Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Banda Aceh

For one person, living is cheaper in Banda Aceh: $320 a month against $3,493 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $38,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,493
/mo nomad
Banda Aceh
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$320
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Banda Aceh

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Singapore and in Banda Aceh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,493 per month in Singapore vs $320 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

  • Singapore $3,493
  • Banda Aceh $320

A couple spends around $5,174 per month in Singapore vs $511 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

  • Singapore $5,174
  • Banda Aceh $511

A family of three spends $6,855 per month in Singapore vs $702 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

  • Singapore $6,855
  • Banda Aceh $702

Singapore costs about 992% more than Banda Aceh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Singapore sits 158% above the global median, while Banda Aceh is 76% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Banda Aceh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.74 SGD 15.02
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
443.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3 SGD 95.1
$6.74 Rp 121.3K
1002.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 SGD 11.21
$3.34 Rp 60.1K
162.28%
Cappuccino
$5.32 SGD 6.80
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
350.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 SGD 2.42
$0.38 Rp 6,778
397.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 SGD 1.55
$0.21 Rp 3,774
476.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.46 SGD 10.82
$2.47 Rp 44.5K
242.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.83 SGD 12.57
$3.94 Rp 70.9K
149.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Banda Aceh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.91 SGD 3.72
$1.64 Rp 29.6K
77.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 SGD 3.22
$0.86 Rp 15.5K
193.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 SGD 3.66
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
257.50%
Eggs
$3.64 SGD 4.66
$1.65 Rp 29.7K
120.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.88 SGD 26.71
$8.49 Rp 152.9K
145.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.92 SGD 12.69
$2.42 Rp 43.6K
309.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.77 SGD 32.98
$6.59 Rp 118.7K
291.05%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 SGD 6.02
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
114.61%
Banana (1kg)
$3.08 SGD 3.94
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
262.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 SGD 6.06
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
492.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 SGD 2.80
$0.85 Rp 15.3K
157.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 SGD 3.29
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
225.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 SGD 2.97
$3.42 Rp 61.5K
-32.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 SGD 2.39
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
126.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 SGD 1.78
$0.40 Rp 7,281
247.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.80 SGD 17.66
$3.02 Rp 54.4K
356.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.29 SGD 29.81
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.77 SGD 6.10
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 SGD 6.00
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Banda Aceh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.60 SGD 2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.0 SGD 123
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.61 SGD 4.61
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 SGD 1.02
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.63 SGD 21.28
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.56 SGD 3.28
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
208.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$157.0K SGD 200.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$149.8K SGD 191.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Banda Aceh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 SGD 220
$33.38 Rp 600.8K
414.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.13 SGD 15.53
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
432.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.02 SGD 35.86
$23.39 Rp 421.0K
19.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Banda Aceh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$108 SGD 138
$9.66 Rp 173.8K
1018.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.24 SGD 15.67
$13.06 Rp 235.2K
-6.28%
Cinema Ticket
$12.03 SGD 15.39
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Banda Aceh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,473 SGD 1,885
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.7K SGD 36.8K
$1,931 Rp 34.8M
1388.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Banda Aceh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.0 SGD 99.9
$27.16 Rp 488.9K
187.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 SGD 65.1
$22.04 Rp 396.8K
130.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 SGD 139
$43.60 Rp 784.8K
149.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 SGD 158
$27.35 Rp 492.3K
350.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Banda Aceh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,917 SGD 3,733
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,161 SGD 2,765
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,769 SGD 7,383
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,849 SGD 4,925
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.2K SGD 29.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.9K SGD 21.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Banda Aceh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,547 SGD 5,818
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
0
-

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

Last update for Singapore: October 20, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Banda Aceh
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Banda Aceh
$133 * 70.9% $325
Eating Out
Singapore
$258
Banda Aceh
$64 75.2% $194
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$212
Banda Aceh
$59 72.1% $153
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$162
Banda Aceh
$54 66.7% $108
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$132
Banda Aceh
$9.7 * 92.7% $122
Getting Around
Singapore
$110
Banda Aceh
- * 100%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Singapore versus $7.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $458 vs $133 – making Banda Aceh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇮🇩 Banda Aceh
🕒 Local time
11:15 11:15 AM
10:15 10:15 AM
1 h behind Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
223,446
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.781 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 SGD (1 SGD = 0.695 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Singapore Banda Aceh 1,060 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Banda Aceh

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Banda Aceh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banda Aceh cheaper than Singapore?
Yes – Singapore is pricier by about 992%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,240 per month in Singapore and $480 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Singapore and in Banda Aceh?
Groceries cost about 244% more in Singapore, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Singapore or in Banda Aceh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Singapore and $7.00 in Banda Aceh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Singapore or in Banda Aceh?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $320, than in Singapore at $3,493. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Singapore or Banda Aceh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Singapore or Banda Aceh?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. 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.

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