Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,475 in Singapore versus $366 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,242 in Singapore versus $581 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,008 in Singapore versus $795 in India.

Living in Singapore is roughly 849% more expensive than in India on average.

Singapore (152% above) and India (73% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Singapore: monthly costs span $3,475 to $3,475, compared to $228$810 in India. City choice carries more weight in Singapore.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.08 SGD 15.31
$2.15 ₹205
461.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4 SGD 86.6
$10.42 ₹996
556.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 SGD 11.15
$3.59 ₹343
145.13%
Cappuccino
$5.08 SGD 6.43
$1.67 ₹160
204.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 SGD 2.39
$0.39 ₹37.26
384.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 SGD 1.53
$0.17 ₹15.92
611.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.52 SGD 10.80
$1.87 ₹179
355.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.09 SGD 12.79
$3.18 ₹304
217.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.97 SGD 3.76
$0.64 ₹61.1
364.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 SGD 3.09
$0.45 ₹42.66
442.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.81 SGD 3.55
$0.63 ₹59.9
346.03%
Eggs
$3.62 SGD 4.59
$0.87 ₹83.5
316.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.74 SGD 26.28
$4.62 ₹442
348.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.73 SGD 12.32
$2.86 ₹273
240.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.66 SGD 32.51
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 SGD 5.66
$1.95 ₹186
129.23%
Banana (1kg)
$3.03 SGD 3.83
$0.67 ₹64.3
352.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.69 SGD 5.94
$0.99 ₹94.3
373.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 SGD 2.76
$0.51 ₹48.45
327.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.64 SGD 3.34
$0.35 ₹33.23
654.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 SGD 2.97
$0.42 ₹39.69
457.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 SGD 2.38
$0.44 ₹41.87
327.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 SGD 1.74
$0.31 ₹29.80
341.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.24 SGD 18.05
$5.14 ₹491
177.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.63 SGD 29.95
$7.58 ₹724
211.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.79 SGD 6.07
$1.67 ₹160
186.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 SGD 5.74
$2.79 ₹266
62.37%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.36 ₹512
-
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.59 SGD 2.02
$0.25 ₹23.64
536.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 SGD 130
$8.53 ₹815
1101.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.67 SGD 4.65
$0.94 ₹89.4
290.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 SGD 1.01
$0.27 ₹25.96
196.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.82 SGD 21.31
$1.60 ₹153
951.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.45 SGD 3.10
$1.12 ₹107
118.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$160.4K SGD 203.2K
$12.4K ₹1.2M
1188.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$149.9K SGD 189.9K
$20.2K ₹1.9M
642.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 SGD 205
$37.28 ₹3,562
333.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.94 SGD 16.39
$3.49 ₹334
270.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.99 SGD 34.20
$7.20 ₹688
274.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$110 SGD 140
$14.69 ₹1,403
652.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.87 SGD 15.04
$7.31 ₹698
62.38%
Cinema Ticket
$11.84 SGD 15.00
$3.08 ₹294
284.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,512 SGD 1,916
$59.1 ₹5,646
2458.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.7K SGD 37.6K
$1,693 ₹161.8K
1654.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 SGD 101
$23.25 ₹2,221
244.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.4 SGD 67.6
$24.03 ₹2,296
122.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 SGD 141
$40.99 ₹3,917
171.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 SGD 166
$30.46 ₹2,911
330.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,007 SGD 3,810
$143 ₹13.7K
1999.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,199 SGD 2,787
$93.2 ₹8,902
2260.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,958 SGD 7,550
$332 ₹31.7K
1695.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,827 SGD 4,849
$214 ₹20.4K
1692.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.7K SGD 30.1K
$1,203 ₹115.0K
1871.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.7K SGD 21.2K
$643 ₹61.5K
2503.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,131 SGD 5,235
$441 ₹42.1K
836.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.43
8.93
-72.79%

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

Last update for Singapore: September 8, 2026

Last update for India: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $3,051 in Singapore, $121 in India. Capital cities: $3,051 in Singapore vs $272 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $4,259 in Singapore, $410 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 2421% higher in Singapore.

Dining out costs 570% more in Singapore.

Public transport is 1329% more expensive in Singapore.

Salaries are 939% higher in Singapore, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Singapore.

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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Singapore?
At $519 per month in India and $3,475 in Singapore, there's a 570% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Singapore is consistently higher than in India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Singapore?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Singapore it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Singapore?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; Singapore may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Singapore vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries