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 $3,274 per month in Davis, CA vs $3,526 in Singapore, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,678 per month in Davis, CA vs $5,195 in Singapore, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,083 per month in Davis, CA vs $6,865 in Singapore, rent included.

Davis, CA is about 7% cheaper than Singapore, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Davis, CA and Singapore sit above the global median – Davis, CA by 144%, Singapore by 162%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.71 $14.71
$10.79 SGD 13.82
36.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 $65.8
$78.4 SGD 100
-16.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.85 $11.85
$7.99 SGD 10.23
48.31%
Cappuccino
$4.80 $4.80
$5.03 SGD 6.45
-4.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$1.63 SGD 2.09
105.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.23 SGD 1.58
91.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.03 $8.03
$7.59 SGD 9.73
5.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.08 $8.08
$9.56 SGD 12.24
-15.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$3.03 SGD 3.88
-58.09%
White Bread (500g)
$4.05 $4.05
$2.29 SGD 2.94
76.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.42 $3.42
$2.80 SGD 3.58
22.14%
Eggs
$5.23 $5.23
$3.39 SGD 4.34
54.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.45 $12.45
$19.81 SGD 25.37
-37.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.56 $11.56
$11.09 SGD 14.21
4.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.62 $24.62
$22.19 SGD 28.43
10.95%
Apples (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$4.45 SGD 5.70
2.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 $2.80
$2.88 SGD 3.69
-2.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.22 $6.22
$5.00 SGD 6.40
24.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$2.70 SGD 3.46
79.26%
Potato (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.51 SGD 3.22
52.19%
Onion (1kg)
$3.50 $3.50
$2.18 SGD 2.79
60.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.01 SGD 2.58
27.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.52 $3.52
$1.50 SGD 1.92
134.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91 $9.91
$13.51 SGD 17.30
-26.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.89 $13.89
$24.89 SGD 31.88
-44.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$4.21 SGD 5.40
-57.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.12 $8.12
$5.24 SGD 6.71
54.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.52 SGD 1.94
-19.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$93.7 SGD 120
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.64 SGD 4.66
-3.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$0.77 SGD 0.99
106.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.77 $29.77
$16.58 SGD 21.24
79.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$2.20 SGD 2.82
-44.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$138.8K SGD 177.9K
-79.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$131.4K SGD 168.3K
-81.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 $234
$156 SGD 200
49.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.9 $51.9
$18.60 SGD 23.83
179.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.3 $70.3
$37.04 SGD 47.45
89.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.58 $42.58
$118 SGD 152
-64.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.44 SGD 15.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.77 $11.77
$11.91 SGD 15.26
-1.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,487 $1,487
$1,192 SGD 1,527
24.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$29.7K SGD 38.1K
-21.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.40 $49.40
$82.0 SGD 105
-39.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.88 $37.88
$43.58 SGD 55.8
-13.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 $98.0
$107 SGD 137
-8.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 $137
$127 SGD 163
7.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,156 $2,156
$3,127 SGD 4,006
-31.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 $1,888
$2,262 SGD 2,897
-16.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,415 $3,415
$6,187 SGD 7,926
-44.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,213 $3,213
$3,694 SGD 4,733
-13.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,740 $2,740
$23.8K SGD 30.5K
-88.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,401 $2,401
$16.1K SGD 20.7K
-85.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,019 $5,019
$4,298 SGD 5,506
16.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
3.19
99.37%

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

Last update for Davis, CA: June 6, 2026

Last update for Singapore: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,156 in Davis, CA versus $3,127 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 $66.0 in Davis, CA versus $78.0 in Singapore. Groceries tell a different story – $469 in Davis, CA vs $452 in Singapore – so Singapore 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 8%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $4,911 per month in Davis, CA and $5,288 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 vs Singapore?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,274 in Davis, CA and $3,526 in Singapore. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,487 per month in Davis, CA and $1,192 in Singapore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Davis, CA or Singapore?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,274 in Davis, CA and $3,526 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.

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