Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Albany, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Albany, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,476 in Singapore versus $2,802 in Albany, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,218 in Singapore versus $4,470 in Albany, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,959 in Singapore versus $6,139 in Albany, NY.

Living in Singapore is roughly 24% more expensive than in Albany, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 153% above, Albany, NY 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.77 SGD 14.97

$27.78 $27.78

-57.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.3 SGD 85.6

$101 $101

-33.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 SGD 10.92

$14.75 $14.75

-41.76%

Cappuccino

$5.19 SGD 6.60

$6.33 $6.33

-18.01%

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

$1.84 SGD 2.34

$2.63 $2.63

-30.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 SGD 1.48

$1.97 $1.97

-40.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 SGD 10.48

$6.17 $6.17

33.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.04 SGD 12.76

$10.67 $10.67

-5.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 SGD 3.88

$1.01 $1.01

201.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 SGD 3.17

$3.36 $3.36

-25.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.72 SGD 3.46

$5.17 $5.17

-47.39%

Eggs

$3.74 SGD 4.75

$5.11 $5.11

-26.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.17 SGD 26.92

$16.23 $16.23

30.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.85 SGD 12.53

$15.67 $15.67

-37.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.51 SGD 32.43

$18.41 $18.41

38.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 SGD 5.73

$4.97 $4.97

-9.46%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 SGD 3.83

$1.37 $1.37

120.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.83 SGD 6.14

$5.54 $5.54

-12.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 SGD 2.89

$4.62 $4.62

-50.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 SGD 3.22

$3.28 $3.28

-22.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 SGD 3.02

$3.53 $3.53

-32.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 SGD 2.26

$2.30 $2.30

-22.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SGD 1.80

$1.96 $1.96

-27.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.34 SGD 18.23

$15.10 $15.10

-5.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.77 SGD 30.22

$13.83 $13.83

71.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.55 SGD 5.78

$1.97 $1.97

130.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 SGD 5.66

$3.99 $3.99

11.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 SGD 2.01

$1.46 $1.46

8.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.0 SGD 126

$65.6 $65.6

50.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 SGD 4.49

$5.04 $5.04

-29.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 SGD 1.03

$1.36 $1.36

-40.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.62 SGD 21.13

$29.47 $29.47

-43.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.47 SGD 3.14

$1.01 $1.01

144.55%

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

$156.1K SGD 198.5K

$36.3K $36.3K

330.32%

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

$145.8K SGD 185.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

468.53%

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

$162 SGD 206

$213 $213

-23.78%

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

$12.73 SGD 16.19

$70.2 $70.2

-81.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.15 SGD 34.51

$89.1 $89.1

-69.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 SGD 137

$38.13 $38.13

183.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.17 SGD 14.20

$39.03 $39.03

-71.38%

Cinema Ticket

$11.79 SGD 14.98

$14.77 $14.77

-20.18%

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

$1,491 SGD 1,896

$1,512 $1,512

-1.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K SGD 37.5K

$17.2K $17.2K

71.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.8 SGD 100

$53.9 $53.9

46.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 SGD 65.6

$40.32 $40.32

28.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 SGD 141

$112 $112

-1.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 SGD 165

$108 $108

19.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,949 SGD 3,749

$1,445 $1,445

104.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,156 SGD 2,741

$1,303 $1,303

65.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,006 SGD 7,635

$2,876 $2,876

108.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,893 SGD 4,949

$2,628 $2,628

48.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.6K SGD 30.0K

$2,460 $2,460

860.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.7K SGD 21.2K

$2,410 $2,410

592.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,122 SGD 5,241

$4,226 $4,226

-2.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.43

6.12

-60.29%

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

Last update for Singapore: September 1, 2026

Last update for Albany, NY: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,949 in Singapore and $1,445 in Albany, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Albany, NY pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67.0 in Singapore vs $101 in Albany, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $458 vs $441, with Albany, NY cheaper for home cooking.

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

Singapore vs Albany, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albany, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Singapore. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albany, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Albany, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,949 in Singapore versus $1,445 in Albany, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Albany, NY – a meal for two runs $101 versus $67.0 in Singapore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,476 per month in Singapore versus $2,802 in Albany, NY – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Albany, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Singapore and Albany, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Albany, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.