Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Mount Victoria

For one person, living is cheaper in Mount Victoria: $2,682 a month against $3,500 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,500
/mo nomad
Mount Victoria
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,682
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Mount Victoria

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,500 in Singapore versus $2,682 in Mount Victoria.

  • Singapore $3,500
  • Mount Victoria $2,682

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,265 in Singapore versus $3,761 in Mount Victoria.

  • Singapore $5,265
  • Mount Victoria $3,761

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,030 in Singapore versus $4,841 in Mount Victoria.

  • Singapore $7,030
  • Mount Victoria $4,841

Living in Singapore is roughly 31% more expensive than in Mount Victoria, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 159% above, Mount Victoria 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Mount Victoria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.76 SGD 15.05
$20.56 A$29.45
-42.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 SGD 90.4
$88.6 A$127
-20.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 SGD 10.94
$10.50 A$15.04
-18.57%
Cappuccino
$5.20 SGD 6.66
$4.18 A$5.98
24.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SGD 2.27
$3.01 A$4.32
-41.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 SGD 1.58
$2.58 A$3.69
-52.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.26 SGD 10.58
$8.57 A$12.27
-3.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.17 SGD 13.01
$9.92 A$14.21
2.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Mount Victoria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.04 SGD 3.90
$1.55 A$2.23
96.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 SGD 3.26
$3.19 A$4.57
-20.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 SGD 3.66
$2.59 A$3.71
10.42%
Eggs
$3.53 SGD 4.52
$5.32 A$7.63
-33.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.12 SGD 27.03
$12.85 A$18.41
64.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.90 SGD 12.67
$9.68 A$13.87
2.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.42 SGD 32.53
$15.35 A$22.00
65.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 SGD 5.85
$3.89 A$5.58
17.48%
Banana (1kg)
$3.13 SGD 4.00
$3.13 A$4.49
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.72 SGD 6.04
$3.52 A$5.05
34.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 SGD 2.85
$5.31 A$7.61
-58.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 SGD 3.29
$3.02 A$4.33
-14.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 SGD 2.93
$2.85 A$4.09
-19.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 SGD 2.39
$2.56 A$3.67
-26.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 SGD 1.84
$1.32 A$1.89
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 SGD 17.88
$44.59 A$63.9
-68.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.48 SGD 30.05
$13.84 A$19.82
69.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 SGD 5.80
$4.65 A$6.66
-2.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 SGD 5.68
$5.53 A$7.93
-19.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Mount Victoria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 SGD 2.01
$3.19 A$4.57
-50.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 SGD 120
$70.2 A$101
33.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 SGD 4.66
$4.06 A$5.81
-10.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 SGD 0.97
$1.56 A$2.24
-51.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.14 SGD 20.66
$42.77 A$61.3
-62.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.45 SGD 3.14
$1.31 A$1.88
87.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$155.2K SGD 198.6K
$27.2K A$39.0K
470.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$148.5K SGD 190.0K
$30.1K A$43.1K
393.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Mount Victoria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 SGD 220
$181 A$259
-5.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.39 SGD 15.86
$26.19 A$37.52
-52.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.21 SGD 33.54
$55.1 A$79.0
-52.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Mount Victoria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$108 SGD 138
$56.6 A$81.1
90.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.31 SGD 15.75
$18.13 A$25.97
-32.10%
Cinema Ticket
$11.64 SGD 14.90
$15.87 A$22.74
-26.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Mount Victoria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,481 SGD 1,895
$2,388 A$3,421
-38.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K SGD 36.3K
$20.1K A$28.8K
40.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Mount Victoria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.6 SGD 103
$76.6 A$110
5.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 SGD 64.1
$56.8 A$81.3
-11.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 SGD 143
$106 A$152
5.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 SGD 165
$134 A$192
-3.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Mount Victoria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,015 SGD 3,858
$1,557 A$2,230
93.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,171 SGD 2,778
$1,343 A$1,924
61.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,842 SGD 7,476
$2,217 A$3,176
163.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,044 SGD 5,175
$1,781 A$2,551
127.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.8K SGD 30.4K
$5,418 A$7,762
339.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.8K SGD 21.4K
$5,563 A$7,969
201.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Mount Victoria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,385 SGD 5,611
$4,096 A$5,868
7.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
5.95
-58.99%

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

Last update for Singapore: October 13, 2026

Last update for Mount Victoria: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Mount Victoria
$1.3K 38.1% $828
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Mount Victoria
$394 13.9% $64
Eating Out
Singapore
$256
Mount Victoria
$331 29.4% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210
Mount Victoria
$262 24.8% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$167
Mount Victoria
$168 0.6% $1.1
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$131
Mount Victoria
$88 32.7% $43
Getting Around
Singapore
$107
Mount Victoria
$95 11.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,015 in Singapore and $1,557 in Mount Victoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Singapore pays 7% 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 $89.0 in Mount Victoria. Groceries flip the comparison at $458 vs $394, with Mount Victoria cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇦🇺 Mount Victoria
🕒 Local time
07:26 7:26 AM
10:26 10:26 AM
3 h ahead of Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
989
💱 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 Mount Victoria 6,210 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Mount Victoria

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 Mount Victoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Victoria cheaper than Singapore?
Mount Victoria is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and transport. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Singapore or Mount Victoria?
Average pay runs 7% higher in Singapore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Singapore and Mount Victoria?
Rent for a central apartment: $3,015 in Singapore versus $1,557 in Mount Victoria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Singapore and in Mount Victoria?
All in, you'll spend $3,500 per month in Singapore versus $2,682 in Mount Victoria – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Mount Victoria runs roughly 34% less than in Singapore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Singapore or in Mount Victoria?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Mount Victoria is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Singapore or in Mount Victoria?
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.
Which city is safer, Singapore or Mount Victoria?
Safety-wise, Singapore and Mount Victoria are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mount Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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