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: $3,475 in Singapore versus $2,999 in Amherst, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,242 in Singapore versus $4,360 in Amherst, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,008 in Singapore versus $5,720 in Amherst, MA.

Living in Singapore is roughly 16% more expensive than in Amherst, MA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 152% above, Amherst, MA 117% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.82 SGD 14.98

$19.69 $19.69

-39.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.6 SGD 84.4

$73.7 $73.7

-9.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.67 SGD 10.99

$9.25 $9.25

-6.27%

Cappuccino

$5.29 SGD 6.70

$4.70 $4.70

12.55%

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

$1.90 SGD 2.40

$2.63 $2.63

-27.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 SGD 1.53

$1.97 $1.97

-38.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.32 SGD 10.54

$5.95 $5.95

39.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.29 SGD 13.03

$10.35 $10.35

-0.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.98 SGD 3.77

$1.02 $1.02

192.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 SGD 3.24

$3.34 $3.34

-23.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.71 SGD 3.43

$5.29 $5.29

-48.77%

Eggs

$3.60 SGD 4.56

$4.60 $4.60

-21.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.01 SGD 26.62

$16.66 $16.66

26.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.90 SGD 12.55

$16.22 $16.22

-38.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.94 SGD 31.60

$18.52 $18.52

34.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 SGD 5.65

$4.80 $4.80

-7.08%

Banana (1kg)

$3.05 SGD 3.87

$1.40 $1.40

117.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.81 SGD 6.10

$3.27 $3.27

47.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 SGD 2.90

$4.74 $4.74

-51.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 SGD 3.31

$3.32 $3.32

-21.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 SGD 2.86

$3.59 $3.59

-37.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 SGD 2.35

$2.23 $2.23

-16.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SGD 1.80

$2.07 $2.07

-31.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.08 SGD 17.84

$10.36 $10.36

35.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.60 SGD 29.90

$11.92 $11.92

97.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.80 SGD 6.09

$1.98 $1.98

142.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 SGD 5.90

$3.45 $3.45

35.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 SGD 2.05

$1.22 $1.22

32.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 SGD 127

$27.80 $27.80

260.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 SGD 4.70

$3.43 $3.43

8.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 SGD 1.02

$1.42 $1.42

-42.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.66 SGD 21.11

$30.19 $30.19

-44.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.44 SGD 3.09

$0.95 $0.95

156.84%

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

$156.3K SGD 198.1K

$36.7K $36.7K

325.74%

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

$148.4K SGD 188.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

479.20%

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

$163 SGD 206

$215 $215

-24.34%

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

$12.54 SGD 15.89

$58.0 $58.0

-78.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 SGD 35.37

$83.4 $83.4

-66.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 SGD 138

$121 $121

-10.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.63 SGD 14.73

$7.08 $7.08

64.27%

Cinema Ticket

$11.84 SGD 15.00

$10.63 $10.63

11.38%

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

$1,471 SGD 1,864

$1,478 $1,478

-0.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K SGD 37.6K

$16.8K $16.8K

76.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.5 SGD 101

$44.98 $44.98

76.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 SGD 67.3

$39.11 $39.11

35.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 SGD 141

$89.1 $89.1

25.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 SGD 164

$109 $109

18.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,051 SGD 3,866

$1,856 $1,856

64.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,163 SGD 2,740

$1,601 $1,601

35.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,870 SGD 7,438

$3,957 $3,957

48.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,862 SGD 4,893

$2,633 $2,633

46.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.7K SGD 30.1K

$4,040 $4,040

487.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.8K SGD 21.3K

$3,965 $3,965

323.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,259 SGD 5,397

$4,816 $4,816

-11.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.43

6.1

-60.16%

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

Last update for Singapore: September 5, 2026

Last update for Amherst, MA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,051 in Singapore and $1,856 in Amherst, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amherst, MA pays 13% 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 $74.0 in Amherst, MA. Groceries flip the comparison at $457 vs $431, with Amherst, MA 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 Amherst, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amherst, MA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 13% 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: $3,051 in Singapore versus $1,856 in Amherst, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,471 in Singapore versus $1,478 in Amherst, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% 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 16% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.