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Milan 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.

Milan, IT vs Singapore, SG at a glance — Singapore, SG is 20% more expensive than Milan, IT overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $2,600/mo versus $1,500/mo. Top income tax: 24% vs 43%.

$/ year

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

$90,326 / year

Singapore, SG is 20% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Singapore, SG vs Milan, IT)

  • Housing+39%
  • Food & groceries-5%
  • Transport+19%
  • Utilities-8%
  • Healthcare+28%
  • Goods & services+15%

◎ How Milan, IT and Singapore, SG compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Milan, ITSingapore, SG

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

▤ Full comparison

Milan, ITSingapore, SG
Cost of living
Overall cost index111134
Housing135188
Food105100
Transport8095
Utilities120110
Healthcare82105
Goods & services106122
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,500/mo$2,600/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,150/mo$1,900/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$3,000/mo$6,000/mo
Buy price / m² centre$8,500$15,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$902$749
Inexpensive meal$16$6
Monthly transit pass$42$90
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)43%24%
VAT / sales tax22%9%
Corporate tax24%17%
Capital gains26%0%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$1,900/mo$4,500/mo
GDP per capita$43,309✓$98,814✓
Inflation (annual)1.5%✓0.9%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaYesNo
English proficiencyModerateHigh
Coworking spaces60100
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+8
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)6679
Safety index5588
Healthcare index8088
Pollution index7045
Internet speed120 Mbps280 Mbps
Walkability8580
Public transport8295
Family-friendly6478
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance—$120/mo
Life expectancy84 yr✓83 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceModerateLow
Climate
January avg+3 °C+26 °C
July avg+24 °C+28 °C
Sunny days / year130160
Rainfall / year1,000 mm2,340 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Italy 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: Milan vs Singapore — in your currency

MilanSingapore
1-bed rent, city centre$1,500$2,600
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,150$1,900
Inexpensive meal$16$6
Monthly transit pass$42$90
Utilities (monthly)$190$180

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

Good to know before you move to Milan

Italy's business, finance and fashion capital — the country's best job market, at its highest prices.

Currency
Euro (€ EUR)
Languages
Italian
Time zone
UTC+1
Internet
120 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
55/100
Climate
❄ 3°C · ☀ 24°C · 130 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
F/L · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Navigli · Brera · Isola

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 Milan to Singapore: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Milan to Singapore, your cost of living will be roughly 20% more expensive. Singapore’s cost-of-living index is 134 versus 111 for Milan (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Milan cheaper than Singapore?

Singapore is about 20% more expensive than Milan overall — its cost-of-living index is 134 versus 111 for Milan.

Which is more expensive, Milan or Singapore?

Singapore is more expensive than Milan. Its cost-of-living index is 134 vs 111 (US = 100) — about 21% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Milan or Singapore?

Rent is cheaper in Milan — about $1,500/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 Milan?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Milan is worth about $90,326 in Singapore. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Milan or Singapore?

Singapore has the lower top income-tax rate — 24% versus 43% in Italy.

◷ More comparisons from Milan

How we calculate these figures →

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