Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Upper Marlboro, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Upper Marlboro, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,651 in Singapore versus $2,575 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,227 in Singapore versus $3,879 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,803 in Singapore versus $5,183 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Living in Singapore is roughly 42% more expensive than Upper Marlboro, MD, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 172% above, Upper Marlboro, MD 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.07 SGD 14.06

$20.29 $20.29

-45.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.3 SGD 98.2

$79.4 $79.4

-2.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 SGD 10.20

$12.19 $12.19

-34.13%

Cappuccino

$5.09 SGD 6.47

$5.89 $5.89

-13.58%

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

$1.73 SGD 2.19

$2.87 $2.87

-39.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 SGD 1.49

$2.24 $2.24

-47.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.70 SGD 9.78

$5.91 $5.91

30.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.56 SGD 12.14

$7.81 $7.81

22.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.95 SGD 3.75

$1.00 $1.00

195.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 SGD 2.98

$4.40 $4.40

-46.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 SGD 3.56

$5.91 $5.91

-52.45%

Eggs

$3.29 SGD 4.17

$4.80 $4.80

-31.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.42 SGD 24.67

$17.90 $17.90

8.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.28 SGD 14.33

$10.07 $10.07

12.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.99 SGD 29.20

$16.48 $16.48

39.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 SGD 5.62

$5.11 $5.11

-13.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 SGD 3.71

$1.77 $1.77

64.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.82 SGD 6.12

$5.12 $5.12

-5.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 SGD 3.47

$6.60 $6.60

-58.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 SGD 3.06

$3.40 $3.40

-29.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 SGD 2.86

$2.78 $2.78

-19.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 SGD 2.59

$2.20 $2.20

-7.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 SGD 1.99

$2.57 $2.57

-38.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.01 SGD 16.53

$10.90 $10.90

19.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.39 SGD 32.25

$13.84 $13.84

83.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 SGD 5.30

$2.72 $2.72

53.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 SGD 6.64

$4.61 $4.61

13.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 SGD 2.03

$1.99 $1.99

-20.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$92.9 SGD 118

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 SGD 4.60

$4.02 $4.02

-9.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 SGD 0.98

$1.40 $1.40

-45.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.35 SGD 20.77

$29.66 $29.66

-44.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.18 SGD 2.77

$0.96 $0.96

127.08%

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

$141.4K SGD 179.6K

$29.2K $29.2K

383.76%

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

$131.0K SGD 166.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

406.18%

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

$160 SGD 203

$208 $208

-23.12%

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

$18.77 SGD 23.84

$63.4 $63.4

-70.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.67 SGD 47.84

$73.5 $73.5

-48.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$119 SGD 152

$43.02 $43.02

177.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.39 SGD 15.74

Cinema Ticket

$11.92 SGD 15.14

$15.26 $15.26

-21.89%

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

$1,212 SGD 1,540

$1,747 $1,747

-30.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.2K SGD 37.0K

$24.1K $24.1K

21.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.5 SGD 104

$54.0 $54.0

51.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.85 SGD 54.4

$49.80 $49.80

-13.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SGD 136

$95.6 $95.6

11.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 SGD 161

$145 $145

-12.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,129 SGD 3,974

$1,414 $1,414

121.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,251 SGD 2,859

$1,150 $1,150

95.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,231 SGD 7,913

$2,666 $2,666

133.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,818 SGD 4,849

$2,244 $2,244

70.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.6K SGD 29.9K

$2,321 $2,321

915.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.0K SGD 20.3K

$2,257 $2,257

608.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,332 SGD 5,501

$8,135 $8,135

-46.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.19

6.48

-50.77%

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

Last update for Singapore: April 21, 2026

Last update for Upper Marlboro, MD: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,129 in Singapore and $1,414 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Upper Marlboro, MD pays 88% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $77 in Singapore vs $79 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Groceries flip the comparison at $454 vs $446, with Upper Marlboro, MD 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 Upper Marlboro, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Upper Marlboro, MD is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Upper Marlboro, MD earns 88% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,129 in Singapore versus $1,414 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,212 in Singapore versus $1,747 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Upper Marlboro, MD – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $77.0 in Singapore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Upper Marlboro, MD is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Singapore and Upper Marlboro, MD 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 Upper Marlboro, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.