Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Italy

For one person, living is cheaper in Italy: $1,838 a month against $3,480 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $19,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,480
/mo nomad
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,838
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Italy

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 Italy actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,480 in Singapore versus $1,838 in Italy.

  • Singapore $3,480
  • Italy $1,838

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,194 in Singapore versus $2,793 in Italy.

  • Singapore $5,194
  • Italy $2,793

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,908 in Singapore versus $3,748 in Italy.

  • Singapore $6,908
  • Italy $3,748

Internal cost variation is higher in Singapore: monthly costs span $3,453 to $3,453, compared to $1,028–$2,531 in Italy. City choice carries more weight in Singapore.

Living in Singapore is roughly 89% more expensive than in Italy on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Singapore 160% above, Italy 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.88 SGD 15.21
$20.52 €18.31
-42.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 SGD 89.5
$79.8 €71.2
-12.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 SGD 11.22
$11.30 €10.08
-22.48%
Cappuccino
$5.09 SGD 6.52
$2.04 €1.82
149.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 SGD 2.36
$2.98 €2.66
-37.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 SGD 1.52
$1.35 €1.21
-12.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.33 SGD 10.67
$5.56 €4.97
49.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.29 SGD 13.17
$5.50 €4.91
87.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.95 SGD 3.77
$1.64 €1.46
79.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 SGD 3.18
$2.31 €2.06
7.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.78 SGD 3.56
$2.93 €2.61
-5.12%
Eggs
$3.60 SGD 4.61
$4.10 €3.66
-12.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.49 SGD 27.52
$17.49 €15.61
22.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 SGD 12.35
$12.66 €11.29
-23.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.13 SGD 32.18
$20.70 €18.47
21.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 SGD 5.85
$2.53 €2.26
80.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.98 SGD 3.82
$2.17 €1.94
37.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.66 SGD 5.97
$2.61 €2.33
78.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 SGD 2.90
$3.28 €2.93
-30.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 SGD 3.31
$1.95 €1.74
32.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 SGD 2.96
$1.84 €1.64
25.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.84 SGD 2.36
$1.57 €1.40
17.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 SGD 1.86
$0.51 €0.45
186.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.16 SGD 18.12
$6.83 €6.09
107.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.82 SGD 30.49
$7.95 €7.10
199.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61 SGD 5.90
$1.75 €1.56
163.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60 SGD 5.89
$2.44 €2.18
88.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.59 SGD 2.03
$1.88 €1.68
-15.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.9 SGD 120
$42.69 €38.09
119.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 SGD 4.59
$5.77 €5.15
-37.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 SGD 0.97
$1.72 €1.54
-55.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.21 SGD 20.75
$34.10 €30.43
-52.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.44 SGD 3.12
$2.11 €1.88
15.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$160.5K SGD 205.5K
$37.1K €33.1K
332.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$148.0K SGD 189.6K
$36.0K €32.1K
311.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 SGD 220
$223 €199
-22.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.22 SGD 15.64
$11.53 €10.29
5.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.34 SGD 33.73
$31.07 €27.73
-15.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$110 SGD 141
$54.0 €48.18
104.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.40 SGD 15.88
$23.70 €21.15
-47.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.85 SGD 15.17
$10.81 €9.64
9.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,490 SGD 1,908
$551 €492
170.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.1K SGD 35.9K
$11.6K €10.4K
141.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8 SGD 104
$91.3 €81.5
-11.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 SGD 65.5
$38.49 €34.35
32.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 SGD 140
$104 €93.0
5.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 SGD 165
$130 €116
-0.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,011 SGD 3,855
$797 €711
277.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,135 SGD 2,734
$624 €557
242.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,793 SGD 7,417
$1,406 €1,255
311.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,921 SGD 5,020
$1,053 €940
272.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.4K SGD 30.0K
$3,680 €3,284
535.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.9K SGD 21.6K
$2,261 €2,018
645.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,341 SGD 5,559
$1,925 €1,718
125.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
3.56
-31.46%

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

Last update for Singapore: October 4, 2026

Last update for Italy: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.1K
Italy
$624 70.8% $1.5K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$456
Italy
$349 23.3% $106
Eating Out
Singapore
$257
Italy
$279 8.5% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210
Italy
$265 26.2% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$167
Italy
$164 1.9% $3.1
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$134
Italy
$76 43.5% $58
Getting Around
Singapore
$108
Italy
$65 40% $43

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $2,916 in Singapore, $730 in Italy. Capital cities: $2,916 in Singapore vs $1,205 in Rome.

National salary averages: $4,369 in Singapore, $1,908 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 299% higher in Singapore.

Public transport is 129% more expensive in Singapore.

Salaries are 129% higher in Singapore, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Singapore.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇮🇹 Italy
🕒 Local time
20:15 8:15 PM
14:15 2:15 PM
6 h behind Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,866,139
58,850,717
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD 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 = 1.43 SGD (1 SGD = 0.697 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Singapore Italy 10,030 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Italy

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 Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Singapore?
At $1,838 per month in Italy and $3,480 in Singapore, there's a 89% 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 has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $2,916 in Singapore and $730 in Italy. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Italy or in Singapore?
In Italy, $2,500 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 Italy or to Singapore?
It depends on what you're after: Italy 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

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?