Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Singapore Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Singapore

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,878 per month in Madison, WI vs $3,507 in Singapore, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,195 per month in Madison, WI vs $5,136 in Singapore, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,512 per month in Madison, WI vs $6,764 in Singapore, rent included.

Madison, WI is about 18% cheaper than Singapore, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Madison, WI and Singapore sit above the global median – Madison, WI by 115%, Singapore by 163%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.28 $15.28

$10.77 SGD 13.90

41.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.8 $74.8

$78.1 SGD 101

-4.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 $10.90

$7.58 SGD 9.78

43.80%

Cappuccino

$5.30 $5.30

$4.84 SGD 6.25

9.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.70 SGD 2.19

53.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.20 SGD 1.55

95.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$7.85 SGD 10.13

-21.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.02 $7.02

$9.15 SGD 11.81

-23.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$3.07 SGD 3.96

-71.99%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.38 SGD 3.07

60.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$2.79 SGD 3.60

91.76%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$3.29 SGD 4.24

25.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.93 $13.93

$19.19 SGD 24.78

-27.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.49 $13.49

$11.42 SGD 14.74

18.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.70 $16.70

$22.61 SGD 29.18

-26.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$4.56 SGD 5.88

-0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.98 SGD 3.85

-48.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.95 SGD 6.40

16.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.74 SGD 3.53

68.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.52 SGD 3.25

1.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.17 SGD 2.80

36.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.95 SGD 2.52

0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.49 SGD 1.93

37.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.03 $10.03

$13.20 SGD 17.04

-24.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.70 $15.70

$23.04 SGD 29.74

-31.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$4.17 SGD 5.38

-42.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 $4.65

$5.16 SGD 6.66

-9.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.59 SGD 2.06

25.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.3 $61.3

$94.0 SGD 121

-34.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.68 SGD 4.75

23.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.72 SGD 0.94

202.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.59 $41.59

$16.54 SGD 21.35

151.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$2.20 SGD 2.84

-60.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$142.5K SGD 183.9K

-82.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.3K $25.3K

$127.5K SGD 164.6K

-80.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$214 $214

$156 SGD 201

37.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.4 $50.4

$18.63 SGD 24.05

170.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$37.75 SGD 48.73

97.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.7 $63.7

$120 SGD 155

-46.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.29 $30.29

$12.10 SGD 15.61

150.33%

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$11.53 SGD 14.89

29.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,597 $1,597

$1,190 SGD 1,536

34.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K $24.5K

$29.1K SGD 37.6K

-16.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 $65.8

$83.5 SGD 108

-21.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.53 $48.53

$42.55 SGD 54.9

14.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$108 SGD 139

-6.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$128 SGD 166

2.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 $1,683

$3,209 SGD 4,142

-47.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,442 $1,442

$2,299 SGD 2,968

-37.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,040 $3,040

$6,127 SGD 7,909

-50.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,435 $2,435

$3,793 SGD 4,896

-35.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,525 $4,525

$23.3K SGD 30.0K

-80.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,546 $2,546

$16.4K SGD 21.2K

-84.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,234 $4,234

$3,969 SGD 5,124

6.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

3.19

105.33%

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

Last update for Madison, WI: July 13, 2026

Last update for Singapore: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,683 in Madison, WI versus $3,209 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 7% higher in Madison, WI, 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 $75.0 in Madison, WI versus $78.0 in Singapore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $421 vs $450 – making Madison, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Madison, WI vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,878 in Madison, WI, $3,507 in Singapore – roughly 22% apart. Singapore costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,317 per month in Madison, WI and $5,261 in Singapore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Madison, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 53% less in Madison, WI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,597 per month in Madison, WI and $1,190 in Singapore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,878 in Madison, WI and $3,507 in Singapore. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Madison, WI has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,878 in Madison, WI to $3,507 in Singapore. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Madison, WI. 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.