Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Davis, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Davis, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,553 per month in Singapore vs $3,370 in Davis, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,199 per month in Singapore vs $4,980 in Davis, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,845 per month in Singapore vs $6,590 in Davis, CA, rent included.

Singapore costs about 5% more than Davis, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Singapore and Davis, CA sit above the global median – Singapore by 160%, Davis, CA by 146%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.64 SGD 14.87

$22.46 $22.46

-48.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.1 SGD 79.4

$99.3 $99.3

-37.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 SGD 11.00

$13.25 $13.25

-35.02%

Cappuccino

$5.03 SGD 6.42

$5.24 $5.24

-4.01%

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

$1.77 SGD 2.27

$3.61 $3.61

-50.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 SGD 1.50

$2.29 $2.29

-48.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 SGD 10.45

$7.98 $7.98

2.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.03 SGD 12.81

$8.23 $8.23

21.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.16 SGD 4.03

$1.33 $1.33

137.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 SGD 3.23

$3.67 $3.67

-31.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 SGD 3.58

$4.02 $4.02

-30.35%

Eggs

$3.70 SGD 4.73

$5.23 $5.23

-29.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.13 SGD 27.01

$10.87 $10.87

94.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.81 SGD 12.54

$15.25 $15.25

-35.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.21 SGD 32.21

$17.01 $17.01

48.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 SGD 5.75

$4.86 $4.86

-7.41%

Banana (1kg)

$3.00 SGD 3.83

$1.65 $1.65

81.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.72 SGD 6.04

$4.50 $4.50

4.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 SGD 2.93

$4.76 $4.76

-51.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 SGD 3.23

$2.72 $2.72

-7.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 SGD 3.00

$3.01 $3.01

-21.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 SGD 2.34

$2.31 $2.31

-20.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 SGD 1.83

$2.23 $2.23

-35.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.09 SGD 18.00

$10.16 $10.16

38.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.37 SGD 29.87

$16.21 $16.21

44.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.71 SGD 6.02

$2.10 $2.10

124.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 SGD 5.61

$3.43 $3.43

27.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 SGD 1.95

$1.52 $1.52

0.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 SGD 128

$38.07 $38.07

162.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 SGD 4.61

$3.45 $3.45

4.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 SGD 0.98

$1.52 $1.52

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.02 SGD 21.75

$27.61 $27.61

-38.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.52 SGD 3.21

$1.30 $1.30

93.85%

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

$158.1K SGD 202.0K

$36.2K $36.2K

336.14%

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

$145.5K SGD 186.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

474.79%

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

$164 SGD 209

$290 $290

-43.49%

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

$12.44 SGD 15.89

$56.1 $56.1

-77.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.11 SGD 34.65

$76.5 $76.5

-64.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 SGD 139

$58.5 $58.5

86.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.97 SGD 15.30

Cinema Ticket

$11.84 SGD 15.13

$15.63 $15.63

-24.25%

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

$1,461 SGD 1,866

$1,402 $1,402

4.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K SGD 37.0K

$22.8K $22.8K

27.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 SGD 103

$53.7 $53.7

49.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 SGD 65.8

$41.91 $41.91

22.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 SGD 144

$96.3 $96.3

16.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 SGD 164

$114 $114

12.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,006 SGD 3,842

$2,184 $2,184

37.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,134 SGD 2,727

$1,892 $1,892

12.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,997 SGD 7,663

$3,809 $3,809

57.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,934 SGD 5,027

$3,369 $3,369

16.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.2K SGD 29.6K

$2,771 $2,771

736.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.8K SGD 21.5K

$2,405 $2,405

599.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,145 SGD 5,297

$4,954 $4,954

-16.33%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Davis, CA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,006 in Singapore versus $2,184 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 20% 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 $62.0 in Singapore versus $99.0 in Davis, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $458 in Singapore vs $423 in Davis, CA – so Davis, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Yes – Singapore is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,329 per month in Singapore and $5,056 in Davis, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,553 in Singapore and $3,370 in Davis, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 163% less in Davis, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,553 in Singapore and $3,370 in Davis, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.

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 Davis, CA. 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.