Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Douglas Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Douglas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,651 in Singapore versus $2,604 in Douglas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,223 in Singapore versus $3,864 in Douglas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,796 in Singapore versus $5,124 in Douglas.

Living in Singapore is roughly 40% more expensive than Douglas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 172% above, Douglas 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.73 SGD 13.77

$29.73 IMP 22.09

-63.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 SGD 101

$109 IMP 81.2

-28.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 SGD 10.11

$9.73 IMP 7.23

-19.01%

Cappuccino

$4.92 SGD 6.31

$5.49 IMP 4.08

-10.38%

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

$1.63 SGD 2.10

$2.85 IMP 2.12

-42.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 SGD 1.58

$1.93 IMP 1.43

-36.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 SGD 10.07

$6.68 IMP 4.96

17.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.61 SGD 12.33

$6.06 IMP 4.50

58.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.07 SGD 3.94

$1.91 IMP 1.42

60.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 SGD 3.09

$2.03 IMP 1.51

18.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 SGD 3.60

$2.00 IMP 1.48

40.50%

Eggs

$3.37 SGD 4.33

$4.36 IMP 3.24

-22.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.34 SGD 24.82

$6.87 IMP 5.10

181.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.36 SGD 14.57

$8.29 IMP 6.16

37.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.95 SGD 29.45

$11.59 IMP 8.61

98.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 SGD 5.80

$2.40 IMP 1.78

88.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.94 SGD 3.77

$1.74 IMP 1.29

68.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.86 SGD 6.24

$2.61 IMP 1.94

86.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 SGD 3.38

$2.87 IMP 2.13

-8.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 SGD 3.17

$2.31 IMP 1.72

6.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 SGD 2.77

$2.62 IMP 1.94

-17.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 SGD 2.58

$1.59 IMP 1.18

26.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 SGD 1.94

$2.06 IMP 1.53

-26.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.24 SGD 16.99

$22.58 IMP 16.78

-41.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.27 SGD 32.43

$11.84 IMP 8.80

113.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.31 SGD 5.53

$4.00 IMP 2.97

7.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.20 SGD 6.68

$3.81 IMP 2.83

36.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 SGD 2.02

$2.96 IMP 2.20

-46.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.7 SGD 120

$76.0 IMP 56.5

23.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 SGD 4.50

$5.36 IMP 3.98

-34.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 SGD 0.99

$1.53 IMP 1.14

-49.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.11 SGD 20.67

$80.1 IMP 59.5

-79.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 SGD 2.82

$2.26 IMP 1.68

-2.65%

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

$142.1K SGD 182.4K

$35.0K IMP 26.0K

306.11%

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

$129.1K SGD 165.7K

$35.2K IMP 26.2K

266.80%

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

$160 SGD 205

$302 IMP 224

-47.06%

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

$18.36 SGD 23.55

$37.84 IMP 28.12

-51.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.57 SGD 46.92

$70.4 IMP 52.3

-48.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$117 SGD 150

$63.0 IMP 46.79

85.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.39 SGD 15.90

$20.20 IMP 15.01

-38.66%

Cinema Ticket

$11.65 SGD 14.95

$13.73 IMP 10.20

-15.15%

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

$1,184 SGD 1,519

$1,302 IMP 967

-9.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K SGD 38.3K

$31.7K IMP 23.6K

-5.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.2 SGD 106

$93.3 IMP 69.3

-11.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.04 SGD 55.2

$42.35 IMP 31.47

1.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SGD 138

$125 IMP 92.7

-13.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 SGD 168

$76.0 IMP 56.5

72.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,101 SGD 3,979

$1,206 IMP 896

157.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,280 SGD 2,925

$1,085 IMP 806

110.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,201 SGD 7,957

$2,157 IMP 1,603

187.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,793 SGD 4,867

$1,951 IMP 1,450

94.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.5K SGD 30.1K

$4,141 IMP 3,077

467.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.5K SGD 21.2K

$3,108 IMP 2,310

431.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,285 SGD 5,498

$2,996 IMP 2,226

43.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.19

3.66

-12.84%

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

Last update for Singapore: May 30, 2026

Last update for Douglas: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,101 in Singapore and $1,206 in Douglas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Singapore pays 43% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $78.0 in Singapore vs $109 in Douglas. Groceries flip the comparison at $457 vs $304, with Douglas 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 Douglas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Douglas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Singapore pays 43% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,101 in Singapore versus $1,206 in Douglas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,651 per month in Singapore versus $2,604 in Douglas – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Douglas runs roughly 23% less than in Singapore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,604 in Douglas versus $3,651 in Singapore, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Douglas but tight or insufficient in Singapore. The gap between the two cities makes Douglas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Douglas 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 Douglas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.