Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Raleigh, NC

For one person, living is cheaper in Raleigh, NC: $2,643 a month against $3,544 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Singapore outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

170

Cost of Living Index in Singapore
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Singapore Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Raleigh, NC
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Raleigh, NC Living Index

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Singapore

🇸🇬 Singapore

$3,544

/mo nomad

Raleigh, NC

🇺🇸 United States

$2,643

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Raleigh, NC

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

A single person spends $3,544 per month in Singapore vs $2,643 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.

Singapore $3,544
Raleigh, NC $2,643

A couple spends around $5,318 per month in Singapore vs $3,817 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.

Singapore $5,318
Raleigh, NC $3,817

A family of three spends $7,093 per month in Singapore vs $4,991 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.

Singapore $7,093
Raleigh, NC $4,991

Singapore costs about 34% more than Raleigh, NC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Singapore and Raleigh, NC sit above the global median – Singapore by 160%, Raleigh, NC by 94%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.62 SGD 14.89

$21.90 $21.90

-46.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.4 SGD 95.4

$88.4 $88.4

-15.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.35 SGD 10.69

$11.44 $11.44

-27.01%

Cappuccino

$5.24 SGD 6.71

$5.60 $5.60

-6.43%

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

$1.83 SGD 2.34

$2.83 $2.83

-35.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 SGD 1.64

$2.16 $2.16

-40.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.33 SGD 10.68

$6.12 $6.12

36.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.99 SGD 12.80

$6.94 $6.94

43.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.99 SGD 3.83

$0.88 $0.88

239.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.58 SGD 3.31

$3.79 $3.79

-31.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 SGD 3.55

$3.17 $3.17

-12.62%

Eggs

$3.76 SGD 4.82

$4.78 $4.78

-21.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.85 SGD 26.71

$15.10 $15.10

38.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.01 SGD 12.82

$9.74 $9.74

2.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.28 SGD 32.39

$17.81 $17.81

41.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 SGD 5.79

$6.61 $6.61

-31.62%

Banana (1kg)

$3.19 SGD 4.09

$1.26 $1.26

153.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.57 SGD 5.86

$4.45 $4.45

2.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 SGD 2.78

$5.75 $5.75

-62.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 SGD 3.18

$2.91 $2.91

-14.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 SGD 2.99

$3.61 $3.61

-35.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 SGD 2.44

$2.16 $2.16

-11.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SGD 1.85

$2.21 $2.21

-34.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.85 SGD 17.74

$8.64 $8.64

60.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.38 SGD 29.95

$15.11 $15.11

54.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.69 SGD 6.01

$2.24 $2.24

109.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 SGD 6.15

$2.74 $2.74

75.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 SGD 1.94

$1.22 $1.22

24.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.6 SGD 124

$40.38 $40.38

139.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 SGD 4.76

$2.92 $2.92

27.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 SGD 1.03

$1.92 $1.92

-57.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.41 SGD 21.03

$17.79 $17.79

-7.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.53 SGD 3.24

$1.01 $1.01

150.50%

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

$156.9K SGD 201.0K

$30.8K $30.8K

409.12%

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

$154.6K SGD 198.0K

$25.8K $25.8K

498.27%

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

$170 SGD 218

$185 $185

-8.39%

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

$12.39 SGD 15.88

$56.7 $56.7

-78.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.02 SGD 35.90

$68.5 $68.5

-59.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$111 SGD 143

$33.01 $33.01

237.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.09 SGD 15.49

$5.90 $5.90

104.92%

Cinema Ticket

$12.21 SGD 15.65

$14.74 $14.74

-17.16%

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

$1,878 SGD 2,406

$1,317 $1,317

42.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.1K SGD 37.3K

$24.0K $24.0K

21.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.8 SGD 98.4

$60.5 $60.5

26.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 SGD 66.0

$55.7 $55.7

-7.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SGD 137

$102 $102

5.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 SGD 158

$159 $159

-22.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 SGD 3,969

$1,715 $1,715

80.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,213 SGD 2,836

$1,290 $1,290

71.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,983 SGD 7,667

$2,825 $2,825

111.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,088 SGD 5,238

$1,915 $1,915

113.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.1K SGD 29.6K

$4,556 $4,556

407.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.7K SGD 21.4K

$2,115 $2,115

689.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,464 SGD 5,720

$4,605 $4,605

-3.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.44

6.61

-63.09%

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

Last update for Singapore: October 25, 2026

Last update for Raleigh, NC: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Singapore

$2.2K 62.5%

Raleigh, NC

$1.3K 48.8% 41.7% $923

Groceries & Markets

Singapore

$458 12.9%

Raleigh, NC

$411 15.6% 10.3% $47

Eating Out

Singapore

$255 7.2%

Raleigh, NC

$341 12.9% 33.8% $86

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Singapore

$210 5.9%

Raleigh, NC

$311 11.8% 47.7% $100

Clothing & Footwear

Singapore

$161 4.6%

Raleigh, NC

$170 6.4% 5.1% $8.2

Sport & Entertainment

Singapore

$136 3.8%

Raleigh, NC

$62 2.4% 54% $73

Getting Around

Singapore

$110 3.1%

Raleigh, NC

$58 2.2% 47.7% $53

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,098 in Singapore versus $1,715 in Raleigh, NC. 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 3% higher in Raleigh, NC, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Singapore versus $88 in Raleigh, NC. Groceries tell a different story – $458 in Singapore vs $411 in Raleigh, NC – so Raleigh, NC wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇸🇬 Singapore

🇺🇸 Raleigh, NC

🕒 Local time

20:01 8:01 PM

08:01 8:01 AM

12 h behind Singapore

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

5,535,002 Capital

431,746

💱 Currency

Singapore Dollar SGD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 SGD = 0.78 USD

1 SGD = 0.701 EUR

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇸🇬 Singapore Dollar ($)

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

USD to SGD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Singapore Raleigh, NC 15,880 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Singapore
Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Singapore costs about 34% more than Raleigh, NC, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,316 per month in Singapore and $3,964 in Raleigh, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Raleigh, NC, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,715 there versus $3,098 in Singapore.

Public transport costs about 58% less in Raleigh, NC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,878 per month in Singapore and $1,317 in Raleigh, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,544 in Singapore and $2,643 in Raleigh, NC. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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