Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Walnut Creek, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Walnut Creek, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,507 in Singapore versus $3,362 in Walnut Creek, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,136 in Singapore versus $4,993 in Walnut Creek, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,764 in Singapore versus $6,623 in Walnut Creek, CA.

Living in Singapore is roughly 4% more expensive than in Walnut Creek, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 163% above, Walnut Creek, CA 152% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.77 SGD 13.92

$22.27 $22.27

-51.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.1 SGD 101

$101 $101

-22.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 SGD 9.79

$14.32 $14.32

-47.07%

Cappuccino

$4.84 SGD 6.26

$5.46 $5.46

-11.36%

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

$1.70 SGD 2.20

$3.19 $3.19

-46.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 SGD 1.55

$2.16 $2.16

-44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 SGD 10.14

$8.01 $8.01

-2.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.15 SGD 11.82

$9.78 $9.78

-6.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.07 SGD 3.96

$1.40 $1.40

119.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 SGD 3.07

$4.68 $4.68

-49.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.79 SGD 3.60

$3.94 $3.94

-29.19%

Eggs

$3.29 SGD 4.25

$5.52 $5.52

-40.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.19 SGD 24.80

$5.61 $5.61

242.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.42 SGD 14.75

$6.64 $6.64

71.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.61 SGD 29.21

$6.55 $6.55

245.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 SGD 5.89

$4.59 $4.59

-0.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 SGD 3.85

$1.95 $1.95

52.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.95 SGD 6.40

$6.57 $6.57

-24.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 SGD 3.54

$5.02 $5.02

-45.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 SGD 3.25

$2.20 $2.20

14.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 SGD 2.80

$3.35 $3.35

-35.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 SGD 2.52

$2.10 $2.10

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SGD 1.93

$3.05 $3.05

-51.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.20 SGD 17.06

$10.97 $10.97

20.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.04 SGD 29.77

$12.17 $12.17

89.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 SGD 5.39

$1.77 $1.77

135.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.16 SGD 6.66

$2.20 $2.20

134.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 SGD 2.06

$6.23 $6.23

-74.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.0 SGD 121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 SGD 4.76

$3.46 $3.46

6.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 SGD 0.94

$1.86 $1.86

-61.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.54 SGD 21.37

$39.98 $39.98

-58.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 SGD 2.84

$1.30 $1.30

69.23%

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

$142.5K SGD 184.1K

$30.8K $30.8K

362.88%

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

$127.5K SGD 164.7K

$27.4K $27.4K

365.19%

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

$156 SGD 201

$328 $328

-52.53%

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

$18.63 SGD 24.08

$52.7 $52.7

-64.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.75 SGD 48.77

$71.0 $71.0

-46.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$120 SGD 155

$84.6 $84.6

41.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.10 SGD 15.63

$15.16 $15.16

-20.18%

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 SGD 14.90

$14.73 $14.73

-21.72%

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

$1,190 SGD 1,537

$2,221 $2,221

-46.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.1K SGD 37.7K

$38.3K $38.3K

-23.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.5 SGD 108

$64.4 $64.4

29.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.55 SGD 55.0

$62.4 $62.4

-31.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 SGD 139

$90.2 $90.2

19.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 SGD 166

$123 $123

4.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,209 SGD 4,146

$2,388 $2,388

34.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,299 SGD 2,971

$1,978 $1,978

16.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,127 SGD 7,916

$4,437 $4,437

38.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,793 SGD 4,901

$3,566 $3,566

6.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.3K SGD 30.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K SGD 21.2K

$6,571 $6,571

149.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,969 SGD 5,128

$6,905 $6,905

-42.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.19

6.55

-51.30%

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

Last update for Singapore: July 14, 2026

Last update for Walnut Creek, CA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,209 in Singapore and $2,388 in Walnut Creek, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Walnut Creek, CA pays 74% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $78.0 in Singapore vs $101 in Walnut Creek, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $450 vs $350, with Walnut Creek, CA 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 Walnut Creek, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Walnut Creek, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 74% lower in Walnut Creek, CA. 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: $3,209 in Singapore versus $2,388 in Walnut Creek, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,190 in Singapore versus $2,221 in Walnut Creek, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Walnut Creek, CA – a meal for two runs $101 versus $78.0 in Singapore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Walnut Creek, CA 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 Walnut Creek, CA 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 Walnut Creek, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.