Tampines Central vs Jurong East: Which Is Better?

We all know that certain parts of Singapore can actually be an island on their own, as they’re rather self-sufficient. Today, we will look at the two most debated hubs of the sort – the East versus the West. We’ll be comparing between the Tampines Central and Jurong East.

Factors to Consider

We’ll be using these factors for comparison:

• Retail
• Residential
• Commercial
• Recreational Facilities
• Schools

1. Retail

Both Tampines Central and Jurong East have a cluster of shopping malls near the MRT stations. Each shopping mall has its own characteristics, catering more to different groups of people. JCube in Jurong East and Tampines Mall in Tampines Central are built to cater more towards the younger generation, with retail and F&B shops that are geared towards the youth and young.

The malls in both Jurong East and Tampines Central have more than a thousand of retail and F&B shops, with many big names and franchises. Huge franchises and chains such as Uniqlo, Muji and Starbucks are some of the common retail and F&B shops in those malls. IMM, within walking distance from Jurong East MRT, stands out the most from the rest. It is an outlet mall with more than 90 outlet stores such as Adidas, Nike, Coach, ESPIRIT and Giordano. Locals and tourists frequent IMM for its discounts and sales. Furthermore, there are over 50 F&B shops such as Ajisen, Hai Di Lao, McDonald’s and Kopitiam to fill the tummies of shoppers.

It’s a close tie, but the shopping malls in Jurong East are actually more appealing than those in Tampines; perhaps because they feel more up to date. There’s also more in the way of variety, whereas retail in Tampines seems mainly confined to mid-range clothing brands.

Westgate in Jurong East provides a holistic shopping experience for its consumers, with special features such as alfresco dining. Moreover, the interior and exterior of Jurong East’s malls design are newer compared to those in Tampines.

2. Residential

Tampines MRT and its cluster of malls are surrounded by residential buildings. Older HDB blocks are found in close proximity to the shopping malls, while newer HDB blocks are found further away, nearer to the fringe.

Besides HDB buildings, condominiums such as The Tampines Trilliant and CityLife @ Tampines are also found in the vicinity. However, newer condominiums such as The Alps Residences and The Tapestry are located further away.

In contrast, there are not many residential buildings near the mall cluster in Jurong. J Gateway Condominium is the nearest residential building that is in the vicinity. The rest of the residential buildings, both HDB blocks and condominiums, are located at a distance away. That gives Tampines a slight edge in terms of quick accessibility to retail and dining.

3. Commercial

If you think that Tampines is all about retail, you’re mistaken. There are many commercial buildings in in Tampines Central, towering over other malls and residential buildings.Abacus Plaza and 9 Tampines Grande offer cost effective commercial space for companies. Bigger companies, such as AIA and Hitachi, own their own buildings here.

Jurong East has more going for it in this area, however. Commercial buildings such as JTC Summit and Westgate Tower are built to lease out office spaces to companies, tapping on nearby resources and businesses. Furthermore, Singapore’s pioneer business park, International Business Park (IBP), has developed into a vibrant site for knowledge-based activities. Companies are free to construct and build on allocated plots, allowing companies to meet their specific needs.

Comparing between Tampines Central and Jurong East, companies in the latter have more resources and expertise to tap on. Moreover, there are more commercial buildings and office spaces that are available in Jurong East.

4. Recreational Activities

With the new Tampines Hub which officially opened two years ago, there are more things to do near Tampines Central.

There’s a variety of retail and F&B shops, and many facilities such as the swimming pool, badminton courts and a football field. This encourages and advocates a healthy lifestyle amongst its residents. The Festive Arts Theatre and Festive Plaza promotes more cultural activities such as live music and drama performances and streamed cinema on a large LED screen. All these activities promote vibrancy in Tampines Central.

For music lovers, Club Jamming Paradise is located a stone throw away from Tampines MRT. It serves as a platform and provides a space for music lovers to congregate and jam to pop songs. Moreover, HomeTeamNS is just nearby, where activities such as laser tag and rock-climbing are available for its members.

Jurong East has The Chevrons, which is catered to SAF personnel. The Chevrons also has entertainment and facilities such as a KTV, bars, and chalets for its members.

There are also other recreational facilities such as the elaborated Jurong West Sports and Recreation Center. Tourist attractions such as the Science Center and Snow City are in relatively close proximity to Jurong East MRT. However, you have to take the bus to get to Jurong Bird Park.

In comparison, there are more recreational facilities and activities in Tampines Central than Jurong East. With a mixture of sports, cultural and leisure activities, Tampines Central is more attractive to people, regardless their age.

5. Schools

There are quite a few schools and enrichment classes in Tampines Central. These are some examples:

• Junyuan Primary School
• St. Hilda’s Primary School
• Tampines Primary School
• Pasir Ris Secondary School
• Tampines Secondary School
• Mindchamps Kent Ridge Education
• Yamaha Music School

As compared to Tampines Central, there are fewer schools and enrichment classes for Jurong East residents. Some examples are:

• Fuhua Primary School
• Jurong Primary School
• Crest Secondary School
• Jurongville Secondary School
• The Brainery Code
• The Learning Lab

Of course, the greater number of schools and enrichment classes, the better it is for its residents. Since Tampines central has more schools and enrichment classes for its residents, there is a wider variety for them to choose from. Hence, staying in Tampines Central may be a better choice if you have children.

So, which is better?

It’s difficult to come to a conclusion because Tampines Central and Jurong East has each of their own unique features. Whether you stand with Tampines Central or Jurong East boils down to your priorities. If you focus more on residential and recreational facilities, you will stand with Tampines Central. In contrast, if you prioritise commercial, Jurong East is a better place for such commercial uses.

So are you an Eastie or a Westie? Voice your thoughts in our comments section or on our Facebook community page. 

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