Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Singapore Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Singapore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Italy versus $3,636 in Singapore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,623 in Italy versus $5,221 in Singapore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,528 in Italy versus $6,805 in Singapore.

Living in Italy costs about 53% less than in Singapore on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Italy 28% above, Singapore 172% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,147 to $2,536, compared to $3,636$3,636 in Singapore. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.24 €14.75
$11.04 SGD 14.13
56.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3 €68.7
$77.8 SGD 99.5
3.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.44 €9.79
$7.80 SGD 9.98
46.67%
Cappuccino
$1.92 €1.64
$5.08 SGD 6.50
-62.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 €2.55
$1.65 SGD 2.12
80.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.13
$1.24 SGD 1.59
6.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.83 €4.99
$7.74 SGD 9.91
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 €4.42
$9.34 SGD 11.95
-44.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 €1.44
$2.95 SGD 3.77
-42.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 €2.06
$2.38 SGD 3.05
1.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.00 €2.57
$2.88 SGD 3.68
4.17%
Eggs
$4.08 €3.49
$3.31 SGD 4.24
23.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 €13.88
$19.78 SGD 25.32
-18.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.65 €10.83
$11.13 SGD 14.25
13.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.13 €17.23
$23.02 SGD 29.47
-12.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 €2.23
$4.38 SGD 5.60
-40.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 €1.89
$2.91 SGD 3.72
-24.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 €2.23
$4.77 SGD 6.11
-45.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.28 €2.81
$2.62 SGD 3.35
25.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 €1.67
$2.43 SGD 3.11
-19.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$2.23 SGD 2.86
-17.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.33
$2.03 SGD 2.59
-23.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 €0.43
$1.51 SGD 1.94
-66.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88 €5.89
$13.20 SGD 16.90
-47.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.86 €5.87
$25.92 SGD 33.18
-73.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.54
$4.14 SGD 5.30
-56.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 €2.16
$5.30 SGD 6.79
-52.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 €1.66
$1.52 SGD 1.95
27.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.82 €35.80
$94.9 SGD 121
-55.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.71 €4.88
$3.63 SGD 4.64
57.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 €1.31
$0.72 SGD 0.92
112.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.12 €30.06
$16.65 SGD 21.31
110.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.73
$2.24 SGD 2.87
-9.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K €27.3K
$138.3K SGD 177.0K
-76.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K €28.5K
$129.9K SGD 166.3K
-74.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 €192
$156 SGD 200
43.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.50 €11.56
$18.53 SGD 23.72
-27.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.92 €26.47
$37.42 SGD 47.90
-17.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.3 €48.19
$117 SGD 150
-52.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.38 €21.73
$12.30 SGD 15.74
106.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10.41 €8.91
$11.74 SGD 15.03
-11.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 €492
$1,178 SGD 1,508
-51.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K €9,043
$29.4K SGD 37.7K
-64.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4 €76.5
$80.8 SGD 103
10.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.72 €34.00
$42.22 SGD 54.0
-5.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 €85.2
$107 SGD 138
-7.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 €111
$128 SGD 164
1.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$854 €731
$3,184 SGD 4,075
-73.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$651 €558
$2,225 SGD 2,848
-70.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,478 €1,265
$6,102 SGD 7,810
-75.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,109 €949
$3,818 SGD 4,887
-70.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,926 €3,361
$23.7K SGD 30.3K
-83.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,410 €2,063
$16.5K SGD 21.1K
-85.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,932 €1,654
$4,239 SGD 5,426
-54.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.41
3.19
38.24%

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

Last update for Italy: April 27, 2026

Last update for Singapore: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $3,108 in Singapore. Capital cities: $1,349 in Rome vs $3,108 in Singapore.

National salary averages: $1,935 in Italy, $4,316 in Singapore. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 319% higher in Singapore.

Public transport is 111% more expensive in Singapore.

Salaries are 123% higher 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
Italy vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Singapore?
At $1,842 per month in Italy and $3,636 in Singapore, there's a 97% 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?
Italy is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats Italy across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Italy or Singapore?
In Italy, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Singapore, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or Singapore?
It depends on what you're after. Italy wins on affordability; Singapore may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Italy vs other spots: cost of living compared

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