Cost of Living Comparison Between Davis, CA and Singapore Cost of Living Comparison Between Davis, CA and Singapore

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,392 per month in Davis, CA vs $3,475 in Singapore, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,034 per month in Davis, CA vs $5,242 in Singapore, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,676 per month in Davis, CA vs $7,008 in Singapore, rent included.

Davis, CA is about 2% cheaper than Singapore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Davis, CA and Singapore sit above the global median – Davis, CA by 146%, Singapore by 152%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.33 $22.33
$11.82 SGD 14.98
88.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.6 $98.6
$66.6 SGD 84.4
48.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.76 $12.76
$8.67 SGD 10.99
47.17%
Cappuccino
$5.12 $5.12
$5.29 SGD 6.70
-3.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 $3.61
$1.90 SGD 2.40
90.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.21 SGD 1.53
96.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.94 $7.94
$8.32 SGD 10.54
-4.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.77 $7.77
$10.29 SGD 13.03
-24.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 $1.32
$2.98 SGD 3.77
-55.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.70 $3.70
$2.56 SGD 3.24
44.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$2.71 SGD 3.43
52.77%
Eggs
$5.36 $5.36
$3.60 SGD 4.56
48.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.93 $10.93
$21.01 SGD 26.62
-47.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.35 $15.35
$9.90 SGD 12.55
55.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.57 $16.57
$24.94 SGD 31.60
-33.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 $4.89
$4.46 SGD 5.65
9.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$3.05 SGD 3.87
-47.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$4.81 SGD 6.10
-8.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$2.29 SGD 2.90
104.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.61 SGD 3.31
6.13%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.26 SGD 2.86
36.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.86 SGD 2.35
18.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.42 SGD 1.80
63.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.85 $9.85
$14.08 SGD 17.84
-30.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.87 $15.87
$23.60 SGD 29.90
-32.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$4.80 SGD 6.09
-61.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$4.66 SGD 5.90
-27.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.62 SGD 2.05
-5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.16 $38.16
$100 SGD 127
-61.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 $2.84
$3.71 SGD 4.70
-23.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 $1.70
$0.81 SGD 1.02
109.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.62 $28.62
$16.66 SGD 21.11
71.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 $1.30
$2.44 SGD 3.09
-46.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$156.3K SGD 198.1K
-77.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$148.4K SGD 188.0K
-83.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$290 $290
$163 SGD 206
78.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.7 $58.7
$12.54 SGD 15.89
367.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.6 $75.6
$27.91 SGD 35.37
170.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 $58.0
$109 SGD 138
-46.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.63 SGD 14.73
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.60 $15.60
$11.84 SGD 15.00
31.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,436 $1,436
$1,471 SGD 1,864
-2.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.9K $26.9K
$29.6K SGD 37.6K
-9.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 $53.8
$79.5 SGD 101
-32.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.60 $41.60
$53.1 SGD 67.3
-21.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$112 SGD 141
-14.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$130 SGD 164
-12.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,183 $2,183
$3,051 SGD 3,866
-28.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,919 $1,919
$2,163 SGD 2,740
-11.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,874 $3,874
$5,870 SGD 7,438
-34.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,394 $3,394
$3,862 SGD 4,893
-12.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,713 $2,713
$23.7K SGD 30.1K
-88.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,362 $2,362
$16.8K SGD 21.3K
-85.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,965 $4,965
$4,259 SGD 5,397
16.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.1
2.43
151.03%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Davis, CA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Singapore: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,183 in Davis, CA versus $3,051 in Singapore. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Davis, CA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Davis, CA versus $67.0 in Singapore. Groceries tell a different story – $421 in Davis, CA vs $457 in Singapore – so Davis, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Davis, CA vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Singapore cheaper than Davis, CA?
Yes – Singapore is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,089 per month in Davis, CA and $5,213 in Singapore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Davis, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Davis, CA and in Singapore?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,392 in Davis, CA and $3,475 in Singapore. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 163% less in Davis, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Davis, CA or in Singapore?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,392 in Davis, CA and $3,475 in Singapore. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Davis, CA or Singapore more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Davis, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Davis, CA or Singapore?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Davis, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Singapore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Davis, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities