Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Boroko

For one person, living is cheaper in Boroko: $883 a month against $3,454 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $30,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

168

Cost of Living Index in Singapore
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Singapore Living Index
43

Cost of Living Index in Boroko
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Boroko Living Index

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Singapore

🇸🇬 Singapore

$3,454

/mo nomad

Boroko

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea

$883

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Boroko

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 Boroko actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,454 per month in Singapore vs $883 in Boroko, rent included.

Singapore $3,454
Boroko $883

A couple spends around $5,224 per month in Singapore vs $1,279 in Boroko, rent included.

Singapore $5,224
Boroko $1,279

A family of three spends $6,994 per month in Singapore vs $1,676 in Boroko, rent included.

Singapore $6,994
Boroko $1,676

Singapore costs about 291% more than Boroko, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Singapore sits 158% above the global median, while Boroko is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.53 SGD 14.77

$7.32 PGK 32.06

57.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 SGD 91.2

$34.97 PGK 153

103.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 SGD 11.22

$5.65 PGK 24.75

55.04%

Cappuccino

$5.25 SGD 6.73

$2.49 PGK 10.91

110.84%

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

$1.83 SGD 2.34

$0.73 PGK 3.22

150.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 SGD 1.60

$0.68 PGK 2.99

83.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.42 SGD 10.78

$2.57 PGK 11.28

227.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.02 SGD 12.83

$3.60 PGK 15.78

178.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.94 SGD 3.76

$1.51 PGK 6.60

94.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 SGD 3.16

$1.20 PGK 5.27

105.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.71 SGD 3.47

$1.22 PGK 5.34

122.13%

Eggs

$3.73 SGD 4.77

$3.69 PGK 16.19

1.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.54 SGD 27.57

$4.91 PGK 21.53

338.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.52 SGD 12.19

$5.74 PGK 25.15

65.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.98 SGD 33.26

$6.51 PGK 28.52

299.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 SGD 5.74

$3.93 PGK 17.21

13.99%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 SGD 3.99

$3.13 PGK 13.74

-0.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.62 SGD 5.92

$2.68 PGK 11.77

72.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 SGD 2.86

$2.67 PGK 11.70

-16.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 SGD 3.20

$2.84 PGK 12.45

-11.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 SGD 3.05

$0.85 PGK 3.75

180.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 SGD 2.28

$1.13 PGK 4.94

57.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 SGD 1.93

$0.43 PGK 1.87

251.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.18 SGD 18.15

$5.51 PGK 24.17

157.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.79 SGD 30.47

$4.87 PGK 21.34

388.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.51 SGD 5.78

$1.13 PGK 4.95

299.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 SGD 5.86

$1.58 PGK 6.93

189.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 SGD 2.03

$0.43 PGK 1.88

267.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.4 SGD 123

$29.80 PGK 131

223.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 SGD 4.65

$4.54 PGK 19.88

-20.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 SGD 1.02

$1.36 PGK 5.96

-41.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.18 SGD 20.71

$11.18 PGK 49.00

44.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.51 SGD 3.21

$0.79 PGK 3.47

217.72%

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

$155.9K SGD 199.6K

$20.6K PGK 90.3K

656.75%

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

$145.8K SGD 186.6K

$17.4K PGK 76.3K

737.48%

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

$175 SGD 224

$62.5 PGK 274

180.08%

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

$12.45 SGD 15.94

$22.96 PGK 101

-45.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 SGD 34.10

$90.5 PGK 396

-70.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$112 SGD 143

$42.26 PGK 185

163.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.07 SGD 15.45

$14.52 PGK 63.6

-16.87%

Cinema Ticket

$11.60 SGD 14.85

$6.56 PGK 28.74

76.83%

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

$1,463 SGD 1,874

$328 PGK 1,439

345.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.4K SGD 36.3K

$2,247 PGK 9,849

1161.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.5 SGD 104

$32.17 PGK 141

153.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 SGD 64.8

$13.05 PGK 57.2

287.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 SGD 143

$45.08 PGK 198

147.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 SGD 166

$26.83 PGK 118

383.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,916 SGD 3,734

$3,311 PGK 14.5K

-11.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,128 SGD 2,724

$225 PGK 984

847.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,654 SGD 7,239

$3,352 PGK 14.7K

68.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,968 SGD 5,080

$224 PGK 982

1670.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.6K SGD 30.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.8K SGD 21.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,369 SGD 5,594

$356 PGK 1,561

1126.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.44

-77.82%

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

Last update for Singapore: October 5, 2026

Last update for Boroko: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Singapore

$2.1K 61.4%

Boroko

$225 25.2% 89.4% $1.9K

Groceries & Markets

Singapore

$457 13.2%

Boroko

$211 23.6% 54% $247

Eating Out

Singapore

$256 7.4%

Boroko

$131 14.7% 48.8% $125

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Singapore

$214 6.2%

Boroko

$176 19.7% 17.8% $38

Clothing & Footwear

Singapore

$168 4.9%

Boroko

$53 5.9% 68.6% $115

Sport & Entertainment

Singapore

$135 3.9%

Boroko

$55 6.2% 58.9% $79

Getting Around

Singapore

$110 3.2%

Boroko

$43 4.8% 61.2% $67

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,916 in Singapore versus $3,311 in Boroko. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1126% higher in Singapore, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Singapore versus $35.00 in Boroko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $457 vs $211 – making Boroko the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇸🇬 Singapore

🇵🇬 Boroko

🕒 Local time

11:01 11:01 AM

13:01 1:01 PM

2 h ahead of Singapore

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

5,535,002 Capital

💱 Currency

Singapore Dollar SGD $

Papua New Guinean Kina PGK K

📈 Exchange rate

1 SGD = 0.781 USD

1 SGD = 0.696 EUR

1 PGK = 0.228 USD

1 PGK = 0.203 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PGK, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇸🇬 Singapore Dollar ($)

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.781 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 SGD (1 SGD = 0.696 EUR).

Papua New Guinean Kina exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.38 PGK (1 PGK = 0.228 USD). 1 EUR = 4.92 PGK (1 PGK = 0.203 EUR).

USD to SGD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Singapore Boroko 4,950 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Singapore
Boroko

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 Boroko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Singapore costs about 291% more than Boroko, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,180 per month in Singapore and $1,324 in Boroko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Boroko, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,463 per month in Singapore and $328 in Boroko. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 117% more in Singapore, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,454 in Singapore and $883 in Boroko. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Boroko – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Boroko. 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.