CostTrek

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Lugano 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.

Lugano, CH vs Singapore, SG at a glance — Singapore, SG is 9% cheaper than Lugano, CH overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $2,600/mo versus $1,800/mo. Top income tax: 24% vs 40%.

$/ year

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

$67,971 / year

Singapore, SG is 9% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Singapore, SG vs Lugano, CH)

  • Housing+18%
  • Food & groceries-33%
  • Transport-17%
  • Utilities-10%
  • Healthcare-25%
  • Goods & services-21%

◎ How Lugano, CH and Singapore, SG compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Lugano, CHSingapore, SG

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

▤ Full comparison

Lugano, CHSingapore, SG
Cost of living
Overall cost index147134
Housing160188
Food150100
Transport11595
Utilities122110
Healthcare140105
Goods & services155122
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,800/mo$2,600/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside—$1,900/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre—$6,000/mo
Buy price / m² centre—$15,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$679$749
Inexpensive meal—$6
Monthly transit pass—$90
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)40%24%
VAT / sales tax8.1%9%
Corporate tax15%17%
Capital gains0%0%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$6,000/mo$4,500/mo
GDP per capita$114,769✓$98,814✓
Inflation (annual)0.2%✓0.9%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiency—High
Coworking spaces—100
Time zone—UTC+8
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)—79
Safety index—88
Healthcare index—88
Pollution index—45
Internet speed—280 Mbps
Walkability—80
Public transport—95
Family-friendly—78
Tap water—Safe to drink
Health insurance—$120/mo
Life expectancy84 yr✓83 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighLow
Climate
January avg—+26 °C
July avg—+28 °C
Sunny days / year—160
Rainfall / year—2,340 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub—1 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Switzerland 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: Lugano vs Singapore — in your currency

LuganoSingapore
1-bed rent, city centre$1,800$2,600
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,350$1,900

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

Good to know before you move to Lugano

Currency
Swiss franc (Fr. CHF)
Languages
German, French, Italian
Power
J · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side

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 Lugano to Singapore: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Lugano to Singapore, your cost of living will be roughly 9% cheaper. Singapore’s cost-of-living index is 134 versus 147 for Lugano (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Lugano cheaper than Singapore?

Singapore is about 9% cheaper than Lugano overall — its cost-of-living index is 134 versus 147 for Lugano.

Which is more expensive, Lugano or Singapore?

Lugano is more expensive than Singapore. Its cost-of-living index is 147 vs 134 (US = 100) — about 10% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Lugano or Singapore?

Rent is cheaper in Lugano — about $1,800/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 Lugano?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Lugano is worth about $67,971 in Singapore. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Lugano or Singapore?

Singapore has the lower top income-tax rate — 24% versus 40% in Switzerland.

◷ More comparisons from Lugano

How we calculate these figures →

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