✦ Cost of living
Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
US = 100
In plain terms: Singapore is about 34% pricier than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $2,600/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing188+88%
- Food & groceries100−0%
- Transport95−5%
- Utilities110+10%
- Healthcare105+5%
- Goods & services122+22%
Is Singapore expensive?
Yes — Singapore is one of the expensive ones. Its cost-of-living index is 134 against a US average of 100, so a month here runs about 34% more than in a typical US city. Housing does most of that damage; the rest of the basket follows it up.
Of the 87 cities we track, Singapore ranks #4 by overall cost — 83 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Singapore costs
One person
$3,870/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$5,490/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$10,850/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,900 | $2,600 | $6,000 |
| Food & groceries | $460 | $670 | $1,120 |
| Transport | $570 | $840 | $1,410 |
| Utilities | $220 | $330 | $550 |
| Healthcare | $290 | $430 | $720 |
| Goods & services | $430 | $620 | $1,050 |
| Total per month | $3,870 | $5,490 | $10,850 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Singapore
Asia's safest, most efficient business hub — low taxes and world-class infrastructure, with rent and cars among the world's priciest.
- Currency
- Singapore dollar ($ 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
About
“The Lion City”
Asia's safest, most efficient business hub — low taxes and world-class infrastructure, with rent and cars among the world's priciest.
Singapore consistently ranks among the world's most expensive cities, and housing is the single biggest reason. A one-bedroom condo in a central district routinely rents for S$3,000–4,500 a month, while a room in an HDB flat — the public housing where about 80% of residents live — costs a fraction of that. Cars are deliberately priced out of reach through the Certificate of Entitlement, which can cost more than the vehicle itself, so almost everyone relies on the MRT: clean, cheap and covering the whole island.
Where Singapore surprises newcomers is food. Hawker centres serve full, genuinely good meals for S$4–6, which keeps everyday eating costs low even as rent climbs. Groceries, alcohol and imported goods, by contrast, are heavily taxed and expensive. The result is a city where fixed costs — rent, healthcare, international schooling — are very high, but your day-to-day spending can stay reasonable if you live and eat like a local.
For remote workers and expats the draw is a low-tax, English-speaking, hyper-efficient base in the heart of Asia, with world-class healthcare and near-zero street crime. The counterweights are the rent, the year-round tropical humidity, and a fast, competitive culture. Salaries in finance and tech are high enough to absorb the costs; on a foreign remote income you need to budget carefully, because Singapore rewards high earners far more than it does shoestring digital nomads.
- Currency
- Singapore dollar · SGD
- Languages
- English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
- Coordinates
- 1.35, 103.82
- Emergency
- 999
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
24%
Income tax
progressive
9%
VAT / sales
17%
Corporate
0%
Capital gains
$4,500
Avg net salary
per month
Visas & residency
Employment Pass for professionals; ONE Pass for top earners.
✈ Short visits visa-free for many passports.
Salary threshold + points (COMPASS).
For very high earners / top talent.
Permanent residence after ~2 yrs. PR possible after a couple of years on EP.
Quality of life
Quality of life
79/100
Safety
88/100
Healthcare
88/100
Pollution
45/100
Internet
280 Mbps
Jan avg
+26 °C
Jul avg
+28 °C
Sunny days
160/yr
Walkability
80/100
Public transit
95/100
Family-friendly
78/100
Living there
- English spoken
- High
- Expat community
- Large
- Coworking spaces
- 100
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Private health insurance
- $120/mo
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Singapore without a car?
86/100
Car-free score
80/100
Walkability
95/100
Public transport
Yes — Singapore scores 86/100 on our car-free score, so commuting, errands and nights out all work on foot or by public transport. Most residents here can skip car ownership entirely, and the savings go straight into the rest of the budget.
Transport in Singapore indexes at 95 against a US average of 100 — about 5% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Singapore ranks #24 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Singapore — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$2,600
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$1,900
- Inexpensive meal$6
- Monthly transit pass$90
- Utilities (monthly)$180
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Singapore, SG expensive to live in?
Singapore, SG's cost-of-living index is 134 (US average = 100) — about 34% more expensive than a typical US city — and it ranks #4 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $3,870 a month and a family of four around $10,850, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Singapore, SG?
Singapore, SG's cost-of-living index is 134 (US average = 100) — about 34% more expensive than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $2,600 per month.
What are the average living costs in Singapore, SG?
Living costs in Singapore, SG are about 34% more expensive than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 134 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $2,600. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Singapore, SG?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $2,600 per month, and around $1,900 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Singapore?
Singapore has a top income-tax rate of 24% and a VAT or sales tax of 9%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Singapore, SG?
Singapore, SG averages around +26 °C in January and +28 °C in July, with roughly 160 sunny days a year.
Is Singapore, SG safe?
Singapore, SG scores 88 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Singapore, SG without a car?
Singapore, SG scores 86/100 on our car-free score — 80/100 for walkability and 95/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
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Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.