😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,475 in Singapore versus $2,380 in Surrey.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,242 in Singapore versus $3,617 in Surrey.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,008 in Singapore versus $4,853 in Surrey.
🌍Living in Singapore is roughly 46% more expensive than in Surrey, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore152% above, Surrey73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.82SGD 14.98
$18.12CA$25.13
-34.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.6SGD 84.4
$57.2CA$79.3
16.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.67SGD 10.99
$10.60CA$14.70
-18.21%
Cappuccino
$5.29SGD 6.70
$3.67CA$5.08
44.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90SGD 2.40
$2.10CA$2.91
-9.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21SGD 1.53
$1.67CA$2.31
-27.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.32SGD 10.54
$5.91CA$8.20
40.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.29SGD 13.03
$6.10CA$8.47
68.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.98SGD 3.77
$2.48CA$3.44
20.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.56SGD 3.24
$2.07CA$2.86
23.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.71SGD 3.43
$3.72CA$5.16
-27.15%
Eggs
$3.60SGD 4.56
$3.21CA$4.46
12.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.01SGD 26.62
$10.05CA$13.94
109.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.90SGD 12.55
$10.50CA$14.57
-5.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.94SGD 31.60
$20.41CA$28.31
22.20%
Apples(1kg)
$4.46SGD 5.65
$3.30CA$4.57
35.15%
Banana(1kg)
$3.05SGD 3.87
$1.36CA$1.88
124.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.81SGD 6.10
$3.08CA$4.27
56.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29SGD 2.90
$3.07CA$4.26
-25.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.61SGD 3.31
$2.66CA$3.69
-1.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26SGD 2.86
$2.17CA$3.01
4.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86SGD 2.35
$2.03CA$2.81
-8.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42SGD 1.80
$1.86CA$2.58
-23.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.08SGD 17.84
$14.22CA$19.72
-0.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.60SGD 29.90
$14.35CA$19.90
64.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.80SGD 6.09
$2.60CA$3.60
84.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66SGD 5.90
$3.31CA$4.59
40.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.62SGD 2.05
$2.65CA$3.68
-38.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$100SGD 127
$112CA$155
-10.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.71SGD 4.70
$2.73CA$3.78
35.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81SGD 1.02
$1.61CA$2.24
-49.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.66SGD 21.11
$28.60CA$39.66
-41.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.44SGD 3.09
$1.34CA$1.86
82.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$156.3KSGD 198.1K
$28.2KCA$39.1K
454.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$148.4KSGD 188.0K
$19.4KCA$26.8K
666.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163SGD 206
$190CA$264
-14.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.54SGD 15.89
$37.56CA$52.1
-66.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.91SGD 35.37
$66.9CA$92.8
-58.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$109SGD 138
$35.12CA$48.71
209.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.63SGD 14.73
$25.61CA$35.51
-54.59%
Cinema Ticket
$11.84SGD 15.00
$12.85CA$17.82
-7.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,471SGD 1,864
$863CA$1,197
70.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.6KSGD 37.6K
$12.3KCA$17.0K
142.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.5SGD 101
$57.4CA$79.6
38.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1SGD 67.3
$63.1CA$87.5
-15.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112SGD 141
$102CA$141
9.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130SGD 164
$91.3CA$127
41.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,051SGD 3,866
$1,341CA$1,859
127.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,163SGD 2,740
$1,061CA$1,471
103.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,870SGD 7,438
$2,773CA$3,846
111.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,862SGD 4,893
$2,211CA$3,066
74.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$23.7KSGD 30.1K
$9,645CA$13.4K
145.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$16.8KSGD 21.3K
$8,562CA$11.9K
96.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Surrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,259SGD 5,397
$3,107CA$4,310
37.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.43
4.87
-50.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Singapore: September 5, 2026
Last update for Surrey: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,051 in Singapore and $1,341 in Surrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Singapore pays 37% 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 $57.0 in Surrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $457 vs $360 per month, with Surrey cheaper across the board.
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 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Singapore or Surrey?
Average pay runs 37% higher in Singapore, 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: $3,051 in Singapore versus $1,341 in Surrey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Singapore and in Surrey?
All in, you'll spend $3,475 per month in Singapore versus $2,380 in Surrey – a 46% 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 12% less than in Singapore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Singapore or in Surrey?
At $2,380 in Surrey versus $3,475 in Singapore, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Surrey but tight or insufficient in Singapore. The gap between the two cities makes Surrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Singapore or in 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 46% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.