Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Singapore Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Singapore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $366 in India versus $3,475 in Singapore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $581 in India versus $5,242 in Singapore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $795 in India versus $7,008 in Singapore.

Living in India costs about 89% less than in Singapore on average.

India (73% below) and Singapore (152% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $228 to $810, compared to $3,475$3,475 in Singapore. City choice carries more weight in India.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15 ₹205
$12.08 SGD 15.31
-82.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.42 ₹996
$68.4 SGD 86.6
-84.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.59 ₹343
$8.80 SGD 11.15
-59.20%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ₹160
$5.08 SGD 6.43
-67.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₹37.26
$1.89 SGD 2.39
-79.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹15.92
$1.21 SGD 1.53
-85.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.87 ₹179
$8.52 SGD 10.80
-78.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ₹304
$10.09 SGD 12.79
-68.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Singapore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.64 ₹61.1
$2.97 SGD 3.76
-78.45%
White Bread (500g)
$0.45 ₹42.66
$2.44 SGD 3.09
-81.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.63 ₹59.9
$2.81 SGD 3.55
-77.58%
Eggs
$0.87 ₹83.5
$3.62 SGD 4.59
-75.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.62 ₹442
$20.74 SGD 26.28
-77.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.86 ₹273
$9.73 SGD 12.32
-70.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$25.66 SGD 32.51
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 ₹186
$4.47 SGD 5.66
-56.38%
Banana (1kg)
$0.67 ₹64.3
$3.03 SGD 3.83
-77.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.99 ₹94.3
$4.69 SGD 5.94
-78.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 ₹48.45
$2.18 SGD 2.76
-76.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 ₹33.23
$2.64 SGD 3.34
-86.74%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₹39.69
$2.34 SGD 2.97
-82.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 ₹41.87
$1.88 SGD 2.38
-76.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.80
$1.37 SGD 1.74
-77.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.14 ₹491
$14.24 SGD 18.05
-63.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.58 ₹724
$23.63 SGD 29.95
-67.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₹160
$4.79 SGD 6.07
-65.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₹266
$4.53 SGD 5.74
-38.41%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.36 ₹512
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₹23.64
$1.59 SGD 2.02
-84.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.53 ₹815
$102 SGD 130
-91.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 ₹89.4
$3.67 SGD 4.65
-74.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₹25.96
$0.80 SGD 1.01
-66.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 ₹153
$16.82 SGD 21.31
-90.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ₹107
$2.45 SGD 3.10
-54.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.4K ₹1.2M
$160.4K SGD 203.2K
-92.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ₹1.9M
$149.9K SGD 189.9K
-86.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.28 ₹3,562
$162 SGD 205
-76.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.49 ₹334
$12.94 SGD 16.39
-73.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.20 ₹688
$26.99 SGD 34.20
-73.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.69 ₹1,403
$110 SGD 140
-86.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.31 ₹698
$11.87 SGD 15.04
-38.42%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08 ₹294
$11.84 SGD 15.00
-73.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$59.1 ₹5,646
$1,512 SGD 1,916
-96.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,693 ₹161.8K
$29.7K SGD 37.6K
-94.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Singapore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.25 ₹2,221
$80.0 SGD 101
-70.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.03 ₹2,296
$53.4 SGD 67.6
-54.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.99 ₹3,917
$111 SGD 141
-63.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.46 ₹2,911
$131 SGD 166
-76.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$143 ₹13.7K
$3,007 SGD 3,810
-95.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$93.2 ₹8,902
$2,199 SGD 2,787
-95.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$332 ₹31.7K
$5,958 SGD 7,550
-94.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 ₹20.4K
$3,827 SGD 4,849
-94.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,203 ₹115.0K
$23.7K SGD 30.1K
-94.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$643 ₹61.5K
$16.7K SGD 21.2K
-96.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$441 ₹42.1K
$4,131 SGD 5,235
-89.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.93
2.43
267.49%

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

Last update for India: September 5, 2026

Last update for Singapore: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $121 in India, $3,051 in Singapore. Capital cities: $272 in Delhi vs $3,051 in Singapore.

National salary averages: $410 in India, $4,259 in Singapore. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 2421% higher in Singapore.

Dining out costs 570% more in Singapore.

Public transport is 1329% more expensive in Singapore.

Salaries are 939% higher in Singapore, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Singapore.

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
India vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Singapore?
At $519 per month in India and $3,475 in Singapore, there's a 570% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Singapore is consistently higher than in India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Singapore?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Singapore it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Singapore?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; Singapore may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

India vs other spots: cost of living compared