Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,625 in Singapore versus $1,720 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,161 in Singapore versus $2,626 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,696 in Singapore versus $3,531 in Italy.

Living in Singapore is roughly 111% more expensive than in Italy on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Singapore 172% above, Italy 29% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Singapore: monthly costs span $3,625 to $3,625, compared to $1,191$2,443 in Italy. City choice carries more weight in Singapore.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.05 SGD 14.16
$17.16 €14.86
-35.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.8 SGD 98.4
$81.4 €70.5
-5.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.64 SGD 9.78
$11.60 €10.05
-34.14%
Cappuccino
$4.94 SGD 6.33
$1.98 €1.71
149.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 SGD 2.19
$3.00 €2.60
-43.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 SGD 1.58
$1.36 €1.18
-9.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.95 SGD 10.19
$5.92 €5.13
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.60 SGD 12.30
$5.25 €4.55
82.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.07 SGD 3.94
$1.70 €1.48
80.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 SGD 3.07
$2.37 €2.05
1.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.81 SGD 3.61
$3.03 €2.63
-7.26%
Eggs
$3.42 SGD 4.38
$3.95 €3.42
-13.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.52 SGD 25.01
$16.66 €14.43
17.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.16 SGD 14.30
$12.26 €10.61
-8.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.86 SGD 29.28
$20.06 €17.37
13.96%
Apples (1kg)
$4.54 SGD 5.82
$2.55 €2.21
78.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 SGD 3.71
$2.20 €1.91
31.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.76 SGD 6.10
$2.75 €2.38
73.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.74 SGD 3.51
$3.22 €2.79
-14.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.42 SGD 3.10
$1.94 €1.68
24.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 SGD 2.76
$1.82 €1.58
18.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 SGD 2.54
$1.48 €1.28
33.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 SGD 1.96
$0.50 €0.43
206.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.38 SGD 17.14
$7.13 €6.17
87.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.89 SGD 29.33
$7.37 €6.38
210.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.38 SGD 5.61
$1.76 €1.52
148.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08 SGD 6.50
$2.53 €2.19
100.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.55 SGD 1.98
$1.99 €1.72
-22.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.2 SGD 119
$42.32 €36.65
120.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.66 SGD 4.69
$5.67 €4.91
-35.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.72 SGD 0.93
$1.52 €1.31
-52.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.53 SGD 21.18
$34.94 €30.25
-52.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.17 SGD 2.78
$2.09 €1.81
3.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$139.3K SGD 178.4K
$32.7K €28.3K
326.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$129.7K SGD 166.2K
$32.9K €28.5K
294.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 SGD 202
$227 €196
-30.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.28 SGD 23.42
$13.58 €11.76
34.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.88 SGD 47.24
$31.57 €27.34
16.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$116 SGD 149
$57.7 €49.93
101.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.39 SGD 15.87
$25.23 €21.85
-50.89%
Cinema Ticket
$11.63 SGD 14.90
$10.59 €9.18
9.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,188 SGD 1,522
$568 €492
109.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.3K SGD 37.6K
$10.5K €9,126
178.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.2 SGD 107
$90.7 €78.5
-8.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.52 SGD 55.8
$40.49 €35.06
7.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 SGD 137
$99.8 €86.4
7.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 SGD 163
$130 €112
-1.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,182 SGD 4,077
$865 €749
268.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,303 SGD 2,950
$672 €582
242.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,262 SGD 8,022
$1,523 €1,319
311.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,759 SGD 4,815
$1,078 €934
248.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.4K SGD 30.0K
$3,767 €3,262
520.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.3K SGD 20.9K
$2,360 €2,044
590.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,033 SGD 5,166
$1,949 €1,688
106.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.19
4.41
-27.66%

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

Last update for Singapore: July 28, 2026

Last update for Italy: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $3,206 in Singapore, $743 in Italy. Capital cities: $3,206 in Singapore vs $1,334 in Rome.

National salary averages: $3,941 in Singapore, $1,912 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 331% higher in Singapore.

Public transport is 109% more expensive in Singapore.

Salaries are 106% higher 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 Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Singapore?
At $1,817 per month in Italy and $3,625 in Singapore, there's a 100% 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 Italy: 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 Italy across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
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.

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