Cost of Living Comparison Between Raleigh, NC and Singapore Cost of Living Comparison Between Raleigh, NC and Singapore

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,619 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $3,475 in Singapore, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,881 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $5,242 in Singapore, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,142 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $7,008 in Singapore, rent included.

Raleigh, NC is about 25% cheaper than Singapore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Raleigh, NC and Singapore sit above the global median – Raleigh, NC by 90%, Singapore by 152%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.73 $23.73

$11.82 SGD 14.98

100.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$66.6 SGD 84.4

52.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.02 $11.02

$8.67 SGD 10.99

27.10%

Cappuccino

$5.91 $5.91

$5.29 SGD 6.70

11.72%

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

$2.90 $2.90

$1.90 SGD 2.40

52.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.21 SGD 1.53

76.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 $5.85

$8.32 SGD 10.54

-29.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$10.29 SGD 13.03

-33.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$2.98 SGD 3.77

-68.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.94 $3.94

$2.56 SGD 3.24

53.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.71 SGD 3.43

15.50%

Eggs

$4.73 $4.73

$3.60 SGD 4.56

31.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.12 $15.12

$21.01 SGD 26.62

-28.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 $10.05

$9.90 SGD 12.55

1.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.45 $17.45

$24.94 SGD 31.60

-30.03%

Apples (1kg)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.46 SGD 5.65

53.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$3.05 SGD 3.87

-58.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.81 SGD 6.10

-9.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$2.29 SGD 2.90

157.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.61 SGD 3.31

12.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.26 SGD 2.86

57.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.86 SGD 2.35

17.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.42 SGD 1.80

50.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.63 $9.63

$14.08 SGD 17.84

-31.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$23.60 SGD 29.90

-36.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$4.80 SGD 6.09

-55.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.66 SGD 5.90

-42.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.62 SGD 2.05

-13.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.27 $39.27

$100 SGD 127

-60.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.71 SGD 4.70

-20.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$0.81 SGD 1.02

125.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.76 $17.76

$16.66 SGD 21.11

6.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$2.44 SGD 3.09

-63.52%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$156.3K SGD 198.1K

-77.37%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$148.4K SGD 188.0K

-82.57%

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

$192 $192

$163 SGD 206

17.79%

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

$57.9 $57.9

$12.54 SGD 15.89

361.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 $66.8

$27.91 SGD 35.37

139.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.60 $35.60

$109 SGD 138

-67.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.88 $4.88

$11.63 SGD 14.73

-58.04%

Cinema Ticket

$15.11 $15.11

$11.84 SGD 15.00

27.62%

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

$1,490 $1,490

$1,471 SGD 1,864

1.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K $24.9K

$29.6K SGD 37.6K

-16.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 $53.4

$79.5 SGD 101

-32.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.7 $56.7

$53.1 SGD 67.3

6.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 $94.0

$112 SGD 141

-15.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$130 SGD 164

8.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,755 $1,755

$3,051 SGD 3,866

-42.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 $1,272

$2,163 SGD 2,740

-41.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,117 $3,117

$5,870 SGD 7,438

-46.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,007 $2,007

$3,862 SGD 4,893

-48.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,938 $3,938

$23.7K SGD 30.1K

-83.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,189 $2,189

$16.8K SGD 21.3K

-86.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,282 $4,282

$4,259 SGD 5,397

0.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.2

2.43

155.14%

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

Last update for Raleigh, NC: September 5, 2026

Last update for Singapore: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,755 in Raleigh, NC versus $3,051 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 1% higher in Raleigh, NC, 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 $101 in Raleigh, NC versus $67.0 in Singapore. Groceries tell a different story – $413 in Raleigh, NC vs $457 in Singapore – so Raleigh, NC wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Raleigh, NC vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Singapore costs about 33% more than Raleigh, NC, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,929 per month in Raleigh, NC and $5,213 in Singapore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 155% less in Raleigh, NC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,490 per month in Raleigh, NC and $1,471 in Singapore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,619 in Raleigh, NC and $3,475 in Singapore. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Raleigh, NC – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Raleigh, NC. 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.