How expensive is Singapore compared to other cities?

Singapore ranks #21 out of 577 cities globally, cheaper than 3.5% of cities worldwide. The rent index is 68.3 and local purchasing power is 103.2.

What is the average rent in Singapore?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Singapore city centre costs approximately SGD 3,804 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to SGD 2,731 (saving 28%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around SGD 7,370.

Is Singapore affordable to live in?

Singapore is very expensive by global standards. Groceries are expensive, restaurants are moderate, and local purchasing power is strong. Workers in Singapore earning SGD 71,973 gross take home approximately SGD 5,771 per month after tax.

🇸🇬 Singapore · 2026

Cost of Living in Singapore

Very expensive: cheaper than 3.5% of cities worldwide

Ranked #21 of 577 cities · More expensive than 96.4% of cities worldwide

Very expensive

Cost of Living

Moderate

Rent

Expensive

Groceries

Strong

Purchasing Power

Lower index = more affordable

Rent Prices in Singapore

Apartment	City Centre	Outside Centre	You Save
1-Bedroom	SGD 3,804/mo ≈ $2,970	SGD 2,731/mo ≈ $2,132	28%
3-Bedroom	SGD 7,370/mo ≈ $5,755	SGD 5,078/mo ≈ $3,966	31%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Singapore

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	SGD 5.42	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	SGD 6.06	2 sources
Bread (500g)	SGD 2.84	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	SGD 26.55	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	SGD 14.61	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	SGD 16.50	2 sources
Eggs (12)	SGD 4.53	2 sources
Milk (1L)	SGD 3.91	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	SGD 3.20	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	SGD 3.53	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	SGD 1.75	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	SGD 36.00	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

SGD 5.42

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

SGD 6.06

Bread (500g)

SGD 2.84

Local cheese (1kg)

SGD 26.55

Chicken (1kg)

SGD 14.61

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

SGD 16.50

Eggs (12)

SGD 4.53

Milk (1L)

SGD 3.91

Potatoes (1kg)

SGD 3.20

Tomatoes (1kg)

SGD 3.53

Water (1.5L)

SGD 1.75

Wine (mid-range)

SGD 36.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	SGD 10.50	2 sources
Cappuccino	SGD 6.51	2 sources
McMeal	SGD 10.00	2 sources
Cheap meal	SGD 13.59	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	SGD 125.50	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

SGD 10.50

Cappuccino

SGD 6.51

McMeal

SGD 10.00

Cheap meal

SGD 13.59

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

SGD 125.50

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	SGD 164.84	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	SGD 101.44	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	SGD 149.42	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	SGD 62.41	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

SGD 164.84

Jeans (Levi's 501)

SGD 101.44

Sport shoes (Nike)

SGD 149.42

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

SGD 62.41

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	SGD 14.25	2 sources
Gym membership	SGD 167.28	2 sources

Cinema ticket

SGD 14.25

Gym membership

SGD 167.28

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	SGD 2.85	2 sources
Taxi start	SGD 4.60	1 source
Monthly pass	SGD 119.00	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

SGD 2.85

Taxi start

SGD 4.60

Monthly pass

SGD 119.00

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	SGD 217.17	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

SGD 217.17

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Singapore has a cost of living index of 75.5 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 4 of 4 data sources.

75.5

Index

Sources

11.2

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

81.6

Expatistan

76.0

LivingCost

73.9

ShouldIMove price index

70.4

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

Eurostat Validation (EU27 = 100) Gov. Data

Eurostat

125.0

Based on 125 country PLI x 1 city factor

View all 577 cities | Data collected: Numbeo October 2026 · Expatistan March 2026 · LivingCost October 2026 · SIM index March 2026

Cost Indices

Cost of Living

75.5 Very expensive

Rent

68.3 Moderate

Groceries

82.9 Expensive

Restaurants

62.3 Moderate

Purchasing Power

103.2 Strong

Living in Singapore: What to Expect

Singapore is very expensive by global standards (ranked #21 of 577 cities), cheaper than 3.5% of cities worldwide.

Groceries are expensive and dining out is moderate. The best value is restaurants and the priciest is groceries.

Workers in Singapore earning SGD 71,973 gross take home SGD 5,771/month after tax (3.8% effective rate). See full Singapore tax calculator →

Cost of Living in Singapore

Rent Prices in Singapore

Prices of Goods & Services in Singapore

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Cost Indices

Living in Singapore: What to Expect

How Does Singapore Compare?

Planning a Move to Singapore?