Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Amherst, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Amherst, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,507 in Singapore versus $2,936 in Amherst, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,136 in Singapore versus $4,730 in Amherst, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,764 in Singapore versus $6,524 in Amherst, MA.

Living in Singapore is roughly 19% more expensive than in Amherst, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 163% above, Amherst, MA 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.77 SGD 13.92

$19.74 $19.74

-45.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.1 SGD 101

$69.2 $69.2

12.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 SGD 9.79

$9.44 $9.44

-19.70%

Cappuccino

$4.84 SGD 6.26

$5.37 $5.37

-9.87%

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

$1.70 SGD 2.20

$3.07 $3.07

-44.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 SGD 1.55

$2.41 $2.41

-50.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 SGD 10.14

$8.13 $8.13

-3.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.15 SGD 11.82

$7.33 $7.33

24.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.07 SGD 3.96

$1.32 $1.32

132.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 SGD 3.07

$3.59 $3.59

-33.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.79 SGD 3.60

$2.02 $2.02

38.12%

Eggs

$3.29 SGD 4.25

$4.53 $4.53

-27.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.19 SGD 24.80

$13.67 $13.67

40.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.42 SGD 14.75

$5.07 $5.07

125.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.61 SGD 29.21

$18.44 $18.44

22.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 SGD 5.89

$5.56 $5.56

-17.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 SGD 3.85

$1.52 $1.52

96.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.95 SGD 6.40

$3.44 $3.44

43.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 SGD 3.54

$5.03 $5.03

-45.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 SGD 3.25

$0.98 $0.98

157.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 SGD 2.80

$0.98 $0.98

121.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 SGD 2.52

$2.57 $2.57

-24.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SGD 1.93

$1.94 $1.94

-23.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.20 SGD 17.06

$10.40 $10.40

26.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.04 SGD 29.77

$13.41 $13.41

71.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 SGD 5.39

$2.95 $2.95

41.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.16 SGD 6.66

$3.46 $3.46

49.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 SGD 2.06

$2.02 $2.02

-21.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.0 SGD 121

$27.67 $27.67

239.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 SGD 4.76

$2.67 $2.67

37.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 SGD 0.94

$1.43 $1.43

-49.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.54 SGD 21.37

$28.48 $28.48

-41.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 SGD 2.84

$0.94 $0.94

134.04%

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

$142.5K SGD 184.1K

$30.5K $30.5K

367.25%

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

$127.5K SGD 164.7K

$24.9K $24.9K

412.88%

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

$156 SGD 201

$193 $193

-19.59%

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

$18.63 SGD 24.08

$57.4 $57.4

-67.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.75 SGD 48.77

$78.2 $78.2

-51.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$120 SGD 155

$121 $121

-1.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.10 SGD 15.63

$7.16 $7.16

68.99%

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 SGD 14.90

$10.78 $10.78

6.96%

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

$1,190 SGD 1,537

$2,844 $2,844

-58.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.1K SGD 37.7K

$27.1K $27.1K

7.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.5 SGD 108

$39.55 $39.55

111.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.55 SGD 55.0

$44.62 $44.62

-4.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 SGD 139

$85.7 $85.7

25.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 SGD 166

$145 $145

-11.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,209 SGD 4,146

$1,799 $1,799

78.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,299 SGD 2,971

$1,629 $1,629

41.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,127 SGD 7,916

$4,865 $4,865

25.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,793 SGD 4,901

$3,446 $3,446

10.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.3K SGD 30.1K

$4,072 $4,072

471.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K SGD 21.2K

$3,982 $3,982

311.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,969 SGD 5,128

$4,775 $4,775

-16.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.19

6.22

-48.71%

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

Last update for Singapore: July 14, 2026

Last update for Amherst, MA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,209 in Singapore and $1,799 in Amherst, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amherst, MA pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $78.0 in Singapore vs $69.0 in Amherst, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $360 per month, with Amherst, MA cheaper across the board.

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 Amherst, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amherst, MA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 20% lower in Amherst, MA. 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: $3,209 in Singapore versus $1,799 in Amherst, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,190 in Singapore versus $2,844 in Amherst, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Singapore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Amherst, MA 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 Amherst, MA 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 Amherst, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.