CostTrek

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Austin vs Singapore

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Austin, TX vs Singapore, SG at a glance — Singapore, SG is 37% more expensive than Austin, TX overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $2,600/mo versus $1,650/mo. Top income tax: 24% vs 37%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Singapore, SG, you'd need

$102,479 / year

Singapore, SG is 37% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Singapore, SG vs Austin, TX)

  • Housing+72%
  • Food & groceries+10%
  • Transport+1%
  • Utilities+20%
  • Healthcare+15%
  • Goods & services+30%

◎ How Austin, TX and Singapore, SG compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Austin, TXSingapore, SG

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Austin, TXSingapore, SG
Cost of living
Overall cost index98134
Housing109188
Food91100
Transport9495
Utilities92110
Healthcare91105
Goods & services94122
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,650/mo$2,600/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,300/mo$1,900/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$3,000/mo$6,000/mo
Buy price / m² centre$5,000$15,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$1,023$749
Inexpensive meal$17$6
Monthly transit pass$42$90
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)37%24%
VAT / sales tax0%9%
Social security (employee)7.7%—
Corporate tax21%17%
Capital gains20%0%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$4,300/mo$4,500/mo
Minimum wage$1,257/mo✓—
GDP per capita$90,027✓$98,814✓
Inflation (annual)—0.9%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiencyNativeHigh
Coworking spaces60100
Time zoneUTC-6UTC+8
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)6179
Safety index5888
Healthcare index7688
Pollution index4045
Internet speed200 Mbps280 Mbps
Walkability4280
Public transport4095
Family-friendly6578
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance$450/mo$120/mo
Life expectancy79 yr✓83 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighLow
Climate
January avg+11 °C+26 °C
July avg+30 °C+28 °C
Sunny days / year228160
Rainfall / year870 mm2,340 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1.5 h1 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: United States vs Singapore. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (US DOL (federal), World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Austin vs Singapore — in your currency

AustinSingapore
1-bed rent, city centre$1,650$2,600
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,300$1,900
Inexpensive meal$17$6
Monthly transit pass$42$90
Utilities (monthly)$170$180

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Austin

Texas's tech boomtown — no state income tax, live music and warmth, though prices have caught up fast.

Currency
US dollar ($ USD)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC-6
Internet
200 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
58/100
Climate
❄ 11°C · ☀ 30°C · 228 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B · 120V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Downtown · East Austin · South Congress

Good to know before you move to Singapore

Asia's safest, most efficient business hub — low taxes and world-class infrastructure, with rent and cars among the world's priciest.

Currency
Singapore dollar ($ SGD)
Languages
English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
Time zone
UTC+8
Internet
280 Mbps
English
Widely spoken
Safety
88/100
Climate
❄ 26°C · ☀ 28°C · 160 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
G · 230V
Driving
Left-hand side
Popular areas
Tiong Bahru · Holland Village · CBD

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Austin to Singapore: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Austin to Singapore, your cost of living will be roughly 37% more expensive. Singapore’s cost-of-living index is 134 versus 98 for Austin (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Austin cheaper than Singapore?

Singapore is about 37% more expensive than Austin overall — its cost-of-living index is 134 versus 98 for Austin.

Which is more expensive, Austin or Singapore?

Singapore is more expensive than Austin. Its cost-of-living index is 134 vs 98 (US = 100) — about 37% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Austin or Singapore?

Rent is cheaper in Austin — about $1,650/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $2,600 in Singapore.

How much do you need to earn in Singapore to live like in Austin?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Austin is worth about $102,479 in Singapore. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Singapore?

Singapore has the lower top income-tax rate — 24% versus 37% in United States.

◷ More comparisons from Austin

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.