Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Singapore

For one person, living is cheaper in Maharagama: $131 a month against $3,594 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $41,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Maharagama, Sri Lanka
Singapore, Singapore
Maharagama
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$131
/mo nomad
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,594
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maharagama and in Singapore

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Maharagama and in Singapore actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $131 per month in Maharagama vs $3,594 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Maharagama $131
  • Singapore $3,594

A couple spends around $246 per month in Maharagama vs $5,314 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Maharagama $246
  • Singapore $5,314

A family of three spends $361 per month in Maharagama vs $7,033 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Maharagama $361
  • Singapore $7,033

Maharagama is about 96% cheaper than Singapore, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Maharagama sits 90% below the global median, while Singapore is 166% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maharagama
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.30 LKR 1,761
$11.58 SGD 14.84
-54.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.24 LKR 6,732
$70.7 SGD 90.5
-71.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.67 LKR 2,219
$8.46 SGD 10.84
-21.16%
Cappuccino
$2.11 LKR 702
$5.18 SGD 6.64
-59.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 LKR 213
$1.84 SGD 2.36
-65.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 LKR 95.2
$1.23 SGD 1.58
-76.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$9.50 SGD 12.17
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$9.86 SGD 12.63
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maharagama
Singapore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 LKR 288
$3.02 SGD 3.87
-71.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.23 LKR 76.1
$2.67 SGD 3.42
-91.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.50 LKR 167
$2.77 SGD 3.54
-81.95%
Eggs
$1.42 LKR 473
$3.72 SGD 4.77
-61.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$21.01 SGD 26.92
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$9.95 SGD 12.75
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$25.13 SGD 32.20
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$4.59 SGD 5.88
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$3.09 SGD 3.96
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$4.64 SGD 5.95
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.18 SGD 2.79
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.33 SGD 2.99
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.31 SGD 2.96
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.86 SGD 2.39
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.55 SGD 1.98
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$14.11 SGD 18.08
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.24 SGD 29.78
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$4.73 SGD 6.06
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.79 SGD 6.14
-
🚌 Getting Around
Maharagama
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.53 SGD 1.96
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$96.5 SGD 124
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 LKR 146
$3.58 SGD 4.59
-87.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 LKR 154
$0.76 SGD 0.97
-39.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$16.98 SGD 21.75
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$2.46 SGD 3.15
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$159.4K SGD 204.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$155.7K SGD 199.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maharagama
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$168 SGD 215
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55 LKR 1,513
$12.24 SGD 15.68
-62.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.38 LKR 4,449
$28.18 SGD 36.11
-52.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maharagama
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$111 SGD 142
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.60 SGD 14.86
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$12.24 SGD 15.68
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maharagama
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,899 SGD 2,433
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$39.1K SGD 50.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maharagama
Singapore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$79.6 SGD 102
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$50.7 SGD 65.0
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$112 SGD 143
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$125 SGD 160
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maharagama
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,191 SGD 4,089
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,257 SGD 2,892
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$198 LKR 65.9K
$6,173 SGD 7,910
-96.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$4,035 SGD 5,170
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$23.6K SGD 30.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$16.5K SGD 21.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maharagama
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$240 LKR 79.7K
$4,526 SGD 5,799
-94.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
2.44
-

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

Last update for Maharagama: October 31, 2026

Last update for Singapore: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Maharagama
–
Singapore
$2.3K
Groceries & Markets
Maharagama
–
Singapore
$459
Eating Out
Maharagama
–
Singapore
$260
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maharagama
–
Singapore
$208
Clothing & Footwear
Maharagama
–
Singapore
$165
Sport & Entertainment
Maharagama
–
Singapore
$135
Getting Around
Maharagama
–
Singapore
$110

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Singapore are about 19 times higher, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20 in Maharagama versus $71 in Singapore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $19 vs $459 – making Maharagama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇱🇰 Maharagama
🇸🇬 Singapore
🕒 Local time
03:06 3:06 AM
05:36 5:36 AM
2 h 30 min ahead of Maharagama
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
196,400
5,535,002 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SGD, USD, EUR to LKR – Sri Lankan Rupee Converter

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 372 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR).

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.78 USD). 1 EUR = 1.43 SGD (1 SGD = 0.698 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Maharagama Singapore 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Maharagama
  • 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
Maharagama vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maharagama cheaper than Singapore?
Yes – Singapore is pricier by about 2649%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $196 per month in Maharagama and $5,392 in Singapore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Maharagama and in Singapore?
Groceries cost about 2364% more in Singapore, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Maharagama or in Singapore?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20 in Maharagama and $71 in Singapore. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Maharagama or in Singapore?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $131, than in Singapore at $3,594. In Maharagama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Maharagama or in Singapore?
It depends on your priorities. Maharagama has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $131 in Maharagama to $3,594 in Singapore. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Maharagama or Singapore?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Singapore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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