Singapore (SG)
Singapore is a city-state island nation at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and one of the world's foremost global cities.
Capital: Singapore
Region: Asia
Language: English
Currency: SGD (S$)
Cost of living: Very expensive (index 88)
Emergency: 999
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Singapore — 2026 data in SGD.
88
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Above average cost. Budget carefully, especially for housing and groceries.
Food & Groceries
Loaf of white bread (FairPrice) S$2.20–3.50
Milk (1L, FairPrice brand) S$3.80–5.50
Eggs (10-pack, local fresh) S$2.80–3.50
Chicken breast (500g, fresh, FairPrice) S$6–9
Rice (5kg, Jasmine rice) S$8–15
Vegetables (broccoli, 300g, FairPrice) S$2.50–4.50
Imported cheese (200g, Cold Storage) S$9–22
Dining Out
Hawker centre meal (chicken rice, laksa, noodles) S$3.50–6.00
Kopitiam kopi (local coffee with condensed milk) S$1.30–2.00
Bottle of Tiger Beer at hawker centre (can) S$6–9
Mid-range restaurant lunch set (one course + drink) S$12–25
McDonald's Big Mac meal S$9.80–11.50
Starbucks cappuccino (tall) S$7.50–9.00
Dinner at mid-range restaurant (2 people, no alcohol) S$50–100
Bottle of wine (mid-range, in restaurant) S$60–120
Rent
HDB flat (3-room) — PR/citizen only, Jurong/Tampines area S$2,400–3,200
HDB flat (4-room) — PR/citizen only, central area S$3,500–5,000
Studio condo apartment (30–45m²), suburban MRT S$2,500–3,500
1-bedroom condo apartment (45–60m²), suburban S$3,000–4,200
2-bedroom condo apartment (70–90m²), suburban S$4,000–5,500
2-bedroom condo apartment (70–90m²), Orchard/CBD area S$6,000–9,000
3-bedroom condo apartment (100–130m²), suburban S$5,500–7,500
3-bedroom condo apartment, prime district (Districts 9/10/11) S$8,000–16,000
Landed house (terrace/semi-detached), suburban S$8,000–15,000
Serviced apartment (1-bedroom, monthly rate) S$5,000–9,000
Room rental in HDB flat (shared housing) S$800–1,800
Transport
MRT journey (short, 1–4 stops) S$0.77–1.30
MRT journey (long, cross-island) S$1.80–2.60
Monthly unlimited MRT + bus pass S$128
Grab ride (city centre to airport, daytime) S$20–35
Grab ride (CBD to Orchard Road, 15 min) S$8–15
Taxi from airport to CBD (metered, daytime) S$25–40
Car ownership (monthly cost including COE, loan, insurance, petrol, ERP) S$2,000–4,500
Petrol (per litre, 95 Octane, Shell/Caltex) S$2.90–3.20
Annual road tax (1,600cc Toyota Altis) S$742
HDB carpark monthly season parking S$90–160/month
Bike-share (SG Bike, per 30 min) S$0.50–1.00
Budget flight to KL (return) S$80–200
Budget flight to Bangkok (return) S$200–450
Health & Insurance
Private GP clinic consultation (without insurance) S$30–70
Polyclinic consultation (foreigners, unsubsidised) S$42–60
Specialist consultation at private hospital (without insurance) S$180–400
Private dental check-up + scaling and polishing S$100–200
A&E visit at restructured hospital (foreigners) S$118–160 + treatment
Personal accident insurance (annual) S$100–300
Term life insurance (S$500k cover, 30s healthy adult, annual premium) S$400–1,200
Comprehensive health insurance for expat (annual, employer not covering) S$2,500–8,000
Integrated Shield Plan top-up (for PR, annual, private hospital coverage) S$800–2,500
Prescription glasses (standard, optical chain) S$100–250
Utilities
Electricity (2-bedroom condo, moderate AC usage) S$100–160
Water (2-bedroom household) S$25–45
Piped gas (City Gas, cooking only) S$15–30
Broadband internet (1 Gbps fibre, MyRepublic/M1) S$29–45
Mobile plan with data (12GB+, major telco) S$25–45
Starhub or Singtel bundled TV + internet (entry package) S$70–110
Childcare
Infant care (2–18 months, full-day, private centre, before subsidies) S$1,500–2,500/month
Childcare (18 months–6 years, full-day, Anchor Operator like NTUC) S$600–900/month (before subsidies); S$300–500 after citizen subsidy
Childcare (full-day, private/premium centre) S$1,200–2,200/month
International preschool (annual, private) S$20,000–50,000
Foreign domestic worker (live-in FDW/nanny) monthly salary S$700–950 (mandatory minimum $700+; typical S$750–900)
Foreign domestic worker levy (per month, employer-paid) S$300 (first FDW); S$450 (second FDW)
After-school care programme (Student Care Centre) S$150–450/month
Leisure
Cinema ticket (Golden Village/Cathay) S$12–17
ActiveSG gym day pass S$1–2.50
Fitness First monthly membership S$80–120
Singapore Zoo adult admission S$42
Gardens by the Bay (Cloud Forest + Flower Dome, adult) S$53
Universal Studios Singapore adult admission S$83
Golf (18 holes, public course like Changi Golf Club) S$80–150
Book (paperback, major bookstore) S$15–28
Netflix subscription (standard) S$15.98/month
Concert ticket at Singapore Indoor Stadium (popular international act) S$80–400
Cost of Living
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