🙂A single person spends $2,184 per month in Australia vs $3,636 in Singapore, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,217 per month in Australia vs $5,221 in Singapore, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,249 per month in Australia vs $6,805 in Singapore, rent included.
🙂Australia is roughly 40% cheaper than Singapore on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Both Australia and Singapore are pricier than the global median – Australia by 63%, Singapore by 172%.
📏Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,584–$2,827) than Singapore ($3,636–$3,636), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24A$22.73
$11.04SGD 14.13
47.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1A$108
$77.8SGD 99.5
-0.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.81A$13.74
$7.80SGD 9.98
25.77%
Cappuccino
$3.58A$5.01
$5.08SGD 6.50
-29.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57A$3.60
$1.65SGD 2.12
55.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18A$3.05
$1.24SGD 1.59
75.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.63A$9.28
$7.74SGD 9.91
-14.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12A$9.97
$9.34SGD 11.95
-23.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Singapore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50A$2.10
$2.95SGD 3.77
-49.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53A$3.54
$2.38SGD 3.05
6.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07A$2.90
$2.88SGD 3.68
-28.13%
Eggs
$4.29A$6.01
$3.31SGD 4.24
29.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.65A$12.11
$19.78SGD 25.32
-56.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34A$11.68
$11.13SGD 14.25
-25.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.90A$19.47
$23.02SGD 29.47
-39.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30A$4.61
$4.38SGD 5.60
-24.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77A$3.88
$2.91SGD 3.72
-4.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95A$4.13
$4.77SGD 6.11
-38.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19A$5.87
$2.62SGD 3.35
59.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42A$3.39
$2.43SGD 3.11
-0.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10A$2.94
$2.23SGD 2.86
-5.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.26A$3.16
$2.03SGD 2.59
11.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50A$2.10
$1.51SGD 1.94
-0.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.58A$44.22
$13.20SGD 16.90
139.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.29A$20.00
$25.92SGD 33.18
-44.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.59A$6.42
$4.14SGD 5.30
10.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82A$6.75
$5.30SGD 6.79
-9.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.02A$4.22
$1.52SGD 1.95
98.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.3A$138
$94.9SGD 121
3.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48A$4.88
$3.63SGD 4.64
-4.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75A$2.45
$0.72SGD 0.92
143.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$37.97A$53.2
$16.65SGD 21.31
128.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21A$1.69
$2.24SGD 2.87
-45.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0KA$40.6K
$138.3KSGD 177.0K
-79.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KA$31.6K
$129.9KSGD 166.3K
-82.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177A$248
$156SGD 200
13.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.85A$37.59
$18.53SGD 23.72
44.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4A$73.4
$37.42SGD 47.90
40.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.57A$66.6
$117SGD 150
-59.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.46A$23.04
$12.30SGD 15.74
33.82%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73A$19.23
$11.74SGD 15.03
16.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,593A$2,231
$1,178SGD 1,508
35.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7KA$17.8K
$29.4KSGD 37.7K
-56.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Singapore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0A$101
$80.8SGD 103
-10.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3A$71.8
$42.22SGD 54.0
21.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103A$144
$107SGD 138
-4.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$152
$128SGD 164
-15.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,401A$1,961
$3,184SGD 4,075
-55.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,080A$1,512
$2,225SGD 2,848
-51.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,340A$3,276
$6,102SGD 7,810
-61.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,756A$2,459
$3,818SGD 4,887
-54.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,733A$10.8K
$23.7KSGD 30.3K
-67.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,563A$7,788
$16.5KSGD 21.1K
-66.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,000A$5,600
$4,239SGD 5,426
-5.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.35
3.19
99.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026
Last update for Singapore: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $3,108 in Singapore. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,529 in Canberra and $3,108 in Singapore.
💰Average salary: $3,878 in Australia vs $4,316 in Singapore. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 152% higher in Singapore.
⭐Public transport is 39% more expensive in Singapore.
⭐Salaries are 11% higher in Singapore, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Australia vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Singapore?
Australia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 65% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Singapore, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Singapore consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Australia, contributing to the overall 65% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Australia or Singapore?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Australia, but in Singapore it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Singapore?
Australia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.