Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Davis, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Davis, CA: $3,316 a month against $3,544 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Singapore outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Singapore, Singapore
Davis, CA, United States
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,544
/mo nomad
Davis, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,316
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Davis, CA

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

A single person spends $3,544 per month in Singapore vs $3,316 in Davis, CA, rent included.

  • Singapore $3,544
  • Davis, CA $3,316

A couple spends around $5,318 per month in Singapore vs $4,712 in Davis, CA, rent included.

  • Singapore $5,318
  • Davis, CA $4,712

A family of three spends $7,093 per month in Singapore vs $6,107 in Davis, CA, rent included.

  • Singapore $7,093
  • Davis, CA $6,107

Singapore costs about 7% more than Davis, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Singapore and Davis, CA sit above the global median – Singapore by 160%, Davis, CA by 144%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Davis, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 SGD 14.85
$22.69 $22.69
-48.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4 SGD 95.1
$99.5 $99.5
-25.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.35 SGD 10.67
$12.87 $12.87
-35.12%
Cappuccino
$5.24 SGD 6.69
$5.02 $5.02
4.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 SGD 2.34
$3.57 $3.57
-48.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 SGD 1.64
$2.36 $2.36
-45.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.33 SGD 10.65
$8.06 $8.06
3.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.99 SGD 12.76
$8.15 $8.15
22.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Davis, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.99 SGD 3.82
$1.33 $1.33
124.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 SGD 3.30
$3.81 $3.81
-32.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.77 SGD 3.54
$4.20 $4.20
-34.05%
Eggs
$3.76 SGD 4.80
$5.11 $5.11
-26.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.85 SGD 26.64
$11.06 $11.06
88.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.01 SGD 12.79
$15.66 $15.66
-36.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.28 SGD 32.31
$17.26 $17.26
46.47%
Apples (1kg)
$4.52 SGD 5.77
$5.14 $5.14
-12.06%
Banana (1kg)
$3.19 SGD 4.08
$1.65 $1.65
93.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.57 SGD 5.84
$4.34 $4.34
5.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 SGD 2.77
$4.78 $4.78
-54.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 SGD 3.17
$2.77 $2.77
-10.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 SGD 2.98
$3.08 $3.08
-24.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 SGD 2.44
$2.28 $2.28
-16.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 SGD 1.85
$2.22 $2.22
-34.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.85 SGD 17.70
$10.67 $10.67
29.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.38 SGD 29.88
$16.12 $16.12
45.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.69 SGD 6.00
$2.20 $2.20
113.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.80 SGD 6.14
$3.43 $3.43
39.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Davis, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 SGD 1.94
$1.48 $1.48
2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.6 SGD 124
$37.27 $37.27
159.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 SGD 4.75
$3.40 $3.40
9.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 SGD 1.03
$1.52 $1.52
-46.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.41 SGD 20.98
$29.75 $29.75
-44.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.53 SGD 3.24
$1.39 $1.39
82.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$156.9K SGD 200.5K
$27.7K $27.7K
467.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$154.6K SGD 197.5K
$25.1K $25.1K
516.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Davis, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 SGD 217
$289 $289
-41.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.39 SGD 15.84
$58.5 $58.5
-78.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.02 SGD 35.81
$77.6 $77.6
-63.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Davis, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$111 SGD 142
$43.16 $43.16
158.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.09 SGD 15.45
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.21 SGD 15.61
$15.40 $15.40
-20.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Davis, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,878 SGD 2,400
$1,391 $1,391
34.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.1K SGD 37.2K
$24.7K $24.7K
17.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Davis, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.8 SGD 98.1
$54.3 $54.3
41.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 SGD 65.9
$41.13 $41.13
25.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 SGD 137
$94.9 $94.9
13.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 SGD 157
$115 $115
7.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Davis, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 SGD 3,959
$1,743 $1,743
77.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,213 SGD 2,828
$1,836 $1,836
20.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,983 SGD 7,647
$3,453 $3,453
73.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,088 SGD 5,224
$2,849 $2,849
43.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.1K SGD 29.5K
$2,834 $2,834
715.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.7K SGD 21.3K
$4,209 $4,209
296.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Davis, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,464 SGD 5,706
$5,088 $5,088
-12.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
6.1
-60.00%

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

Last update for Singapore: October 25, 2026

Last update for Davis, CA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Davis, CA
$1.8K 17% $377
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Davis, CA
$429 6.3% $29
Eating Out
Singapore
$255
Davis, CA
$361 41.5% $106
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210
Davis, CA
$425 102% $215
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$161
Davis, CA
$137 14.9% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$136
Davis, CA
$74 45.5% $62
Getting Around
Singapore
$110
Davis, CA
$54 50.9% $56

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,098 in Singapore versus $1,743 in Davis, CA. 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 14% higher in Davis, CA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Singapore versus $100 in Davis, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $458 in Singapore vs $429 in Davis, CA – so Davis, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇺🇸 Davis, CA
🕒 Local time
19:12 7:12 PM
03:12 3:12 AM
16 h behind Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
66,850
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.782 USD). 1 EUR = 1.43 SGD (1 SGD = 0.701 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Singapore Davis, CA 13,590 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Davis, CA

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 Davis, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Davis, CA cheaper than Singapore?
Yes – Singapore is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,316 per month in Singapore and $4,975 in Davis, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Davis, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,743 there versus $3,098 in Singapore.
What are total monthly expenses in Singapore and in Davis, CA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,544 in Singapore and $3,316 in Davis, CA. That makes Davis, CA about 6% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 61% less in Davis, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Singapore or in Davis, CA?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,544 in Singapore and $3,316 in Davis, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Singapore or Davis, CA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Davis, CA – 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 Davis, CA?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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