For one person, living is cheaper in Italy: $1,838 a month against $3,480 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $19,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Italy and in Singapore actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,838 in Italy versus $3,480 in Singapore.
Italy $1,838
Singapore $3,480
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,793 in Italy versus $5,194 in Singapore.
Italy $2,793
Singapore $5,194
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,748 in Italy versus $6,908 in Singapore.
Italy $3,748
Singapore $6,908
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,028 to $2,531, compared to $3,453–$3,453 in Singapore. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
🌍
Living in Italy costs about 47% less than in Singapore on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Italy 37% above, Singapore 160% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.52€18.31
$11.88SGD 15.21
72.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8€71.2
$69.9SGD 89.5
14.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.30€10.08
$8.76SGD 11.22
29.00%
Cappuccino
$2.04€1.82
$5.09SGD 6.52
-59.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98€2.66
$1.85SGD 2.36
61.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35€1.21
$1.18SGD 1.52
14.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.56€4.97
$8.33SGD 10.67
-33.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50€4.91
$10.29SGD 13.17
-46.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64€1.46
$2.95SGD 3.77
-44.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31€2.06
$2.48SGD 3.18
-6.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93€2.61
$2.78SGD 3.56
5.40%
Eggs
$4.10€3.66
$3.60SGD 4.61
13.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.49€15.61
$21.49SGD 27.52
-18.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.66€11.29
$9.65SGD 12.35
31.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.70€18.47
$25.13SGD 32.18
-17.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.53€2.26
$4.57SGD 5.85
-44.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17€1.94
$2.98SGD 3.82
-27.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.33
$4.66SGD 5.97
-43.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.28€2.93
$2.27SGD 2.90
44.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95€1.74
$2.58SGD 3.31
-24.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84€1.64
$2.31SGD 2.96
-20.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57€1.40
$1.84SGD 2.36
-14.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51€0.45
$1.46SGD 1.86
-65.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.83€6.09
$14.16SGD 18.12
-51.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.95€7.10
$23.82SGD 30.49
-66.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.56
$4.61SGD 5.90
-62.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.18
$4.60SGD 5.89
-46.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.88€1.68
$1.59SGD 2.03
18.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.69€38.09
$93.9SGD 120
-54.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.77€5.15
$3.58SGD 4.59
61.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72€1.54
$0.76SGD 0.97
126.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.10€30.43
$16.21SGD 20.75
110.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.88
$2.44SGD 3.12
-13.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K€33.1K
$160.5KSGD 205.5K
-76.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K€32.1K
$148.0KSGD 189.6K
-75.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$223€199
$171SGD 220
29.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.53€10.29
$12.22SGD 15.64
-5.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.07€27.73
$26.34SGD 33.73
17.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.0€48.18
$110SGD 141
-50.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.70€21.15
$12.40SGD 15.88
91.13%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.64
$11.85SGD 15.17
-8.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$551€492
$1,490SGD 1,908
-63.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K€10.4K
$28.1KSGD 35.9K
-58.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3€81.5
$80.8SGD 104
12.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.49€34.35
$51.2SGD 65.5
-24.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€93.0
$110SGD 140
-5.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€116
$129SGD 165
0.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797€711
$3,011SGD 3,855
-73.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$624€557
$2,135SGD 2,734
-70.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,406€1,255
$5,793SGD 7,417
-75.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,053€940
$3,921SGD 5,020
-73.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,680€3,284
$23.4KSGD 30.0K
-84.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,261€2,018
$16.9KSGD 21.6K
-86.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,925€1,718
$4,341SGD 5,559
-55.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.56
2.44
45.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: October 6, 2026
Last update for Singapore: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$624 34.3%
Singapore
$2.1K 61.6% ↑ 242%$1.5K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$349 19.2%
Singapore
$456 13.2% ↑ 30.4%$106
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$279 15.3%
Singapore
$257 7.4% ↓ 7.8%$22
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$265 14.6%
Singapore
$210 6.1% ↓ 20.8%$55
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$164 9%
Singapore
$167 4.8% ↑ 1.9%$3.1
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$76 4.2%
Singapore
$134 3.9% ↑ 77%$58
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$65 3.6%
Singapore
$108 3.1% ↑ 66.6%$43
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$1.1K 27.8%
Singapore
$3.9K 56.8% ↑ 272%$2.9K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$827 21.8%
Singapore
$1K 15% ↑ 25.2%$209
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$966 25.5%
Singapore
$855 12.4% ↓ 11.5%$111
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$277 7.3%
Singapore
$222 3.2% ↓ 19.7%$54
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$364 9.6%
Singapore
$371 5.4% ↑ 1.9%$6.9
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$175 4.6%
Singapore
$280 4.1% ↑ 60.1%$105
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$133 3.5%
Singapore
$218 3.2% ↑ 64.3%$85
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $730 in Italy, $2,916 in Singapore. Capital cities: $1,205 in Rome vs $2,916 in Singapore.
💰National salary averages: $1,908 in Italy, $4,369 in Singapore. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 299% higher in Singapore.
⭐Public transport is 129% more expensive in Singapore.
⭐Salaries are 129% higher in Singapore, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Singapore.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 $1,838 per month in Italy and $3,480 in Singapore, there's a 89% 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 has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $2,916 in Singapore and $730 in Italy. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Italy or in Singapore?
In Italy, $2,500 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 Italy or to 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.