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: $3,475 in Singapore versus $2,607 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,242 in Singapore versus $4,018 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,008 in Singapore versus $5,430 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Living in Singapore is roughly 33% more expensive than in Upper Marlboro, MD, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 152% above, Upper Marlboro, MD 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.82 SGD 14.98

$22.39 $22.39

-47.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.6 SGD 84.4

$88.7 $88.7

-24.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.67 SGD 10.99

$10.13 $10.13

-14.41%

Cappuccino

$5.29 SGD 6.70

$6.05 $6.05

-12.56%

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

$1.90 SGD 2.40

$2.82 $2.82

-32.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 SGD 1.53

$2.55 $2.55

-52.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.32 SGD 10.54

$10.05 $10.05

-17.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.29 SGD 13.03

$9.85 $9.85

4.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.98 SGD 3.77

$1.31 $1.31

127.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 SGD 3.24

$4.52 $4.52

-43.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.71 SGD 3.43

$6.93 $6.93

-60.89%

Eggs

$3.60 SGD 4.56

$5.92 $5.92

-39.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.01 SGD 26.62

$16.63 $16.63

26.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.90 SGD 12.55

$16.29 $16.29

-39.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.94 SGD 31.60

$18.69 $18.69

33.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 SGD 5.65

$5.00 $5.00

-10.80%

Banana (1kg)

$3.05 SGD 3.87

$1.65 $1.65

84.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.81 SGD 6.10

$5.03 $5.03

-4.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 SGD 2.90

$5.25 $5.25

-56.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 SGD 3.31

$3.08 $3.08

-15.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 SGD 2.86

$2.08 $2.08

8.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 SGD 2.35

$2.06 $2.06

-9.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SGD 1.80

$2.70 $2.70

-47.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.08 SGD 17.84

$14.14 $14.14

-0.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.60 SGD 29.90

$15.26 $15.26

54.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.80 SGD 6.09

$1.69 $1.69

184.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 SGD 5.90

$4.98 $4.98

-6.43%

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

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 SGD 4.70

$3.89 $3.89

-4.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 SGD 1.02

$1.57 $1.57

-48.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.66 SGD 21.11

$25.35 $25.35

-34.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.44 SGD 3.09

$1.05 $1.05

132.38%

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

$156.3K SGD 198.1K

$36.6K $36.6K

326.51%

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

$148.4K SGD 188.0K

$27.0K $27.0K

449.62%

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

$163 SGD 206

$161 $161

0.95%

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

$12.54 SGD 15.89

$80.6 $80.6

-84.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 SGD 35.37

$77.3 $77.3

-63.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 SGD 138

$41.77 $41.77

160.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.63 SGD 14.73

Cinema Ticket

$11.84 SGD 15.00

$17.08 $17.08

-30.68%

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

$1,471 SGD 1,864

$2,277 $2,277

-35.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K SGD 37.6K

$41.7K $41.7K

-28.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.5 SGD 101

$47.74 $47.74

66.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 SGD 67.3

$35.77 $35.77

48.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 SGD 141

$106 $106

5.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 SGD 164

$118 $118

9.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,051 SGD 3,866

$1,416 $1,416

115.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,163 SGD 2,740

$1,165 $1,165

85.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,870 SGD 7,438

$2,476 $2,476

137.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,862 SGD 4,893

$2,135 $2,135

80.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.7K SGD 30.1K

$2,801 $2,801

746.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.8K SGD 21.3K

$2,065 $2,065

712.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,259 SGD 5,397

$8,125 $8,125

-47.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.43

6.23

-61.00%

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

Last update for Singapore: September 5, 2026

Last update for Upper Marlboro, MD: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,051 in Singapore and $1,416 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Upper Marlboro, MD pays 91% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67.0 in Singapore vs $89.0 in Upper Marlboro, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $457 vs $481 per month, with Singapore 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 Upper Marlboro, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Upper Marlboro, MD is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 91% lower in Upper Marlboro, MD. 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: $3,051 in Singapore versus $1,416 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,471 in Singapore versus $2,277 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 $89.0 versus $67.0 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 33% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.