Last update: Oct 2026 5.9M

Cost of Living in Singapore

Across Singapore, living costs for one person average $3,473 a month, including rent and utilities, which take about two thirds of the total. Other living expenses average about $38 a day.

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Singapore actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends around $3,473 per month with rent on average in Singapore.

$3,473 /mo

A couple spends around $5,246 per month with rent on average in Singapore.

$5,246 /mo

A family of three spends around $7,019 per month with rent on average in Singapore.

$7,019 /mo
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 SGD 15.25
$5.57 SGD 7.12
$23.85 SGD 30.51
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4 SGD 88.8
$38.58 SGD 49.34
$154 SGD 197
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 SGD 10.91
$7.75 SGD 9.92
$10.46 SGD 13.38
Cappuccino
$5.16 SGD 6.60
$3.17 SGD 4.06
$6.21 SGD 7.95
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 SGD 2.36
$1.19 SGD 1.52
$3.97 SGD 5.08
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 SGD 1.53
$0.76 SGD 0.98
$2.29 SGD 2.93
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.12 SGD 10.39
$4.64 SGD 5.94
$13.92 SGD 17.81
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.24 SGD 13.10
$6.31 SGD 8.06
$14.18 SGD 18.14
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$3.02 SGD 3.87
$1.62 SGD 2.07
$4.74 SGD 6.07
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 SGD 3.18
$1.54 SGD 1.97
$5.40 SGD 6.91
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.85 SGD 3.65
$1.59 SGD 2.04
$4.79 SGD 6.13
Eggs
$3.69 SGD 4.72
$2.71 SGD 3.47
$7.62 SGD 9.74
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.59 SGD 27.62
$9.54 SGD 12.20
$79.5 SGD 102
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.58 SGD 12.26
$6.37 SGD 8.15
$15.34 SGD 19.62
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.23 SGD 32.28
$15.41 SGD 19.72
$43.16 SGD 55.2
Apples (1kg)
$4.43 SGD 5.67
$2.31 SGD 2.95
$6.16 SGD 7.88
Banana (1kg)
$3.03 SGD 3.88
$2.32 SGD 2.96
$4.64 SGD 5.94
Oranges (1kg)
$4.56 SGD 5.83
$1.53 SGD 1.96
$9.21 SGD 11.78
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 SGD 2.88
$1.19 SGD 1.52
$3.18 SGD 4.07
Potato (1kg)
$2.60 SGD 3.33
$1.08 SGD 1.38
$3.99 SGD 5.11
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 SGD 3.09
$1.60 SGD 2.04
$4.00 SGD 5.11
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 SGD 2.30
$1.39 SGD 1.78
$3.08 SGD 3.94
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 SGD 1.95
$0.48 SGD 0.62
$2.57 SGD 3.29
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.25 SGD 18.23
$13.46 SGD 17.21
$22.16 SGD 28.35
Wine (Bottle)
$23.66 SGD 30.26
$19.71 SGD 25.21
$47.31 SGD 60.5
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.75 SGD 6.08
$2.91 SGD 3.72
$8.03 SGD 10.27
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 SGD 5.90
$2.41 SGD 3.08
$9.63 SGD 12.32
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 SGD 1.96
$0.92 SGD 1.18
$1.99 SGD 2.55
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.6 SGD 121
$94.6 SGD 121
$155 SGD 198
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 SGD 4.50
$3.29 SGD 4.21
$4.59 SGD 5.87
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 SGD 1.03
$0.53 SGD 0.68
$1.21 SGD 1.55
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.25 SGD 20.79
$14.85 SGD 19.00
$27.86 SGD 35.63
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.55 SGD 3.26
$2.19 SGD 2.80
$3.04 SGD 3.89
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$158.4K SGD 202.6K
$141.2K SGD 180.6K
$158.4K SGD 202.6K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$149.0K SGD 190.6K
$134.8K SGD 172.4K
$166.5K SGD 213.0K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 SGD 223
$111 SGD 141
$253 SGD 323
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.33 SGD 15.77
$6.90 SGD 8.83
$23.34 SGD 29.85
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.81 SGD 34.29
$19.62 SGD 25.10
$39.25 SGD 50.2
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 SGD 143
$71.2 SGD 91.1
$190 SGD 243
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.05 SGD 15.41
$7.32 SGD 9.36
$15.40 SGD 19.70
Cinema Ticket
$11.67 SGD 14.93
$10.12 SGD 12.94
$15.57 SGD 19.91
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,452 SGD 1,858
$1,044 SGD 1,336
$2,078 SGD 2,658
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.6K SGD 36.6K
$19.7K SGD 25.2K
$39.4K SGD 50.3K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.3 SGD 101
$38.42 SGD 49.14
$123 SGD 157
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.93 SGD 63.9
$15.31 SGD 19.58
$68.9 SGD 88.1
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 SGD 139
$61.4 SGD 78.5
$153 SGD 196
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 SGD 165
$78.9 SGD 101
$158 SGD 202
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,980 SGD 3,812
$1,958 SGD 2,505
$4,700 SGD 6,012
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,138 SGD 2,735
$1,566 SGD 2,003
$2,740 SGD 3,505
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,768 SGD 7,378
$3,912 SGD 5,004
$7,825 SGD 10.0K
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,033 SGD 5,158
$3,017 SGD 3,859
$5,558 SGD 7,109
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.6K SGD 30.2K
$18.7K SGD 23.9K
$28.3K SGD 36.2K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.8K SGD 21.5K
$13.1K SGD 16.7K
$21.1K SGD 27.0K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,358 SGD 5,575
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
1.5
4

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

Last update: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Singapore $3,473
Accommodation & Living
$2.1K
Groceries & Markets
$458
Eating Out
$256
Monthly Utilities & Internet
$213
Clothing & Footwear
$165
Sport & Entertainment
$135
Getting Around
$108

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom averages $3,015 nationally. In Singapore, expect around $3,015, while Singapore – the country's most affordable city overall – comes in at $3,015.

The average net salary in Singapore is $4,385 – enough to cover average monthly costs of $3,473, but with limited room for savings. Margins vary widely by city.

Groceries average around $458 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $71.0.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($3,473) is 157% above the global median of $1,350.

Average rent ($3,015) is 362% above the global median of $652.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($71.0) is 48% above the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($94.0) is 176% above the global median of $34.00.

Good to know
🕒 Local time
10:04 10:04 AM
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,866,139
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.782 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 SGD (1 SGD = 0.694 EUR).

By City in Singapore
Rank
City
Population
Living Index
Solo costs
(no rent) / month
Solo costs
(with rent) / month
Family of 3 costs
(no rent) / month
Family of 3 costs
(with rent) / month
Mobile download speed
(Mbps)
Internet download speed
(Mbps)
1
5535002
169 $1,158 $3,500 $2,815 $7,030
116.03
266.46
Singapore Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms

Fixed Broadband

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cost of Living in Singapore - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Singapore a good value overall for travelers, expats, and digital nomads, or does it skew expensive compared with other hubs?
Singapore offers exceptional efficiency, safety, and access to world-class services that many value highly for work and travel. Cost of Living in Singapore reflects premium urban amenities, reliable transit, and clean neighborhoods, which some travelers weigh against higher daily costs. If you prioritize predictability, strong healthcare, and a compact, safe environment, you may find long-term value here even with higher housing or food costs. Short visits benefit from streamlined logistics and abundant coworking spots, while longer stays reward you with familiar routines and efficient services. Tip: Build a weekly plan that clusters errands to save time and transport expenses.
What does daily life look like in Singapore for housing search, food options, transport, coworking spaces, and errands?
In daily life, housing search can lean toward high-density central condos with easy transit access or more affordable blocks farther from the core. Food options range from budget hawker centers to international eateries for special occasions. Transport is clean, fast, and highly reliable, with an extensive MRT network and buses. Co-working spaces are plentiful, often with flexible passes; errands run smoothly thanks to reliable deliveries and well-organized shops. Singapore living cost shapes what you pick, from neighborhood to weekly dining plan. Tip: Prioritize a transit-friendly route and mix hawker meals with occasional faster options to keep daily costs predictable.
How can you maintain a high quality of life in Singapore while budgeting, choosing neighborhoods, and adapting to weather and lifestyle?
Quality of life here comes from efficiency, safety, and access to green spaces. Build a simple budgeting framework: separate core housing and meals from discretionary spend; use monthly caps and track subscriptions. Neighborhood fit matters: choose areas with easy transit and work-life balance, like well-connected neighborhoods near parks or coastlines, while central spots offer constant activity. Save on costs by mixing hawker meals with occasional dining out, using public transit, and sharing coworking or gyms. Weather is hot and humid most of the year, with brief heavy rain bursts that shape daily routines. Tip: Prioritize a neighborhood you can walk or bike to most daily needs.
What are typical monthly expenses in Singapore in 2026?
Living costs across Singapore vary hugely by location. In 2026, monthly expenses range from $3,500 in affordable regions to $3,500 in major cities. Capitals and tourist spots are at the top; smaller provincial towns are significantly cheaper.
Why is Singapore so expensive?
Singapore is expensive by global standards. High wages, strong regulation, and premium services all drive up prices, and even budget-conscious visitors will find it pricier than most alternatives abroad.
What are average rents in Singapore?
Rent in Singapore varies a lot – Singapore has the highest prices, and the gap between capital and provincial rents can be 50% or more. Choosing which city to live in is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make.
Is $3,000 per month a tight budget for Singapore?
$3,000 works in the smaller cities of Singapore but won't stretch in Singapore. In high-cost areas you'll need shared housing, home cooking, and limited nights out – manageable, but not comfortable.
Is Singapore too expensive for most people?
Singapore leans expensive even in its cheapest cities, where costs start at $3,500 per month. You get quality infrastructure, services, and safety in return – but a strong income is a must for comfortable living.

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