Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Kollam

For one person, living is cheaper in Kollam: $270 a month against $3,594 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $39,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore, Singapore
Kollam, India
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,594
/mo nomad
Kollam
🇮🇳 India
$270
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Kollam

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

A single person spends $3,594 per month in Singapore vs $270 in Kollam, rent included.

  • Singapore $3,594
  • Kollam $270

A couple spends around $5,314 per month in Singapore vs $434 in Kollam, rent included.

  • Singapore $5,314
  • Kollam $434

A family of three spends $7,033 per month in Singapore vs $599 in Kollam, rent included.

  • Singapore $7,033
  • Kollam $599

Singapore costs about 1231% more than Kollam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Singapore sits 166% above the global median, while Kollam is 80% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Kollam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.58 SGD 14.85
$1.03 ₹97.1
1024.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7 SGD 90.6
$6.32 ₹593
1017.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.46 SGD 10.85
$3.10 ₹292
172.90%
Cappuccino
$5.18 SGD 6.65
$1.41 ₹132
267.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 SGD 2.36
$0.34 ₹31.54
441.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 SGD 1.58
$0.12 ₹11.46
925.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.50 SGD 12.18
$1.28 ₹120
642.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.86 SGD 12.65
$1.89 ₹177
421.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Kollam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.02 SGD 3.87
$0.61 ₹57.3
395.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 SGD 3.42
$0.49 ₹46.08
444.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.77 SGD 3.55
$0.50 ₹47.29
454.00%
Eggs
$3.72 SGD 4.77
$0.85 ₹79.8
337.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.01 SGD 26.94
$3.61 ₹339
481.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.95 SGD 12.76
$2.06 ₹193
383.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.13 SGD 32.23
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.59 SGD 5.89
$1.66 ₹156
176.51%
Banana (1kg)
$3.09 SGD 3.96
$0.60 ₹56.7
415.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.64 SGD 5.95
$0.73 ₹68.6
535.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 SGD 2.79
$0.38 ₹35.54
473.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.33 SGD 2.99
$0.37 ₹35.18
529.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 SGD 2.97
$0.39 ₹36.41
492.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 SGD 2.39
$0.63 ₹59.3
195.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 SGD 1.98
$0.25 ₹23.22
520.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.11 SGD 18.10
$5.08 ₹477
177.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.24 SGD 29.81
$2.57 ₹242
804.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.73 SGD 6.07
$1.47 ₹138
221.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79 SGD 6.14
$2.72 ₹255
76.10%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$3.53 ₹331
-
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Kollam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 SGD 1.96
$0.14 ₹13.20
992.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.5 SGD 124
$6.96 ₹654
1285.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 SGD 4.60
$1.43 ₹134
150.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 SGD 0.98
$0.33 ₹31.11
130.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.98 SGD 21.77
$2.13 ₹200
697.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.46 SGD 3.15
$1.13 ₹106
117.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$159.4K SGD 204.4K
$11.2K ₹1.1M
1318.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$155.7K SGD 199.7K
$16.7K ₹1.6M
831.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Kollam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 SGD 215
$18.54 ₹1,740
805.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.24 SGD 15.69
$3.01 ₹282
306.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.18 SGD 36.14
$6.09 ₹572
362.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Kollam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$111 SGD 142
$13.74 ₹1,290
705.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.60 SGD 14.88
$10.57 ₹993
9.74%
Cinema Ticket
$12.24 SGD 15.70
$1.61 ₹151
660.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Kollam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,899 SGD 2,435
$21.21 ₹1,991
8852.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.1K SGD 50.2K
$2,663 ₹250.0K
1369.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Kollam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.6 SGD 102
$16.49 ₹1,548
382.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 SGD 65.0
$24.15 ₹2,267
109.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 SGD 143
$25.43 ₹2,387
338.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 SGD 160
$24.26 ₹2,278
413.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Kollam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,191 SGD 4,093
$83.0 ₹7,788
3747.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,257 SGD 2,895
$48.18 ₹4,524
4584.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,173 SGD 7,917
$184 ₹17.3K
3260.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,035 SGD 5,175
$116 ₹10.9K
3368.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.6K SGD 30.2K
$865 ₹81.2K
2625.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.5K SGD 21.2K
$455 ₹42.7K
3528.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Kollam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,526 SGD 5,804
$520 ₹48.8K
770.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
9.13
-73.27%

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

Last update for Singapore: November 2, 2026

Last update for Kollam: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.3K
Kollam
$48 97.9% $2.2K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$459
Kollam
$80 82.7% $380
Eating Out
Singapore
$260
Kollam
$47 82.1% $213
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$208
Kollam
$28 86.7% $181
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$165
Kollam
$41 75.4% $124
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$135
Kollam
$17 87.5% $118
Getting Around
Singapore
$110
Kollam
$11 90.4% $99

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,191 in Singapore versus $83 in Kollam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Singapore are about 8.7 times higher, 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 in Singapore versus $6 in Kollam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $459 vs $80 – making Kollam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇮🇳 Kollam
🕒 Local time
08:27 8:27 AM
05:57 5:57 AM
2 h 30 min behind Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
367,107
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.78 USD). 1 EUR = 1.43 SGD (1 SGD = 0.698 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 93.89 INR (100 INR = 1.07 USD). 1 EUR = 105 INR (1,000 INR = 9.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Singapore Kollam 3,130 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Kollam

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 Kollam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Singapore or Kollam?
Singapore costs about 1231% more than Kollam, 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Singapore and in Kollam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,392 per month in Singapore and $405 in Kollam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Singapore or Kollam?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kollam, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $83 there versus $3,191 in Singapore.
Are groceries more expensive in Singapore or in Kollam?
Groceries cost about 477% more in Singapore, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Singapore and in Kollam?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Singapore and $6 in Kollam. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Singapore or in Kollam?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kollam, where all-in costs run around $270, than in Singapore at $3,594. In Kollam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Kollam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Singapore compared to Kollam?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Singapore or to Kollam?
If budget matters most, go with Kollam. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Singapore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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