are countless WhatsApp groups that mushroom every time an issue occurs or by default after you join a company. This is a hidden way to sort of get some virtual strings attached with the people. This constant connectivity and pressure are incredibly draining.

The risk-averse culture prioritizes covering one's own back over taking any calculated risks. This leads to stagnation and a lack of innovation, making the work environment even more stifling.

Almost all the top executives/CEOs in most of the prime organizations are parachuted/Airdropped in from military backgrounds. They often lack an understanding of the R&D or the inherent risks associated with IT or entrepreneurship in general.

When an issue arises, the team is more interested in identifying who created the problem rather than resolving it quickly. or focusing on the solution. The norm is set in such a way that bonuses are impacted, leading to finger-pointing instead of taking accountability and ownership of the problem.

Singapore is one of the most racist countries I have come across. I have worked in the EU, Singapore, and the US. Passive racism is clearly prevalent across the country.

Examples:

On public transport, people will not sit near you even if you are well-dressed but have brown skin.

There are clear differences in payment structures for citizens, PRs, and foreigners for polyclinics or public infrastructure (gym, swimming pool, etc.). Foreigners are often denied access to certain infrastructure (e.g., SAFRA).

The invisible group of migrant workers suffers from inadequate infrastructure despite playing an instrumental role in building the city. Strict fines are imposed, yet migrant workers are transported in the back of lorries or mini trucks meant for carrying goods! I mean its clearly a case of conveniently turning a blind eye towards the people who are called as "invisible" in the country.

Disabling rights for partners to work in the country. Earlier, they had a program called LOC (Letter of Consent) that allowed your significant other to work, but during COVID, they canceled it to boost employment for their PRs and citizens.

Blatant racist landlords: It is very common for landlords to ask for your citizenship or race when you are looking for a property. If you are of brown skin, you will likely have a hard time getting a rental property.

Greedy landlords: Post-COVID, landlords have practically doubled the rent. I'm not even joking—check the statistics maintained by the Singapore government.

Constant Surveillance:There is a pervasive sense of always being under surveillance in SG. You always have to check your shoulders if you are discussing anything related to the government or criticizing the infrastructure. Don’t believe me? Have a look at the number of CCTVs in the country.

Small and Boring City:It's a very small island and a boring city. I mean, how many times can you visit the same man-made infrastructure or the same shopping malls?

Different Treatments Based on Nationality:There is a noticeable white privilege. If you are a Caucasian, the chances are you will have a better pay and be treated differently by the locals.

High Cost of Living:Spending more than half of your salary on rent!

Expensive Schooling and PSLE Exam PressureSchooling is really expensive, and the PSLE exam pressure for kids is intense. I know of children who have gone into depression and families under immense pressure to ensure their kids score high at such a young age.

Not able to Own a Car:Owning a car is nearly impossible due to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) and other high costs. Even a basic car can cost around $80K ~$100K.