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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,636 per month in Singapore vs $2,323 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,221 per month in Singapore vs $3,377 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,805 per month in Singapore vs $4,431 in Canada, rent included.

Singapore costs about 57% more than Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Singapore and Canada are pricier than the global median – Singapore by 172%, Canada by 73%.

Singapore has a wider regional cost range ($3,636$3,636) than Canada ($1,344$3,069), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Singapore.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.04 SGD 14.13
$18.33 CA$25.11
-39.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.8 SGD 99.5
$72.4 CA$99.2
7.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.80 SGD 9.98
$10.87 CA$14.89
-28.24%
Cappuccino
$5.08 SGD 6.50
$3.72 CA$5.10
36.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 SGD 2.12
$2.10 CA$2.87
-21.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 SGD 1.59
$1.68 CA$2.31
-26.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.74 SGD 9.91
$5.99 CA$8.20
29.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.34 SGD 11.95
$5.73 CA$7.85
63.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.95 SGD 3.77
$2.22 CA$3.04
32.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 SGD 3.05
$2.80 CA$3.83
-15.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.88 SGD 3.68
$3.66 CA$5.02
-21.31%
Eggs
$3.31 SGD 4.24
$3.52 CA$4.82
-5.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.78 SGD 25.32
$11.33 CA$15.53
74.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.13 SGD 14.25
$12.52 CA$17.16
-11.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.02 SGD 29.47
$15.15 CA$20.75
51.95%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 SGD 5.60
$4.25 CA$5.83
3.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.91 SGD 3.72
$1.51 CA$2.07
92.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.77 SGD 6.11
$3.96 CA$5.42
20.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.62 SGD 3.35
$4.19 CA$5.75
-37.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 SGD 3.11
$2.75 CA$3.77
-11.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 SGD 2.86
$2.73 CA$3.74
-18.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 SGD 2.59
$2.57 CA$3.52
-21.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 SGD 1.94
$1.87 CA$2.56
-19.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.20 SGD 16.90
$14.67 CA$20.10
-10.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.92 SGD 33.18
$13.25 CA$18.15
95.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.14 SGD 5.30
$2.91 CA$3.99
42.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30 SGD 6.79
$3.33 CA$4.56
59.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 SGD 1.95
$2.64 CA$3.61
-42.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.9 SGD 121
$77.7 CA$106
22.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 SGD 4.64
$3.37 CA$4.61
7.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.72 SGD 0.92
$1.47 CA$2.02
-51.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.65 SGD 21.31
$28.78 CA$39.43
-42.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.24 SGD 2.87
$1.15 CA$1.57
94.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$138.3K SGD 177.0K
$24.9K CA$34.1K
454.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$129.9K SGD 166.3K
$20.3K CA$27.8K
539.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 SGD 200
$156 CA$214
0.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.53 SGD 23.72
$46.08 CA$63.1
-59.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.42 SGD 47.90
$62.4 CA$85.4
-39.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$117 SGD 150
$43.98 CA$60.3
166.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.30 SGD 15.74
$17.92 CA$24.56
-31.36%
Cinema Ticket
$11.74 SGD 15.03
$11.43 CA$15.66
2.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,178 SGD 1,508
$815 CA$1,117
44.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.4K SGD 37.7K
$12.3K CA$16.8K
140.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8 SGD 103
$55.9 CA$76.6
44.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.22 SGD 54.0
$41.52 CA$56.9
1.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 SGD 138
$88.7 CA$122
21.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 SGD 164
$109 CA$150
17.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,184 SGD 4,075
$1,379 CA$1,890
130.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,225 SGD 2,848
$1,212 CA$1,661
83.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,102 SGD 7,810
$2,160 CA$2,960
182.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,818 SGD 4,887
$1,866 CA$2,556
104.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.7K SGD 30.3K
$4,998 CA$6,847
373.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.5K SGD 21.1K
$4,001 CA$5,481
311.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,239 SGD 5,426
$3,031 CA$4,153
39.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.19
6.33
-49.61%

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

Last update for Singapore: April 28, 2026

Last update for Canada: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $3,108 in Singapore vs $1,283 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $3,108 in Singapore and $1,475 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $4,316 in Singapore vs $3,008 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 142% higher in Singapore.

Dining out costs 15% more in Singapore.

Public transport is 41% more expensive in Singapore.

Salaries are 43% higher in Singapore, giving Canada stronger purchasing power.

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 65% 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 65% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or 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 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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