Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Phoenix, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Phoenix, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,475 in Singapore versus $2,912 in Phoenix, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,242 in Singapore versus $4,244 in Phoenix, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,008 in Singapore versus $5,576 in Phoenix, AZ.

Living in Singapore is roughly 19% more expensive than in Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 152% above, Phoenix, AZ 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.82 SGD 14.98

$20.34 $20.34

-41.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.6 SGD 84.4

$85.6 $85.6

-22.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.67 SGD 10.99

$14.08 $14.08

-38.42%

Cappuccino

$5.29 SGD 6.70

$6.20 $6.20

-14.68%

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

$1.90 SGD 2.40

$3.06 $3.06

-37.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 SGD 1.53

$2.45 $2.45

-50.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.32 SGD 10.54

$6.08 $6.08

36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.29 SGD 13.03

$7.98 $7.98

28.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.98 SGD 3.77

$0.83 $0.83

259.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 SGD 3.24

$4.38 $4.38

-41.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.71 SGD 3.43

$6.27 $6.27

-56.78%

Eggs

$3.60 SGD 4.56

$4.85 $4.85

-25.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.01 SGD 26.62

$14.69 $14.69

43.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.90 SGD 12.55

$13.99 $13.99

-29.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.94 SGD 31.60

$15.37 $15.37

62.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 SGD 5.65

$5.74 $5.74

-22.30%

Banana (1kg)

$3.05 SGD 3.87

$1.71 $1.71

78.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.81 SGD 6.10

$4.25 $4.25

13.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 SGD 2.90

$6.02 $6.02

-61.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 SGD 3.31

$3.29 $3.29

-20.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 SGD 2.86

$2.99 $2.99

-24.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 SGD 2.35

$2.21 $2.21

-15.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SGD 1.80

$2.52 $2.52

-43.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.08 SGD 17.84

$10.84 $10.84

29.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.60 SGD 29.90

$14.46 $14.46

63.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.80 SGD 6.09

$2.43 $2.43

97.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 SGD 5.90

$3.14 $3.14

48.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 SGD 2.05

$2.05 $2.05

-20.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 SGD 127

$63.5 $63.5

57.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 SGD 4.70

$2.73 $2.73

35.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 SGD 1.02

$1.37 $1.37

-40.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.66 SGD 21.11

$35.30 $35.30

-52.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.44 SGD 3.09

$1.22 $1.22

100.00%

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

$156.3K SGD 198.1K

$35.7K $35.7K

337.63%

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

$148.4K SGD 188.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

484.35%

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

$163 SGD 206

$237 $237

-31.23%

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

$12.54 SGD 15.89

$80.2 $80.2

-84.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 SGD 35.37

$79.0 $79.0

-64.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 SGD 138

$68.3 $68.3

59.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.63 SGD 14.73

$18.80 $18.80

-38.14%

Cinema Ticket

$11.84 SGD 15.00

$13.91 $13.91

-14.88%

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

$1,471 SGD 1,864

$1,715 $1,715

-14.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K SGD 37.6K

$23.1K $23.1K

28.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.5 SGD 101

$60.9 $60.9

30.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 SGD 67.3

$44.77 $44.77

18.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 SGD 141

$112 $112

-0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 SGD 164

$128 $128

1.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,051 SGD 3,866

$1,772 $1,772

72.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,163 SGD 2,740

$1,425 $1,425

51.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,870 SGD 7,438

$3,292 $3,292

78.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,862 SGD 4,893

$2,202 $2,202

75.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.7K SGD 30.1K

$4,644 $4,644

410.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.8K SGD 21.3K

$3,137 $3,137

435.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,259 SGD 5,397

$4,134 $4,134

3.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.43

6.21

-60.87%

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

Last update for Singapore: September 5, 2026

Last update for Phoenix, AZ: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,051 in Singapore and $1,772 in Phoenix, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Singapore pays 3% 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: $67.0 in Singapore vs $86.0 in Phoenix, AZ. Groceries flip the comparison at $457 vs $445, with Phoenix, AZ cheaper for home cooking.

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 Phoenix, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phoenix, AZ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 3% higher in Singapore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,051 in Singapore versus $1,772 in Phoenix, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,475 per month in Singapore versus $2,912 in Phoenix, AZ – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Phoenix, AZ runs roughly 58% less than in Singapore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Phoenix, AZ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Phoenix, AZ is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Singapore, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Singapore and Phoenix, AZ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phoenix, AZ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.