🟠
#32 Worldwide

Singapore Cost of Living 2026

Singapore β€’ Southeast Asia

Anchor Cost Index

76

Expensive

#32
of 160 cities
81%
More expensive than
#1
in Southeast Asia
Expensive
Cost Level

πŸ“‰Anchor Price Breakdown β€” vs Global Average

πŸ”Big Mac
$4.80+17%
SingaporeGlobal avg: $4.09
🏠1BR Rent
$2,625.00+176%
SingaporeGlobal avg: $950.72
πŸš—Uber 5km
$5.50+22%
SingaporeGlobal avg: $4.51
β˜•Starbucks Latte
$4.00-2%
SingaporeGlobal avg: $4.10
πŸ“ΊYouTube Premium
$11.98+60%
SingaporeGlobal avg: $7.51
Below average
Above average
Global average

πŸ“ŠAnchor Price Breakdown

ℹ️Sources: Public economic data, market research
πŸ”
Big Mac
McDonald's signature burger
$4.80
+17% vs avg
73
Weight: 20%Global avg: $4.09
🏠
1BR Rent
City-wide median monthly
$2,625.00/mo
+176% vs avg
96
Weight: 30%Global avg: $950.72
πŸš—
Uber 5km
Average 5km ride fare
$5.50
+22% vs avg
67
Weight: 20%Global avg: $4.51
β˜•
Starbucks Latte
Tall Latte price
$4.00
Near avg
53
Weight: 15%Global avg: $4.10
πŸ“Ί
YouTube Premium
Monthly subscription
$11.98/mo
+60% vs avg
74
Weight: 15%Global avg: $7.51

πŸ“ˆKey Metrics

ℹ️Calculated from verified cost data
🏠
91%
Rent Burden
Rent as % of avg salary
🍽️
13%
Food Affordability
Food as % of avg salary
πŸ’»
75/100
Nomad Score
Digital nomad friendliness
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§
70/100
Family Score
Family friendliness

πŸ’΅Monthly Budget Scenarios

ℹ️Based on crowdsourced price data
πŸŽ’
Backpacker
Hostels, street food, public transit
$3,056/mo
Housing
$1800
Food
$1040
Transport
$72
Utilities
$0
Entertainment
$79
Other
$65
πŸ’»
Digital Nomad
Coliving, coworking, mix of cooking & dining
$4,036/mo
Housing
$2250
Food
$1105
Transport
$100
Utilities
$93
Entertainment
$188
Other
$300
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§
Small Family
2 adults + 1 child, outside center apartment
$6,723/mo
Housing
$4000
Food
$1310
Transport
$198
Utilities
$359
Entertainment
$144
Other
$712
🏒
Expat Professional
City center, quality lifestyle
$5,162/mo
Housing
$3150
Food
$1240
Transport
$213
Utilities
$258
Entertainment
$206
Other
$95

Monthly Budget Range

πŸŽ’ Backpacker

$3,056

🏒 Professional

$5,162

πŸ“‹Extended Costs (60+ Items)

ℹ️Aggregated from public sources
1BR Apartment (City Center)$3,500.00/mo
1BR Apartment (Outside Center)$1,750.00/mo
3BR Apartment (City Center)$7,000.00/mo
3BR Apartment (Outside Center)$4,000.00/mo
Price per mΒ² (Buy, City)$22,000.00/mΒ²
Price per mΒ² (Buy, Outside)$13,500.00/mΒ²
Airbnb (1BR, Monthly)$4,500.00/mo
Coliving Space$2,250.00/mo
Hostel/Dormitory$60.00/night

πŸ“ˆ How Singapore Compares

Cheaper than
31cities
More expensive than
127cities
Rank in Southeast Asia
#1/15

Understanding Cost Index

0-20
Very Affordable
21-40
Affordable
41-60
Moderate
61-80
Expensive
81-100
Very Expensive

πŸ’‘Tips for Living in Singapore

High Housing Costs: At $2,625.00/month average rent, Singapore is on the expensive side. Consider house-sharing or co-living spaces to reduce costs.

Food & Drinks: A Big Mac costs $4.80 and a Starbucks latte goes for $4.00 in Singapore. Eating at local restaurants instead of international chains can save 40-60% on food costs.

Getting Around: A 5km Uber ride costs $5.50 in Singapore. Public transit is usually cheaper for daily commutes.

Digital Nomad Budget: Plan for approximately $4,036/month as a digital nomad in Singapore, covering coworking, accommodation, food, and local transport.

Best Time to Move: Research visa requirements for Singapore well in advance. Costs shown are in USD and may fluctuate with exchange rates.

❓Frequently Asked Questions About Singapore

What is the cost of living in Singapore, Singapore?

Singapore has an Anchor Cost Index of 76/100, making it expensive. A 1-bedroom apartment costs $2,625.00/month, a Big Mac is $4.80, and an Uber ride (5km) costs $5.50.Singapore ranks #32 out of 160 cities worldwide.

How much does rent cost in Singapore?

The average 1-bedroom apartment in Singapore costs $2,625.00/month. This is above the global average of $950.72/month. A digital nomad can expect to spend around $4,036/month total in Singapore.

Is Singapore expensive compared to other cities?

Singapore is more expensive than 127 cities and cheaper than 31 cities in our database. In Southeast Asia, it ranks #1 out of 15 cities. Cities with similar costs include Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Brisbane.

How much money do I need to live in Singapore?

Monthly budgets vary by lifestyle: a backpacker needs ~$3,056/mo, a digital nomad ~$4,036/mo, a small family ~$6,723/mo, and an expat professional ~$5,162/mo. These include housing, food, transport, and lifestyle expenses.

πŸ“Š Data Sources

We aggregate data from trusted sources to provide accurate cost of living comparisons. All prices are converted to USD.

πŸ”
Big Mac Index
Global purchasing power indicator (2024)

Purchasing power parity indicator

🏠
Cost of Living & Rent
Crowdsourced global cost data (2024)

Verified price data from multiple sources

πŸš—
Transport & Services
Regional transport pricing data (2024)

Taxi, rideshare, public transit prices

πŸ“Ί
Digital Subscriptions
Regional pricing data (2024)

Streaming services, digital platforms

Data is updated periodically. Prices may vary based on location, promotions, and exchange rates.