Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Geelong

For one person, living is cheaper in Geelong: $2,602 a month against $3,500 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,500
/mo nomad
Geelong
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,602
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Geelong

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,500 in Singapore versus $2,602 in Geelong.

  • Singapore $3,500
  • Geelong $2,602

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,265 in Singapore versus $3,495 in Geelong.

  • Singapore $5,265
  • Geelong $3,495

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,030 in Singapore versus $4,387 in Geelong.

  • Singapore $7,030
  • Geelong $4,387

Living in Singapore is roughly 35% more expensive than in Geelong, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 159% above, Geelong 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Geelong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.76 SGD 15.05
$17.56 A$25.16
-33.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 SGD 90.4
$82.2 A$118
-14.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 SGD 10.94
$10.29 A$14.73
-16.91%
Cappuccino
$5.20 SGD 6.66
$3.80 A$5.45
36.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SGD 2.27
$2.80 A$4.02
-36.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 SGD 1.58
$2.16 A$3.09
-43.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.26 SGD 10.58
$6.53 A$9.35
26.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.17 SGD 13.01
$7.85 A$11.25
29.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Geelong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.04 SGD 3.90
$1.55 A$2.22
96.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 SGD 3.26
$2.54 A$3.63
0.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 SGD 3.66
$1.87 A$2.68
52.94%
Eggs
$3.53 SGD 4.52
$4.27 A$6.11
-17.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.12 SGD 27.03
$7.75 A$11.10
172.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.90 SGD 12.67
$9.66 A$13.83
2.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.42 SGD 32.53
$15.35 A$21.98
65.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 SGD 5.85
$4.12 A$5.90
10.92%
Banana (1kg)
$3.13 SGD 4.00
$2.92 A$4.19
7.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.72 SGD 6.04
$2.90 A$4.16
62.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 SGD 2.85
$3.23 A$4.63
-30.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 SGD 3.29
$3.06 A$4.38
-16.01%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 SGD 2.93
$2.17 A$3.11
5.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 SGD 2.39
$2.07 A$2.97
-9.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 SGD 1.84
$1.55 A$2.23
-7.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 SGD 17.88
$45.24 A$64.8
-69.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.48 SGD 30.05
$12.64 A$18.11
85.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 SGD 5.80
$3.78 A$5.42
20.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 SGD 5.68
$2.96 A$4.25
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Geelong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 SGD 2.01
$7.45 A$10.68
-78.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 SGD 120
$128 A$183
-26.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 SGD 4.66
$4.45 A$6.38
-18.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 SGD 0.97
$1.36 A$1.95
-44.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.14 SGD 20.66
$29.97 A$42.93
-46.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.45 SGD 3.14
$1.29 A$1.85
89.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$155.2K SGD 198.6K
$28.0K A$40.1K
454.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$148.5K SGD 190.0K
$26.3K A$37.7K
464.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Geelong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 SGD 220
$155 A$221
10.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.39 SGD 15.86
$25.90 A$37.11
-52.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.21 SGD 33.54
$56.5 A$81.0
-53.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Geelong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$108 SGD 138
$55.7 A$79.8
93.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.31 SGD 15.75
$15.25 A$21.85
-19.28%
Cinema Ticket
$11.64 SGD 14.90
$12.72 A$18.22
-8.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Geelong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,481 SGD 1,895
$2,138 A$3,063
-30.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K SGD 36.3K
$29.6K A$42.4K
-4.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Geelong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.6 SGD 103
$79.5 A$114
1.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 SGD 64.1
$48.93 A$70.1
2.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 SGD 143
$94.0 A$135
18.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 SGD 165
$105 A$150
23.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Geelong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,015 SGD 3,858
$1,264 A$1,810
138.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,171 SGD 2,778
$1,343 A$1,924
61.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,842 SGD 7,476
$1,717 A$2,460
240.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,044 SGD 5,175
$1,506 A$2,157
168.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.8K SGD 30.4K
$6,557 A$9,393
262.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.8K SGD 21.4K
$5,281 A$7,566
217.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Geelong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,385 SGD 5,611
$3,086 A$4,421
42.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
5.9
-58.64%

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

Last update for Singapore: October 13, 2026

Last update for Geelong: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Geelong
$1.3K 38.1% $827
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Geelong
$340 25.8% $118
Eating Out
Singapore
$256
Geelong
$285 11.5% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210
Geelong
$237 12.8% $27
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$167
Geelong
$147 11.9% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$131
Geelong
$81 38.2% $50
Getting Around
Singapore
$107
Geelong
$169 57.3% $62

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,015 in Singapore and $1,264 in Geelong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Singapore pays 42% 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: $71.0 in Singapore vs $82.0 in Geelong. Groceries flip the comparison at $458 vs $340, with Geelong cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇦🇺 Geelong
🕒 Local time
07:17 7:17 AM
10:17 10:17 AM
3 h ahead of Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
180,239
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.781 USD). 1 EUR = 1.43 SGD (1 SGD = 0.698 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.698 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Singapore Geelong 6,040 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Geelong

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 Geelong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Singapore and in Geelong?
Singapore and Geelong differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($3,500 vs $2,602 including rent). Geelong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Singapore or Geelong?
Average pay runs 42% higher in Singapore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Singapore and in Geelong?
Rent for a central apartment: $3,015 in Singapore versus $1,264 in Geelong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Singapore or Geelong?
All in, you'll spend $3,500 per month in Singapore versus $2,602 in Geelong – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Singapore and in Geelong?
A monthly transit pass in Geelong runs roughly 36% less than in Singapore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,602 in Geelong versus $3,500 in Singapore, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Geelong but tight or insufficient in Singapore. The gap between the two cities makes Geelong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Singapore and Geelong?
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.
Is Singapore or Geelong safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Singapore and Geelong are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Singapore or Geelong?
Expats usually find Geelong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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