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 $3,651 per month in Singapore vs $4,444 in New City, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,223 per month in Singapore vs $6,206 in New City, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,796 per month in Singapore vs $7,967 in New City, NY, rent included.

Singapore is about 18% cheaper than New City, NY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Singapore and New City, NY sit above the global median – Singapore by 172%, New City, NY by 232%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.73 SGD 13.74

$13.77 $13.77

-22.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 SGD 100

$74.1 $74.1

5.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 SGD 10.09

$10.93 $10.93

-27.90%

Cappuccino

$4.92 SGD 6.30

$5.13 $5.13

-4.09%

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

$1.63 SGD 2.09

$2.38 $2.38

-31.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 SGD 1.57

$1.95 $1.95

-36.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 SGD 10.05

$6.97 $6.97

12.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.61 SGD 12.30

$8.80 $8.80

9.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.07 SGD 3.93

$0.94 $0.94

226.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 SGD 3.09

$3.86 $3.86

-37.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 SGD 3.59

$5.14 $5.14

-45.33%

Eggs

$3.37 SGD 4.32

$4.89 $4.89

-31.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.34 SGD 24.76

$21.47 $21.47

-9.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.36 SGD 14.54

$11.67 $11.67

-2.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.95 SGD 29.38

$17.42 $17.42

31.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 SGD 5.79

$4.88 $4.88

-7.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.94 SGD 3.77

$1.31 $1.31

124.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.86 SGD 6.23

$3.99 $3.99

21.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 SGD 3.37

$4.26 $4.26

-38.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 SGD 3.16

$2.80 $2.80

-11.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 SGD 2.77

$3.84 $3.84

-43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 SGD 2.57

$2.31 $2.31

-12.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 SGD 1.94

$1.13 $1.13

33.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.24 SGD 16.95

$11.94 $11.94

10.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.27 SGD 32.35

$10.06 $10.06

151.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.31 SGD 5.52

$1.76 $1.76

144.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.20 SGD 6.66

$6.09 $6.09

-14.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 SGD 2.02

$2.69 $2.69

-41.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.7 SGD 120

$126 $126

-25.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 SGD 4.49

$2.98 $2.98

17.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 SGD 0.99

$2.00 $2.00

-61.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.11 SGD 20.62

$23.78 $23.78

-32.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 SGD 2.81

$0.88 $0.88

150.00%

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

$142.1K SGD 182.0K

$32.3K $32.3K

340.68%

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

$129.1K SGD 165.3K

$25.1K $25.1K

415.19%

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

$160 SGD 205

$126 $126

27.13%

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

$18.36 SGD 23.50

$44.54 $44.54

-58.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.57 SGD 46.82

$63.8 $63.8

-42.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$117 SGD 150

$43.35 $43.35

169.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.39 SGD 15.86

Cinema Ticket

$11.65 SGD 14.92

$16.89 $16.89

-31.02%

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

$1,184 SGD 1,516

$1,970 $1,970

-39.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K SGD 38.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

28.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.2 SGD 105

$50.1 $50.1

64.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.04 SGD 55.1

$62.1 $62.1

-30.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SGD 138

$70.9 $70.9

51.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 SGD 168

$136 $136

-3.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,101 SGD 3,970

$3,162 $3,162

-1.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,280 SGD 2,919

$3,148 $3,148

-27.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,201 SGD 7,939

$5,511 $5,511

12.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,793 SGD 4,856

$5,117 $5,117

-25.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.5K SGD 30.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.5K SGD 21.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,285 SGD 5,485

$8,006 $8,006

-46.48%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for New City, NY: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,101 in Singapore versus $3,162 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 87% 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 $74.0 in New City, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $457 vs $413 – 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: $3,651 in Singapore, $4,444 in New City, NY – roughly 22% apart. New City, NY costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,477 per month in Singapore and $6,666 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 $1,184 per month in Singapore and $1,970 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 11% 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 $3,651 in Singapore and $4,444 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.