🙂A single person spends $3,179 per month in Davis, CA vs $3,625 in Singapore, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $4,650 per month in Davis, CA vs $5,160 in Singapore, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $6,121 per month in Davis, CA vs $6,696 in Singapore, rent included.
🙂Davis, CA is about 12% cheaper than Singapore, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Davis, CA and Singapore sit above the global median – Davis, CA by 139%, Singapore by 172%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.89$14.89
$11.14SGD 14.36
33.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2$66.2
$78.6SGD 101
-15.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.03$12.03
$7.76SGD 10.00
55.03%
Cappuccino
$4.75$4.75
$4.92SGD 6.34
-3.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40$3.40
$1.64SGD 2.11
107.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$1.23SGD 1.58
91.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.06$8.06
$7.61SGD 9.80
5.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.81$7.81
$9.15SGD 11.79
-14.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20$1.20
$2.97SGD 3.82
-59.60%
White Bread(500g)
$4.12$4.12
$2.38SGD 3.07
73.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.49$3.49
$2.90SGD 3.74
20.34%
Eggs
$5.36$5.36
$3.36SGD 4.33
59.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.30$12.30
$19.56SGD 25.20
-37.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.48$11.48
$11.36SGD 14.63
1.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.76$24.76
$22.72SGD 29.27
8.98%
Apples(1kg)
$4.58$4.58
$4.53SGD 5.84
1.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$2.92SGD 3.76
-0.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.00$6.00
$5.04SGD 6.50
19.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.60$4.60
$2.72SGD 3.51
69.12%
Potato(1kg)
$3.80$3.80
$2.44SGD 3.15
55.74%
Onion(1kg)
$3.50$3.50
$2.14SGD 2.76
63.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.47$2.47
$2.06SGD 2.65
19.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.58$3.58
$1.52SGD 1.96
135.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.14$10.14
$13.19SGD 16.99
-23.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.29$16.29
$23.44SGD 30.21
-30.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85$1.85
$4.39SGD 5.66
-57.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89$7.89
$5.26SGD 6.78
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23$1.23
$1.58SGD 2.04
-22.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$92.4SGD 119
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.43$3.43
$3.66SGD 4.71
-6.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$0.76SGD 0.98
109.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.69$28.69
$16.55SGD 21.32
73.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22$1.22
$2.28SGD 2.94
-46.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K$27.7K
$140.1KSGD 180.5K
-80.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K$23.6K
$130.4KSGD 168.0K
-81.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239$239
$161SGD 207
48.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.5$52.5
$18.68SGD 24.07
180.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.7$69.7
$37.71SGD 48.59
84.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.43$43.43
$118SGD 152
-63.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.20SGD 15.72
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.81$11.81
$11.76SGD 15.15
0.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,495$1,495
$1,174SGD 1,513
27.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K$23.8K
$29.5KSGD 38.1K
-19.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.11$49.11
$81.6SGD 105
-39.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.66$37.66
$42.46SGD 54.7
-11.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0$97.0
$105SGD 136
-7.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134$134
$131SGD 169
2.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,205$2,205
$3,206SGD 4,131
-31.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,865$1,865
$2,236SGD 2,881
-16.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,395$3,395
$6,184SGD 7,969
-45.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,206$3,206
$3,762SGD 4,847
-14.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,698$2,698
$22.6KSGD 29.1K
-88.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,420$2,420
$16.2KSGD 20.9K
-85.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Davis, CA
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,022$5,022
$3,941SGD 5,079
27.42%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Singapore: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,205 in Davis, CA versus $3,206 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 27% 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 $79.0 in Singapore. Groceries tell a different story – $473 in Davis, CA vs $454 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 14%, 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 $4,769 per month in Davis, CA and $5,437 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 $3,179 in Davis, CA and $3,625 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 $1,495 per month in Davis, CA and $1,174 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 in Singapore?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,179 in Davis, CA and $3,625 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.