dailyloe.com – Burns, now 35, originally from Connecticut, served in the Navy and first visited Singapore during his service. He was impressed by Singapore’s clean public transport and envisioned living there, though it seemed like a distant dream.
After leaving the Navy in 2017, Burns relocated to San Francisco for work in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. He lived in downtown San Francisco, enduring a 90-minute commute to Silicon Valley, often feeling unsafe in the city.
Burns described the city as unworthy of its costs due to high rent, steep taxes, and safety issues. In January 2020, he accepted a lateral transfer to Singapore, seeking a better lifestyle.
Despite Singapore being one of the world’s most expensive cities, Burns found it financially sensible compared to San Francisco. His two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco cost $5,728 monthly, making home ownership feel unattainable.
Burns rented in Singapore for several years before marrying his wife in 2023. In 2025, they purchased a four-room public housing apartment for 1.01 million Singapore dollars, approximately $790,000.
The couple acquired an HDB flat, which is primarily available to Singapore citizens. Burns, holding permanent residency, was eligible to buy with his Singaporean wife.
The stamp duty and down payment amounted to about SG$280,150. They financed most of the purchase in cash, utilizing 20% from their CPF, Singapore’s mandatory savings account.
