Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,426 per month in Singapore vs $2,211 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,088 per month in Singapore vs $3,243 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,750 per month in Singapore vs $4,275 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Singapore is about 55% higher than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Singapore and Canada are pricier than the global median – Singapore by 150%, Canada by 61%.

The regional cost range is wider in Singapore ($3,426$3,426) than in Canada ($898$3,743), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.64 SGD 14.80
$17.87 CA$24.63
-34.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 SGD 79.4
$72.7 CA$100
-14.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.04 SGD 10.22
$11.01 CA$15.16
-26.98%
Cappuccino
$5.31 SGD 6.75
$3.89 CA$5.36
36.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 SGD 2.32
$2.09 CA$2.88
-12.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 SGD 1.50
$1.71 CA$2.35
-30.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.03 SGD 10.21
$5.67 CA$7.82
41.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.20 SGD 12.97
$5.61 CA$7.73
81.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.17 SGD 4.03
$2.30 CA$3.16
37.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 SGD 2.99
$2.75 CA$3.79
-14.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.63 SGD 3.35
$3.74 CA$5.15
-29.68%
Eggs
$3.67 SGD 4.66
$3.60 CA$4.97
1.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.37 SGD 28.44
$10.96 CA$15.10
104.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.88 SGD 12.56
$12.30 CA$16.94
-19.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.76 SGD 32.75
$15.73 CA$21.68
63.76%
Apples (1kg)
$4.46 SGD 5.67
$4.22 CA$5.82
5.69%
Banana (1kg)
$2.97 SGD 3.77
$1.48 CA$2.04
100.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.65 SGD 5.91
$4.00 CA$5.51
16.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 SGD 2.89
$3.97 CA$5.47
-42.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 SGD 3.18
$2.63 CA$3.63
-4.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 SGD 2.97
$2.58 CA$3.56
-9.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 SGD 2.25
$2.65 CA$3.65
-33.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 SGD 1.87
$1.74 CA$2.39
-15.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.16 SGD 18.00
$14.22 CA$19.59
-0.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.61 SGD 32.56
$13.68 CA$18.85
87.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.67 SGD 5.94
$2.97 CA$4.09
57.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 SGD 5.79
$3.23 CA$4.45
41.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.51 SGD 1.93
$2.59 CA$3.56
-41.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.4 SGD 126
$76.1 CA$105
30.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.50 SGD 4.44
$3.24 CA$4.46
8.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 SGD 0.96
$1.54 CA$2.12
-50.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.37 SGD 20.82
$27.44 CA$37.81
-40.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.53 SGD 3.22
$1.20 CA$1.65
110.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$154.3K SGD 196.1K
$28.1K CA$38.7K
448.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$141.6K SGD 180.1K
$20.0K CA$27.6K
606.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 SGD 209
$155 CA$214
5.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.87 SGD 15.09
$42.30 CA$58.3
-71.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.10 SGD 33.18
$61.1 CA$84.2
-57.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$116 SGD 148
$42.39 CA$58.4
173.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.65 SGD 13.54
$20.20 CA$27.83
-47.28%
Cinema Ticket
$11.60 SGD 14.75
$11.71 CA$16.13
-0.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,406 SGD 1,788
$770 CA$1,062
82.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.1K SGD 34.4K
$14.6K CA$20.2K
84.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.9 SGD 99.0
$55.2 CA$76.0
41.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3 SGD 64.0
$40.34 CA$55.6
24.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 SGD 137
$90.3 CA$124
19.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 SGD 150
$106 CA$147
10.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,028 SGD 3,850
$1,285 CA$1,771
135.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,128 SGD 2,705
$1,148 CA$1,582
85.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,837 SGD 7,422
$2,034 CA$2,803
186.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,893 SGD 4,949
$1,767 CA$2,434
120.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$22.8K SGD 29.0K
$4,750 CA$6,545
380.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.5K SGD 21.0K
$3,845 CA$5,298
329.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,155 SGD 5,282
$2,958 CA$4,076
40.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.43
4.87
-50.10%

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

Last update for Singapore: August 16, 2026

Last update for Canada: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $2,978 in Singapore vs $1,227 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,978 in Singapore and $1,461 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $4,221 in Singapore vs $2,960 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 143% higher in Singapore.

Public transport is 66% more expensive in Singapore.

Salaries are 43% higher in Singapore, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.

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 48% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Singapore, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Singapore consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Canada, contributing to the overall 48% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
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.

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