Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Singapore

For one person, living is cheaper in Malang: $474 a month against $3,500 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $36,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Malang
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$474
/mo nomad
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,500
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Malang 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 Malang and in Singapore actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $474 per month in Malang vs $3,500 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Malang $474
  • Singapore $3,500

A couple spends around $729 per month in Malang vs $5,265 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Malang $729
  • Singapore $5,265

A family of three spends $984 per month in Malang vs $7,030 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Malang $984
  • Singapore $7,030

Malang is about 86% cheaper than Singapore, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Malang sits 65% below the global median, while Singapore is 159% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malang
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.11 Rp 19.9K
$11.76 SGD 15.05
-90.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.07 Rp 198.6K
$70.6 SGD 90.4
-84.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.76 Rp 49.6K
$8.55 SGD 10.94
-67.72%
Cappuccino
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$5.20 SGD 6.66
-74.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 Rp 10.7K
$1.77 SGD 2.27
-66.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 Rp 4,133
$1.23 SGD 1.58
-81.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$8.26 SGD 10.58
-72.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 Rp 76.3K
$10.17 SGD 13.01
-58.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malang
Singapore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$3.04 SGD 3.89
-67.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 Rp 20.1K
$2.55 SGD 3.26
-56.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.84 Rp 15.1K
$2.86 SGD 3.66
-70.63%
Eggs
$1.24 Rp 22.3K
$3.53 SGD 4.51
-64.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.89 Rp 105.7K
$21.12 SGD 27.02
-72.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.09 Rp 55.5K
$9.90 SGD 12.67
-68.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.20 Rp 129.3K
$25.42 SGD 32.53
-71.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 Rp 36.2K
$4.57 SGD 5.85
-55.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.7K
$3.13 SGD 4.00
-59.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
$4.72 SGD 6.04
-66.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.43 Rp 25.7K
$2.23 SGD 2.85
-35.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 Rp 23.3K
$2.57 SGD 3.29
-49.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
$2.29 SGD 2.93
-16.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.47 Rp 8,413
$1.87 SGD 2.39
-74.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,556
$1.44 SGD 1.84
-70.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65 Rp 47.5K
$13.97 SGD 17.88
-81.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.47 Rp 223.8K
$23.48 SGD 30.05
-46.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 30.0K
$4.54 SGD 5.80
-63.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.8K
$4.44 SGD 5.68
-32.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Malang
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 Rp 10.7K
$1.57 SGD 2.01
-61.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.61 Rp 100.6K
$93.8 SGD 120
-94.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,603
$3.64 SGD 4.66
-86.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 Rp 7,221
$0.76 SGD 0.97
-47.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 97.8K
$16.14 SGD 20.66
-66.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$2.45 SGD 3.14
-69.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 447.5M
$155.2K SGD 198.5K
-83.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K Rp 497.2M
$148.5K SGD 190.0K
-81.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malang
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$30.83 Rp 553.3K
$172 SGD 220
-82.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.41 Rp 43.2K
$12.39 SGD 15.86
-80.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.51 Rp 350.0K
$26.21 SGD 33.54
-25.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malang
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.68 Rp 263.5K
$108 SGD 138
-86.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.47 Rp 80.2K
$12.31 SGD 15.75
-63.69%
Cinema Ticket
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
$11.64 SGD 14.90
-83.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malang
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$30.88 Rp 554.1K
$1,481 SGD 1,895
-97.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,452 Rp 169.6M
$28.3K SGD 36.3K
-66.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malang
Singapore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 Rp 1.0M
$80.6 SGD 103
-29.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.41 Rp 402.1K
$50.1 SGD 64.1
-55.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.9 Rp 931.9K
$112 SGD 143
-53.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.74 Rp 641.2K
$129 SGD 165
-72.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malang
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$136 Rp 2.4M
$3,015 SGD 3,858
-95.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$91.5 Rp 1.6M
$2,171 SGD 2,778
-95.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$193 Rp 3.5M
$5,842 SGD 7,475
-96.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.8M
$4,044 SGD 5,174
-96.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$23.8K SGD 30.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$16.8K SGD 21.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malang
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$203 Rp 3.6M
$4,385 SGD 5,611
-95.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
2.44
63.93%

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

Last update for Malang: October 12, 2026

Last update for Singapore: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Malang
$169
Singapore
$458 170% $288
Accommodation & Living
Malang
$92
Singapore
$2.2K 2272% $2.1K
Clothing & Footwear
Malang
$75
Singapore
$167 123% $92
Eating Out
Malang
$56
Singapore
$256 353% $199
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malang
$53
Singapore
$210 298% $157
Sport & Entertainment
Malang
$19
Singapore
$131 609% $113
Getting Around
Malang
$10
Singapore
$107 926% $97

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $136 in Malang versus $3,015 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 2057% higher in Singapore, 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 $11.00 in Malang versus $71.0 in Singapore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $458 – making Malang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Malang
🇸🇬 Singapore
🕒 Local time
08:48 8:48 AM
09:48 9:48 AM
1 h ahead of Malang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
857,891
5,535,002 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SGD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 17,943 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.57 USD). 1 EUR = 20,204 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.95 EUR).

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.781 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 SGD (1 SGD = 0.694 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Malang Singapore 1,420 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Malang
  • 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
Malang vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Singapore cheaper than Malang?
Yes – Singapore is pricier by about 638%, 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 $711 per month in Malang and $5,251 in Singapore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Malang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 1571% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $30.88 per month in Malang and $1,481 in Singapore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Malang or in Singapore?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $474, than in Singapore at $3,500. In Malang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Malang or Singapore more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Malang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Malang or Singapore?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Malang. 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.

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