Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and New City, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and New City, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,507 per month in Singapore vs $4,431 in New City, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,136 per month in Singapore vs $6,263 in New City, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,764 per month in Singapore vs $8,096 in New City, NY, rent included.

Singapore is about 21% cheaper than New City, NY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Singapore and New City, NY sit above the global median – Singapore by 163%, New City, NY by 232%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.77 SGD 13.92

$14.04 $14.04

-23.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.1 SGD 101

$76.1 $76.1

2.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 SGD 9.79

$10.80 $10.80

-29.81%

Cappuccino

$4.84 SGD 6.26

$5.02 $5.02

-3.59%

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

$1.70 SGD 2.20

$2.44 $2.44

-30.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 SGD 1.55

$1.89 $1.89

-36.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 SGD 10.14

$7.11 $7.11

10.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.15 SGD 11.82

$9.07 $9.07

0.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.07 SGD 3.96

$0.88 $0.88

248.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 SGD 3.07

$3.73 $3.73

-36.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.79 SGD 3.60

$5.20 $5.20

-46.35%

Eggs

$3.29 SGD 4.25

$4.94 $4.94

-33.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.19 SGD 24.80

$21.06 $21.06

-8.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.42 SGD 14.75

$11.80 $11.80

-3.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.61 SGD 29.21

$17.21 $17.21

31.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 SGD 5.89

$4.91 $4.91

-7.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 SGD 3.85

$1.27 $1.27

134.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.95 SGD 6.40

$3.85 $3.85

28.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 SGD 3.54

$4.30 $4.30

-36.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 SGD 3.25

$2.91 $2.91

-13.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 SGD 2.80

$3.77 $3.77

-42.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 SGD 2.52

$2.28 $2.28

-14.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SGD 1.93

$1.17 $1.17

27.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.20 SGD 17.06

$12.02 $12.02

9.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.04 SGD 29.77

$10.01 $10.01

130.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 SGD 5.39

$1.68 $1.68

148.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.16 SGD 6.66

$6.09 $6.09

-15.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 SGD 2.06

$2.77 $2.77

-42.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.0 SGD 121

$123 $123

-23.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 SGD 4.76

$2.92 $2.92

26.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 SGD 0.94

$2.01 $2.01

-64.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.54 SGD 21.37

$24.46 $24.46

-32.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 SGD 2.84

$0.90 $0.90

144.44%

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

$142.5K SGD 184.1K

$31.5K $31.5K

352.03%

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

$127.5K SGD 164.7K

$25.8K $25.8K

394.34%

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

$156 SGD 201

$126 $126

23.79%

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

$18.63 SGD 24.08

$44.58 $44.58

-58.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.75 SGD 48.77

$65.1 $65.1

-41.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$120 SGD 155

$42.17 $42.17

184.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.10 SGD 15.63

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 SGD 14.90

$16.70 $16.70

-30.96%

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

$1,190 SGD 1,537

$1,979 $1,979

-39.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.1K SGD 37.7K

$23.8K $23.8K

22.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.5 SGD 108

$50.3 $50.3

65.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.55 SGD 55.0

$64.3 $64.3

-33.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 SGD 139

$71.2 $71.2

51.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 SGD 166

$136 $136

-5.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,209 SGD 4,146

$3,043 $3,043

5.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,299 SGD 2,971

$3,177 $3,177

-27.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,127 SGD 7,916

$5,704 $5,704

7.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,793 SGD 4,901

$5,181 $5,181

-26.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.3K SGD 30.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K SGD 21.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,969 SGD 5,128

$8,063 $8,063

-50.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.19

6.62

-51.81%

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

Last update for Singapore: July 14, 2026

Last update for New City, NY: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,209 in Singapore versus $3,043 in New City, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 103% higher in New City, NY, 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 $78.0 in Singapore versus $76.0 in New City, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 vs $410 – making New City, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 New City, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,507 in Singapore, $4,431 in New City, NY – roughly 26% apart. New City, NY costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,261 per month in Singapore and $6,646 in New City, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Singapore, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,190 per month in Singapore and $1,979 in New City, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in New City, NY – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,507 in Singapore and $4,431 in New City, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Singapore – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Singapore. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New City, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.