Cost of Living in Singapore
Singapore is consistently ranked as one of the world's most expensive locations, primarily due to high real estate costs and taxes on luxury goods. However, a high standard of living is supported by world-class infrastructure and affordable local dining options.
Overview text is model-generated; see the note below.
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Monthly Cost Estimate
excluding rent
including 1-bedroom rent
Single person in Singapore. Totals are the sum of the category ranges below (low ends added together, high ends added together), so a real budget usually falls somewhere in between.
Cost Breakdown by Category
Housing & Rent
$2,200 – $4,500
Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the Central Area versus outside the city center. Housing is the most significant expense in Singapore.
Food & Groceries
$500 – $900
Monthly grocery expenses plus frequenting local hawker centers and occasional mid-range dining.
Transportation
$120 – $250
Highly efficient public transport (MRT and Bus) plus occasional Grab or taxi rides. Owning a car is significantly more expensive.
Utilities & Internet
$140 – $220
Basic monthly utilities for an apartment including electricity, water, cooling, and high-speed fiber internet.
Healthcare
$80 – $200
Costs for private health insurance premiums and standard outpatient clinic visits. Singapore has a high-quality but tiered healthcare system.
Entertainment & Lifestyle
$3,800 – $6,500
Gym memberships, cinema tickets, and social activities. High-end nightlife and alcohol are particularly expensive due to 'sin taxes'.
Build your own monthly budget
Starts at the midpoint of each estimate for Singapore. Type your own amounts to see your total and annual figure. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.
Estimate: $2,200 – $4,500
Estimate: $500 – $900
Estimate: $120 – $250
Estimate: $140 – $220
Estimate: $80 – $200
Estimate: $3,800 – $6,500
Yearly: $9,705 × 12 = $116,460. Excludes taxes, debt payments, savings, childcare, education, car ownership and one-off costs such as deposits or moving.
New to ranges? Read how to turn these estimates into a personal budget.
Comfortable Living
Estimated monthly spending for a comfortable lifestyle in Singapore, with regular dining out and leisure:
Including rent • Single person • Excludes income tax and savings • A separate model estimate, not derived from the category totals above
Frequently Asked Questions about Singapore
The first answer is calculated from the figures on this page. The others are model-generated text; answers that quoted older dollar figures are hidden so they cannot contradict the totals above.