For one person, living is cheaper in Canada: $2,305 a month against $3,480 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $14,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Singapore and in Canada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $3,480 per month in Singapore vs $2,305 in Canada, rent included.
Singapore $3,480
Canada $2,305
A couple spends around $5,194 per month in Singapore vs $3,339 in Canada, rent included.
Singapore $5,194
Canada $3,339
A family of three spends $6,908 per month in Singapore vs $4,374 in Canada, rent included.
Singapore $6,908
Canada $4,374
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Singapore ($3,453–$3,453) than in Canada ($889–$3,671), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Singapore is about 51% higher than in Canada on average.
📊
Both Singapore and Canada are pricier than the global median – Singapore by 160%, Canada by 72%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.88SGD 15.21
$17.69CA$25.17
-32.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9SGD 89.5
$70.6CA$100
-0.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76SGD 11.22
$10.71CA$15.24
-18.21%
Cappuccino
$5.09SGD 6.52
$3.72CA$5.29
36.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85SGD 2.36
$2.07CA$2.95
-10.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18SGD 1.52
$1.66CA$2.35
-28.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.33SGD 10.67
$5.69CA$8.10
46.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.29SGD 13.17
$5.76CA$8.19
78.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.95SGD 3.77
$2.13CA$3.03
38.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.48SGD 3.18
$2.68CA$3.81
-7.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.78SGD 3.56
$3.60CA$5.12
-22.78%
Eggs
$3.60SGD 4.61
$3.51CA$4.99
2.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.49SGD 27.52
$10.72CA$15.25
100.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65SGD 12.35
$11.91CA$16.94
-18.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.13SGD 32.19
$15.29CA$21.75
64.36%
Apples(1kg)
$4.57SGD 5.86
$3.98CA$5.66
14.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98SGD 3.82
$1.36CA$1.94
119.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.66SGD 5.97
$3.84CA$5.46
21.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27SGD 2.90
$4.06CA$5.77
-44.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.58SGD 3.31
$2.56CA$3.64
0.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31SGD 2.96
$2.42CA$3.45
-4.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.84SGD 2.36
$2.57CA$3.66
-28.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46SGD 1.86
$1.69CA$2.41
-13.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.16SGD 18.13
$13.94CA$19.82
1.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.82SGD 30.50
$13.26CA$18.86
79.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61SGD 5.90
$2.86CA$4.06
61.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60SGD 5.89
$3.26CA$4.63
41.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.59SGD 2.03
$2.41CA$3.43
-34.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.9SGD 120
$71.8CA$102
30.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58SGD 4.59
$3.05CA$4.34
17.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76SGD 0.97
$1.44CA$2.05
-47.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.21SGD 20.76
$26.68CA$37.94
-39.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.44SGD 3.12
$1.17CA$1.67
108.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$160.5KSGD 205.6K
$27.7KCA$39.4K
479.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$148.0KSGD 189.6K
$19.4KCA$27.6K
661.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171SGD 220
$147CA$209
16.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.22SGD 15.64
$41.33CA$58.8
-70.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.34SGD 33.73
$57.9CA$82.3
-54.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$110SGD 141
$40.41CA$57.5
172.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.40SGD 15.88
$19.23CA$27.35
-35.52%
Cinema Ticket
$11.85SGD 15.17
$11.07CA$15.75
7.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,490SGD 1,908
$757CA$1,077
96.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$28.1KSGD 35.9K
$14.3KCA$20.3K
96.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8SGD 104
$54.2CA$77.1
49.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2SGD 65.5
$39.79CA$56.6
28.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110SGD 141
$87.6CA$125
25.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129SGD 165
$101CA$144
27.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,011SGD 3,856
$1,278CA$1,818
135.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,135SGD 2,734
$1,107CA$1,575
92.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,793SGD 7,418
$2,035CA$2,895
184.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,921SGD 5,021
$1,741CA$2,476
125.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$23.4KSGD 30.0K
$4,611CA$6,559
407.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$16.9KSGD 21.6K
$3,822CA$5,437
341.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,341SGD 5,559
$2,975CA$4,231
45.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.44
4.87
-49.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Singapore: October 4, 2026
Last update for Canada: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.1K 61.6%
Canada
$1.1K 48.6% ↓ 48.1%$1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$456 13.2%
Canada
$368 16.2% ↓ 19.2%$87
🍽Eating Out
Singapore
$257 7.4%
Canada
$273 12% ↑ 6.4%$16
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210 6.1%
Canada
$246 10.8% ↑ 17.3%$36
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$167 4.8%
Canada
$127 5.6% ↓ 23.8%$40
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$134 3.9%
Canada
$63 2.8% ↓ 53.3%$71
🚌Getting Around
Singapore
$108 3.1%
Canada
$92 4% ↓ 14.8%$16
🏠Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$3.9K 56.8%
Canada
$1.7K 39.7% ↓ 55.6%$2.2K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$1K 15%
Canada
$840 19.2% ↓ 18.9%$195
🍽Eating Out
Singapore
$855 12.4%
Canada
$905 20.6% ↑ 5.8%$50
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$222 3.2%
Canada
$288 6.6% ↑ 29.5%$66
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$371 5.4%
Canada
$283 6.4% ↓ 23.7%$88
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$280 4.1%
Canada
$144 3.3% ↓ 48.5%$136
🚌Getting Around
Singapore
$218 3.2%
Canada
$188 4.3% ↓ 13.8%$30
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $2,916 in Singapore vs $1,193 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,916 in Singapore and $1,490 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $4,369 in Singapore vs $2,896 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 144% higher in Singapore.
⭐Dining out costs 13% more in Singapore.
⭐Public transport is 66% more expensive in Singapore.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Singapore?
Canada is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 51% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Singapore: a central one-bedroom averages $2,916 versus $1,193 in Canada.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Canada, adding to the overall 51% price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in Singapore?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Canada, but in Singapore it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Singapore?
Canada is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.