Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Moratuwa

For one person, living is cheaper in Moratuwa: $131 a month against $3,544 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $41,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore, Singapore
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,544
/mo nomad
Moratuwa
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$131
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Moratuwa

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

A single person spends $3,544 per month in Singapore vs $131 in Moratuwa, rent included.

  • Singapore $3,544
  • Moratuwa $131

A couple spends around $5,318 per month in Singapore vs $211 in Moratuwa, rent included.

  • Singapore $5,318
  • Moratuwa $211

A family of three spends $7,093 per month in Singapore vs $291 in Moratuwa, rent included.

  • Singapore $7,093
  • Moratuwa $291

Singapore costs about 2600% more than Moratuwa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Singapore sits 160% above the global median, while Moratuwa is 90% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Moratuwa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 SGD 14.90
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4 SGD 95.4
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.35 SGD 10.70
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.24 SGD 6.71
$1.84 LKR 611
184.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 SGD 2.34
$0.71 LKR 234
157.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 SGD 1.64
$0.15 LKR 49.28
753.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.33 SGD 10.68
$1.85 LKR 616
350.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.99 SGD 12.80
$2.46 LKR 816
306.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Moratuwa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.99 SGD 3.83
$1.25 LKR 417
139.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 SGD 3.31
$0.46 LKR 154
460.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.77 SGD 3.55
$0.82 LKR 272
237.80%
Eggs
$3.76 SGD 4.82
$2.36 LKR 785
59.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.85 SGD 26.73
$12.27 LKR 4,078
69.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.01 SGD 12.83
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.28 SGD 32.41
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.52 SGD 5.79
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$3.19 SGD 4.09
$0.46 LKR 154
593.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.57 SGD 5.86
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 SGD 2.78
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 SGD 3.18
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 SGD 2.99
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 SGD 2.44
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 SGD 1.85
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.85 SGD 17.76
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$23.38 SGD 29.97
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.69 SGD 6.02
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.80 SGD 6.16
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Moratuwa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 SGD 1.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.6 SGD 124
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 SGD 4.76
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 SGD 1.03
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.41 SGD 21.04
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.53 SGD 3.25
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$156.9K SGD 201.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$154.6K SGD 198.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Moratuwa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 SGD 218
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.39 SGD 15.89
$4.44 LKR 1,475
179.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.02 SGD 35.92
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Moratuwa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$111 SGD 143
$15.01 LKR 4,989
642.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.09 SGD 15.50
$3.08 LKR 1,024
292.53%
Cinema Ticket
$12.21 SGD 15.65
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Moratuwa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,878 SGD 2,408
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.1K SGD 37.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Moratuwa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.8 SGD 98.5
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 SGD 66.1
$6.05 LKR 2,013
751.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 SGD 138
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 SGD 158
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Moratuwa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 SGD 3,972
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,213 SGD 2,837
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,983 SGD 7,671
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,088 SGD 5,241
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.1K SGD 29.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.7K SGD 21.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Moratuwa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,464 SGD 5,724
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
0
-

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

Last update for Singapore: October 25, 2026

Last update for Moratuwa: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Moratuwa
–
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Moratuwa
–
Eating Out
Singapore
$255
Moratuwa
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210
Moratuwa
–
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$161
Moratuwa
–
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$136
Moratuwa
–
Getting Around
Singapore
$110
Moratuwa
–
Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇱🇰 Moratuwa
🕒 Local time
07:44 7:44 AM
05:14 5:14 AM
2 h 30 min behind Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
207,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.78 USD). 1 EUR = 1.43 SGD (1 SGD = 0.701 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 332 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 370 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Singapore Moratuwa 2,730 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Moratuwa

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 Moratuwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moratuwa cheaper than Singapore?
Yes – Singapore is pricier by about 2600%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,316 per month in Singapore and $197 in Moratuwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Singapore and in Moratuwa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,544 in Singapore and $131 in Moratuwa. That makes Moratuwa about 96% cheaper.
How do food prices compare in Singapore and in Moratuwa?
Groceries cost about 559% more in Singapore, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Singapore or in Moratuwa?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Moratuwa, where all-in costs run around $131, than in Singapore at $3,544. In Moratuwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Singapore or in Moratuwa?
It depends on your priorities. Moratuwa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $131 in Moratuwa to $3,544 in Singapore. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Singapore or Moratuwa?
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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