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 $2,903 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $3,636 in Singapore, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,206 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $5,221 in Singapore, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,508 per month in Raleigh, NC vs $6,805 in Singapore, rent included.

Raleigh, NC is about 20% cheaper than Singapore, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Raleigh, NC and Singapore sit above the global median – Raleigh, NC by 117%, Singapore by 172%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.37 $19.37

$10.80 SGD 13.82

79.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$77.7 SGD 99.4

-1.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$7.62 SGD 9.76

33.73%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$4.84 SGD 6.20

13.02%

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

$2.31 $2.31

$1.66 SGD 2.12

39.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.23 SGD 1.58

59.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.64 $5.64

$8.03 SGD 10.28

-29.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 $5.88

$9.22 SGD 11.80

-36.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$2.96 SGD 3.79

-70.61%

White Bread (500g)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.39 SGD 3.06

76.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.82 SGD 3.61

15.96%

Eggs

$4.60 $4.60

$3.31 SGD 4.24

38.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.83 $13.83

$19.38 SGD 24.81

-28.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.36 $11.36

$11.02 SGD 14.10

3.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.60 $16.60

$22.65 SGD 28.99

-26.71%

Apples (1kg)

$7.03 $7.03

$4.61 SGD 5.90

52.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.88 SGD 3.68

-48.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$5.01 SGD 6.41

12.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.09 $6.09

$2.73 SGD 3.49

123.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.42 SGD 3.10

50.41%

Onion (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$2.16 SGD 2.76

89.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.06 SGD 2.64

4.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.58 SGD 2.02

35.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 $7.58

$13.48 SGD 17.25

-43.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.36 $15.36

$25.45 SGD 32.57

-39.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$4.31 SGD 5.52

-53.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$5.14 SGD 6.58

-39.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.55 SGD 1.98

30.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.95 $44.95

$93.1 SGD 119

-51.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.62 SGD 4.63

-32.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$0.71 SGD 0.91

138.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.86 $14.86

$16.21 SGD 20.74

-8.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$2.17 SGD 2.77

-60.37%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$138.9K SGD 177.8K

-78.64%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$131.1K SGD 167.8K

-79.49%

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

$188 $188

$157 SGD 201

19.61%

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

$65.5 $65.5

$18.75 SGD 24.00

249.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 $71.3

$37.19 SGD 47.61

91.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.96 $39.96

$119 SGD 152

-66.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.47 $34.47

$12.47 SGD 15.96

176.42%

Cinema Ticket

$14.79 $14.79

$11.77 SGD 15.07

25.66%

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

$1,509 $1,509

$1,187 SGD 1,519

27.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$29.3K SGD 37.6K

-19.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 $52.0

$81.3 SGD 104

-36.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.17 $49.17

$43.00 SGD 55.0

14.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$106 SGD 135

-5.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 $140

$129 SGD 165

9.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 $1,842

$3,108 SGD 3,979

-40.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,556 $1,556

$2,301 SGD 2,945

-32.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,952 $2,952

$6,232 SGD 7,976

-52.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,390 $2,390

$3,796 SGD 4,859

-37.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,812 $3,812

$23.4K SGD 30.0K

-83.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,239 $2,239

$16.4K SGD 20.9K

-86.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,474 $4,474

$4,316 SGD 5,525

3.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

3.19

104.70%

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

Last update for Raleigh, NC: April 28, 2026

Last update for Singapore: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,842 in Raleigh, NC versus $3,108 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 4% 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 $76.0 in Raleigh, NC versus $78.0 in Singapore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $428 vs $455 – making Raleigh, NC 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

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

Singapore costs about 25% more than Raleigh, NC, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,355 per month in Raleigh, NC and $5,454 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 107% less in Raleigh, NC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,509 per month in Raleigh, NC and $1,187 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 $2,903 in Raleigh, NC and $3,636 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.