City cost profile

Cost of Living in Singapore

medium confidence Updated 2026-05-25 partially-audited

Estimated monthly cost benchmarks for Singapore, including rent, transport, utilities, meal prices, and normalized cost indexes. This page uses medium-confidence data intended for early planning.

Cost index 88.2 New York = 100

1BR rent SGD 3,700 URA rental data plus market guide

Monthly transport SGD 128 Public Transport Council adult pass

Monthly utilities SGD 220 Numbeo city benchmark

Planning takeaway

Singapore is a mid-to-high cost city in the current sample, with housing and transport still worth validating by neighborhood.

Use the calculator to apply your own spending pattern. The city benchmarks below are a starting point, not a replacement for checking current rental listings and local transit options.

Estimate your own budget

Typical monthly costs

Average meal	SGD 10
Estimated single-person monthly cost	SGD 4,200
Estimated family monthly cost	SGD 10,500
Rent index	65.8
Groceries index	80.3
Restaurant index	54.2

Singapore rent prices

For a deeper rent view, use the dedicated Singapore rent prices page with 1-bedroom rent, salary context, monthly budget signals, and related city comparisons.

View Singapore rent prices

Data sources

Cost index: Numbeo current city index
Rent: URA rental data plus market guide
Transport: Public Transport Council adult pass
Utilities: Numbeo city benchmark
Last updated: 2026-05-25
Confidence: medium

View full data sources

FAQ

Is Singapore expensive?

Singapore has a cost index of 88.2 in this sample, where New York is 100. Use this as a relative signal rather than an exact monthly bill.

What is the biggest cost to check before moving to Singapore?

Rent is usually the largest variable. This page uses URA rental data plus market guide, but neighborhood and apartment quality can materially change the result.

How should I use these estimates?

Keep all calculator inputs in the same currency, compare relative changes, then verify local rent, transport, and utility prices before making a financial decision.

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