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: $3,651 in Singapore versus $2,681 in Albany, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,223 in Singapore versus $4,205 in Albany, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,796 in Singapore versus $5,728 in Albany, NY.

Living in Singapore is roughly 36% more expensive than Albany, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 172% above, Albany, NY 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.73 SGD 13.74

$19.32 $19.32

-44.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 SGD 100

$78.5 $78.5

-0.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 SGD 10.09

$12.81 $12.81

-38.49%

Cappuccino

$4.92 SGD 6.30

$6.13 $6.13

-19.74%

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

$1.63 SGD 2.09

$2.77 $2.77

-41.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 SGD 1.57

$1.98 $1.98

-37.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 SGD 10.05

$5.06 $5.06

55.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.61 SGD 12.30

$6.16 $6.16

56.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.07 SGD 3.93

$1.05 $1.05

192.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 SGD 3.09

$3.91 $3.91

-38.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 SGD 3.59

$5.52 $5.52

-49.09%

Eggs

$3.37 SGD 4.32

$5.27 $5.27

-36.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.34 SGD 24.76

$14.13 $14.13

36.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.36 SGD 14.54

$14.16 $14.16

-19.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.95 SGD 29.38

$17.48 $17.48

31.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 SGD 5.79

$4.71 $4.71

-4.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.94 SGD 3.77

$1.46 $1.46

101.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.86 SGD 6.23

$4.82 $4.82

0.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 SGD 3.37

$5.01 $5.01

-47.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 SGD 3.16

$2.94 $2.94

-15.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 SGD 2.77

$3.40 $3.40

-36.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 SGD 2.57

$3.19 $3.19

-36.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 SGD 1.94

$1.82 $1.82

-17.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.24 SGD 16.95

$14.47 $14.47

-8.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.27 SGD 32.35

$14.22 $14.22

77.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.31 SGD 5.52

$2.22 $2.22

94.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.20 SGD 6.66

$4.07 $4.07

27.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 SGD 2.02

$1.48 $1.48

6.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.7 SGD 120

$65.0 $65.0

44.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 SGD 4.49

$4.95 $4.95

-29.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 SGD 0.99

$1.42 $1.42

-45.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.11 SGD 20.62

$27.20 $27.20

-40.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 SGD 2.81

$0.99 $0.99

122.22%

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

$142.1K SGD 182.0K

$30.0K $30.0K

373.10%

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

$129.1K SGD 165.3K

$25.3K $25.3K

409.80%

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

$160 SGD 205

$211 $211

-24.22%

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

$18.36 SGD 23.50

$56.9 $56.9

-67.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.57 SGD 46.82

$76.0 $76.0

-51.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$117 SGD 150

$31.01 $31.01

277.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.39 SGD 15.86

$22.06 $22.06

-43.83%

Cinema Ticket

$11.65 SGD 14.92

$15.23 $15.23

-23.51%

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

$1,184 SGD 1,516

$1,399 $1,399

-15.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K SGD 38.2K

$28.4K $28.4K

5.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.2 SGD 105

$52.8 $52.8

55.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.04 SGD 55.1

$46.49 $46.49

-7.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SGD 138

$83.6 $83.6

28.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 SGD 168

$102 $102

28.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,101 SGD 3,970

$1,433 $1,433

116.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,280 SGD 2,919

$1,267 $1,267

79.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,201 SGD 7,939

$2,955 $2,955

109.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,793 SGD 4,856

$2,586 $2,586

46.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.5K SGD 30.1K

$2,416 $2,416

872.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.5K SGD 21.1K

$2,495 $2,495

562.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,285 SGD 5,485

$4,169 $4,169

2.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.19

6.45

-50.54%

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

Last update for Singapore: May 30, 2026

Last update for Albany, NY: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,101 in Singapore and $1,433 in Albany, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Singapore pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $78.0 in Singapore vs $79.0 in Albany, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $457 vs $433, 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 36% 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.

Singapore pays 3% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,101 in Singapore versus $1,433 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 $79.0 versus $78.0 in Singapore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,651 per month in Singapore versus $2,681 in Albany, NY – a 36% 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 36% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.