😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,651 in Singapore versus $2,711 in Surrey.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,223 in Singapore versus $4,087 in Surrey.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,796 in Singapore versus $5,462 in Surrey.
😐Living in Singapore is roughly 35% more expensive than Surrey, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore172% above, Surrey102% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.73SGD 13.85
$18.30CA$25.53
-41.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.5SGD 101
$81.4CA$114
-3.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.88SGD 10.18
$10.87CA$15.15
-27.51%
Cappuccino
$4.92SGD 6.35
$4.20CA$5.85
17.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63SGD 2.11
$2.13CA$2.97
-23.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23SGD 1.59
$1.74CA$2.43
-29.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.85SGD 10.13
$5.84CA$8.14
34.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.61SGD 12.40
$6.81CA$9.50
41.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.07SGD 3.97
$2.61CA$3.64
17.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.41SGD 3.11
$2.63CA$3.66
-8.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81SGD 3.62
$5.39CA$7.52
-47.87%
Eggs
$3.37SGD 4.36
$3.72CA$5.19
-9.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34SGD 24.97
$10.28CA$14.33
88.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.36SGD 14.66
$11.63CA$16.21
-2.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.95SGD 29.63
$24.42CA$34.05
-6.02%
Apples(1kg)
$4.52SGD 5.84
$3.44CA$4.80
31.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94SGD 3.80
$1.34CA$1.88
119.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.86SGD 6.28
$3.12CA$4.35
55.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63SGD 3.40
$3.45CA$4.81
-23.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.47SGD 3.19
$2.36CA$3.28
4.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16SGD 2.79
$2.07CA$2.89
4.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01SGD 2.60
$2.51CA$3.50
-19.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51SGD 1.95
$1.93CA$2.69
-21.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.24SGD 17.09
$14.88CA$20.75
-11.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.27SGD 32.62
$14.60CA$20.36
73.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.31SGD 5.57
$4.00CA$5.57
7.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.20SGD 6.72
$4.01CA$5.59
29.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58SGD 2.04
$3.18CA$4.44
-50.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.7SGD 121
$127CA$176
-25.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.51SGD 4.53
$2.69CA$3.76
30.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77SGD 1.00
$1.50CA$2.09
-48.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.11SGD 20.80
$28.96CA$40.39
-44.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20SGD 2.84
$1.32CA$1.84
66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$142.1KSGD 183.5K
$25.0KCA$34.8K
469.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$129.1KSGD 166.7K
$21.0KCA$29.3K
515.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160SGD 206
$192CA$268
-16.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.36SGD 23.70
$42.16CA$58.8
-56.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57SGD 47.21
$66.8CA$93.1
-45.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$117SGD 151
$44.80CA$62.5
160.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.39SGD 16.00
$18.19CA$25.36
-31.89%
Cinema Ticket
$11.65SGD 15.04
$12.65CA$17.64
-7.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,184SGD 1,529
$903CA$1,259
31.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.9KSGD 38.6K
$12.7KCA$17.7K
135.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.2SGD 106
$54.9CA$76.6
49.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.04SGD 55.6
$52.9CA$73.8
-18.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107SGD 139
$104CA$145
3.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131SGD 169
$96.3CA$134
36.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,101SGD 4,003
$1,629CA$2,272
90.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,280SGD 2,943
$1,400CA$1,952
62.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$6,201SGD 8,006
$3,102CA$4,325
99.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,793SGD 4,897
$2,490CA$3,472
52.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$23.5KSGD 30.3K
$9,842CA$13.7K
138.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$16.5KSGD 21.3K
$8,780CA$12.2K
88.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,285SGD 5,532
$3,088CA$4,306
38.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.19
6.54
-51.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Singapore: May 30, 2026
Last update for Surrey: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,101 in Singapore and $1,629 in Surrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Singapore pays 39% 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: $78.0 in Singapore vs $81.0 in Surrey. Groceries flip the comparison at $457 vs $408, with Surrey 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 Surrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surrey cheaper than Singapore?
Surrey is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Singapore or Surrey?
Singapore pays 39% more on average, 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 Surrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $3,101 in Singapore versus $1,629 in Surrey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Singapore vs Surrey?
All in, you'll spend $3,651 per month in Singapore versus $2,711 in Surrey – a 35% 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 Surrey runs roughly 35% less than in Singapore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Singapore or Surrey?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Surrey 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 Surrey?
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 Surrey?
Safety-wise, Singapore and Surrey 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 Surrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.