Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Canada

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.

🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,480
/mo nomad
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,305
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Canada

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
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.88 SGD 15.21
$17.69 CA$25.17
-32.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 SGD 89.5
$70.6 CA$100
-0.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 SGD 11.22
$10.71 CA$15.24
-18.21%
Cappuccino
$5.09 SGD 6.52
$3.72 CA$5.29
36.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 SGD 2.36
$2.07 CA$2.95
-10.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 SGD 1.52
$1.66 CA$2.35
-28.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.33 SGD 10.67
$5.69 CA$8.10
46.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.29 SGD 13.17
$5.76 CA$8.19
78.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.95 SGD 3.77
$2.13 CA$3.03
38.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 SGD 3.18
$2.68 CA$3.81
-7.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.78 SGD 3.56
$3.60 CA$5.12
-22.78%
Eggs
$3.60 SGD 4.61
$3.51 CA$4.99
2.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.49 SGD 27.52
$10.72 CA$15.25
100.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 SGD 12.35
$11.91 CA$16.94
-18.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.13 SGD 32.19
$15.29 CA$21.75
64.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 SGD 5.86
$3.98 CA$5.66
14.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.98 SGD 3.82
$1.36 CA$1.94
119.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.66 SGD 5.97
$3.84 CA$5.46
21.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 SGD 2.90
$4.06 CA$5.77
-44.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 SGD 3.31
$2.56 CA$3.64
0.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 SGD 2.96
$2.42 CA$3.45
-4.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.84 SGD 2.36
$2.57 CA$3.66
-28.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 SGD 1.86
$1.69 CA$2.41
-13.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.16 SGD 18.13
$13.94 CA$19.82
1.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.82 SGD 30.50
$13.26 CA$18.86
79.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61 SGD 5.90
$2.86 CA$4.06
61.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60 SGD 5.89
$3.26 CA$4.63
41.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.59 SGD 2.03
$2.41 CA$3.43
-34.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.9 SGD 120
$71.8 CA$102
30.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 SGD 4.59
$3.05 CA$4.34
17.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 SGD 0.97
$1.44 CA$2.05
-47.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.21 SGD 20.76
$26.68 CA$37.94
-39.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.44 SGD 3.12
$1.17 CA$1.67
108.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$160.5K SGD 205.6K
$27.7K CA$39.4K
479.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$148.0K SGD 189.6K
$19.4K CA$27.6K
661.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 SGD 220
$147 CA$209
16.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.22 SGD 15.64
$41.33 CA$58.8
-70.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.34 SGD 33.73
$57.9 CA$82.3
-54.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$110 SGD 141
$40.41 CA$57.5
172.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.40 SGD 15.88
$19.23 CA$27.35
-35.52%
Cinema Ticket
$11.85 SGD 15.17
$11.07 CA$15.75
7.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,490 SGD 1,908
$757 CA$1,077
96.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.1K SGD 35.9K
$14.3K CA$20.3K
96.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8 SGD 104
$54.2 CA$77.1
49.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 SGD 65.5
$39.79 CA$56.6
28.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 SGD 141
$87.6 CA$125
25.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 SGD 165
$101 CA$144
27.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,011 SGD 3,856
$1,278 CA$1,818
135.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,135 SGD 2,734
$1,107 CA$1,575
92.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,793 SGD 7,418
$2,035 CA$2,895
184.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,921 SGD 5,021
$1,741 CA$2,476
125.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.4K SGD 30.0K
$4,611 CA$6,559
407.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.9K SGD 21.6K
$3,822 CA$5,437
341.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,341 SGD 5,559
$2,975 CA$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.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.1K
Canada
$1.1K 48.1% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$456
Canada
$368 19.2% $87
Eating Out
Singapore
$257
Canada
$273 6.4% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210
Canada
$246 17.3% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$167
Canada
$127 23.8% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$134
Canada
$63 53.3% $71
Getting Around
Singapore
$108
Canada
$92 14.8% $16

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.

Salaries are 51% higher in Singapore.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇨🇦 Canada
🕒 Local time
17:41 5:41 PM
05:41 5:41 AM
12 h behind Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,866,139
36,991,981
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.781 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 SGD (1 SGD = 0.697 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.627 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Singapore Canada 14,820 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Canada

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.

Singapore vs other spots: cost of living compared

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