CostTrek

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London 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.

London, UK vs Singapore, SG at a glance — Singapore, SG is 3% cheaper than London, UK overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $2,600/mo versus $2,600/mo. Top income tax: 24% vs 45%.

$/ year

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

$72,845 / year

Singapore, SG is 3% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Singapore, SG vs London, UK)

  • Housing+6%
  • Food & groceries-15%
  • Transport-27%
  • Utilities-15%
  • Healthcare+19%
  • Goods & services0%

◎ How London, UK and Singapore, SG compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
London, UKSingapore, SG

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

▤ Full comparison

London, UKSingapore, SG
Cost of living
Overall cost index138134
Housing178188
Food118100
Transport13095
Utilities130110
Healthcare88105
Goods & services122122
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$2,600/mo$2,600/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,850/mo$1,900/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$5,200/mo$6,000/mo
Buy price / m² centre$16,000$15,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$727$749
Inexpensive meal$20$6
Monthly transit pass$200$90
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)45%24%
VAT / sales tax20%9%
Social security (employee)8%—
Corporate tax25%17%
Capital gains24%0%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$2,900/mo$4,500/mo
Minimum wage$2,050/mo—
GDP per capita$57,602✓$98,814✓
Inflation (annual)3.9%✓0.9%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiencyNativeHigh
Coworking spaces250100
Time zoneUTC+0UTC+8
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)6879
Safety index5588
Healthcare index7488
Pollution index6045
Internet speed90 Mbps280 Mbps
Walkability8880
Public transport9295
Family-friendly6278
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance—$120/mo
Life expectancy81 yr✓83 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighLow
Climate
January avg+5 °C+26 °C
July avg+19 °C+28 °C
Sunny days / year106160
Rainfall / year690 mm2,340 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1 h

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

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

Cost of living: London vs Singapore — in your currency

LondonSingapore
1-bed rent, city centre$2,600$2,600
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,850$1,900
Inexpensive meal$20$6
Monthly transit pass$200$90
Utilities (monthly)$260$180

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

Good to know before you move to London

Europe's financial capital — unmatched jobs, culture and connections, paid for with some of the highest rents on the continent.

Currency
Pound sterling (£ GBP)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC+0
Internet
90 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
55/100
Climate
❄ 5°C · ☀ 19°C · 106 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
G · 230V
Driving
Left-hand side
Popular areas
Shoreditch · Camden · Clapham

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 London to Singapore: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from London to Singapore, your cost of living will be roughly 3% cheaper. Singapore’s cost-of-living index is 134 versus 138 for London (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is London cheaper than Singapore?

Singapore is about 3% cheaper than London overall — its cost-of-living index is 134 versus 138 for London.

Which is more expensive, London or Singapore?

London is more expensive than Singapore. Its cost-of-living index is 138 vs 134 (US = 100) — about 3% higher.

Is rent cheaper in London or Singapore?

Rent is cheaper in London — about $2,600/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 London?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in London is worth about $72,845 in Singapore. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, London or Singapore?

Singapore has the lower top income-tax rate — 24% versus 45% in United Kingdom.

◷ More comparisons from London

How we calculate these figures →

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