Cost of Living in Singapore (2025): Rent, Food and Other Expenses

Singapore ranks at 12 position worldwide for Cost of Living Index, after Seattle (according to Numbeo 2025).While it sits at 11th position regarding average monthly income of 5896 SGD per month.

Singapore has one of the finest infrastructure, a thriving economy, high salary and is rated every year among top 10 most expensive cities in the world. It ranks No. 2 in Mercer report Cost of Living Survey and No. 12 in Numbeo world index, therefore, there are vital factors to be considered about the exact Cost of Living in Singapore before someone decides to move.

Being rather expensive, however, Singapore provides splendid career opportunities, safe living, efficient public transport, and multicultural life. The average expenditure of an individual, such as a professional or a student, on a monthly basis varies between SGD 2,500 - SGD 4,000 depending on the lifestyle preference.

In this blog, I will discuss all that you need to know about costs of living in Singapore in terms of housing, food and healthcare to transport and entertainment. Be it a student or a professional, in this article, you will find some tips, comparison, and financial planning to move intelligently in 2025.

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Average Cost of Living in Singapore in 2025

Before going into much depth, let’s have a quick overview of the average living expenses in Singapore for individuals and families.

Singapore is a member of the high income countries league and average income in Singapore is 6282 SGD or 4.21 Lakh INR, according to the Ministry of Manpower, Singapore. Thus, more is the income, more will be the expenses. The bullet points will be helpful in providing more useful insights.

• For a single expat, the overall monthly cost is around SGD 2500 - SGD 4000 or INR 1.67L - 2.68L.
• For a student, the overall monthly expenses are around SGD 1200 - SGD 1800 or INR 80,000 - 1.2L.
• For a family, overall spending is around SGD 4500 - SGD 6000  or INR 3L - 4L per month.

(*Conversion rates are subjected to change)

Fact: Singapore continues to top Asia in terms of living standards outpacing Hong Kong and Tokyo. It stands at 13th reflecting high quality and premium lifestyle.

Cost of Living in Singapore: Accommodation Costs

The average range of accommodation costs can vary from 2000 - 7000 SGD per month. The accommodation costs may vary depending on the location in the country, type and amenities offered.

Rent for Different Housing Types

 

Housing Type	Rent Range (SGD / INR)
Two Room Set Apartment	SGD 2200 - SGD 2350 (1.47L - 1.57L)
Three Room Set	SGD 2600 - SGD 3200 (1.74L - 2.14L)
Four Room Set	SGD 3000 - SGD 4300 (2L - 2.88L)

The ranges are taken from the official statistics published by Housing and Development Board, Singapore (Latest by 2024).

Although house owners provide one room set for rent, statistics are not available on official sites. However, with the data collected from some property websites of Singapore, you can easily find a decent one room set in the range of 800 - 1500 SGD.

Factors Influencing Rental Prices

• Location (Inside City Centre or Out of the City Centre)
• Proximity to nearest MRT stations or bus interchanges.
• Flat types. For example - Condos, Private apartments are higher priced than HBD Flats.
• Amenities like furnishing, pools, gyms, security etc.

Planning to study in Singapore? Find out how to apply with the Singapore Study Application Guide.

Food and Grocery Costs in Singapore

Food and groceries are another important part of human living. A person would spend on food according to his income. Those having lower income would prefer to cook at home to minimize non-essential spendings. On the other hand, the ones having a higher budget would be more likely to go to restaurants. Therefore, the average range could be SGD 350 - 700 per person. The costs can further be understood better if we break it down into its constituents.

Cooking at Home vs Eating Out

• Cooking at Home: If relying only on cooking at home, the expense on groceries would account in the range of SGD 350 - 450 depending on dietary habits. Local wet markets and NTUC FairPrice offer budget-friendly choices.
• Dining at Hawker Centres: Eating at a good and hygienic hawker centre would probably cost around SGD 4-8 per meal.
• Mid Range Restaurant: Expect to pay SGD 20 - 50 per person.
• Fast Food: Meals at chains like McDonalds can cost SGD 8 - 12 per meal.

Tip: For students, combining home cooking with hawker’s meal can be the best option for balanced nutrition and cost. Professionals and expats can prefer imported grocery items and restaurants, which increases monthly food costs.

Cost of Living in Singapore: Transportation Costs 

Singapore has one of the high class transport systems which is efficient, clean and well connected. For students and single expats, MRT (Mass Rapid Transits) and buses are the best ways to get around. 

High earning professionals may prefer taxis and Private car ownerships since they are fast, but are costly at the same time due to high COE (Certificate of Entitlement) fees (Land Transport Authority, 2025).

Mode of Transport	Monthly Cost (SGD)	Additional Notes
MRT & Bus Pass	SGD 128 (INR 7,800)	Unlimited travel
Single MRT Ride	SGD 1.00–SGD 2.50 (INR 60–150)	Varies by distance
Taxi	SGD 1.10–SGD 1.30 (INR 65–78) per Km	ComfortDelGro, GrabTaxi
Ride-Hailing (Grab, Gojek, TADA)	SGD 15–SGD 30 (INR 900–1,800) per ride	Surge pricing applies during peak hours
Cycling (Bike Rentals)	SGD 10–SGD 20 (INR 600–1,200)	SG Bike, Anywheel
Owning a Car	SGD 2,000–SGD 3,500 (INR 1.2L–2.1L)	Expensive due to COE costs

Cost of Living in Singapore: Internet and Utilities

Another expense type which adds to the amount is internet and utilities. Utilities like water, gas, electricity all are an important part of life which cannot be ignored. An average person can get a bill of SGD 250 - 350 (INR 16,700 - 23,400) for all costs combined. The following sections discuss the breakdown of costs.

Average Monthly Utility Bills

The monthly utility bills in Singapore can be a bit costly, especially due to air conditioning which can make upto 40% of total electricity consumption (Singapore Energy Market Authority, 2025). Apart from electricity, other utilities such as gas, water, garbage, internet bills and mobile monthly plan can collectively range from SGD 170 - 490, depending on the consumption.

Utility	Costs (in SGD and INR)
Basic (Electricity, Water, Garbage etc)	SGD 130 - SGD 354 (INR 8K - INR 23K)
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan	SGD 10 - SGD 50 (INR 600 - INR 3K)
Internet	SGD 30 - SGD 80 (INR 2K - INR 5K)

Tips to Reduce Utility Expenses 

Here are some useful tips by following which you can significantly reduce your expenses and save some money for some future investments.

• Use energy efficient appliances (with a good rating). Switch to inverter ACs and LED lights to cut down electricity costs.
• Avoid unnecessary use of appliances. Use when required.
• Choose bundled mobile and internet plans. Certain ISPs offer discounts on combined services.

Healthcare Costs in Singapore

Singapore has one of the best healthcare systems around the world. This high quality healthcare comes with comparatively high costs. For example, for a non singapore resident, he would be charged at least SGD 170 for his first consultation by a physician.

Indian students and expats wishing to go to Singapore are advised to have medical coverage (insurance) for any checkup or emergency.

The subsequent section discusses the healthcare costs in Singapore in more detail.

Medical Consultation and Insurance Costs

From just visiting fees of a physician to Multi-Specialty hospital fees, everything is described below for more clarity.

Healthcare Service	Cost (SGD/INR)	Notes
General Practitioner (GP) Visit	SGD 40–SGD 80 (INR 2.4K–4.8K)	Private clinics cost more
Public Polyclinic Consultation	SGD 15–SGD 30 (INR 900–1.8K)	Subsidized for locals
Specialist Consultation (Private)	SGD 120–SGD 300 (INR 7.2K–18K)	Mount Elizabeth, Raffles Medical
Prescription Medication	SGD 20–SGD 100 (INR 1.2K–6K)	Depends on condition
Dental Check-up	SGD 80–SGD 150 (INR 4.8K–₹K)	Public hospitals are cheaper
Health Insurance (Private)	SGD 80–SGD 250/month (INR 4.8K–15K)	AIA, Prudential, NTUC Income
Hospitalization (Public)	SGD 800–SGD 3,000/day (INR 48K–1.8L)	Based on ward type
Hospitalization (Private)	SGD 3,500–SGD 8,000/day (INR 2L–4.8L)	Higher for private hospitals

Tips for Managing Healthcare Costs 

Here are some tips which can be beneficial in cutting down healthcare costs:

• Use university clinics, in case you're a student. They are often subsidized for enrolled students.
• Purchase local insurance plans from providers like NTUC income or AIA which offer affordable plans.
• If you’re employed in a company which provides medical cover, use that wisely. Always collect medical bills and submit those in your company to recover your expenses back. Also, ensure that the hospital or clinic you visit is part of the insurer’s approved panel to avoid claim rejections.
• Always keep an emergency fund in the case of sudden medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Miscellaneous Costs

Apart from all the costs discussed above (which are one’s necessity), miscellaneous expenses are those which are done for fun and entertainment. Activities like Gymming, sports and clubs, bars and watching movies in cinemas, enjoying nightlife and concerts all have their own costs.

Nightlife and Entertainment Costs

Whether enjoying your time watching movies in cinema or a night in a club, Singapore has it all! Or you can take a membership at a fitness centre which again, are everywhere in the city.

Activity	Average Cost (SGD/INR)	Notes
Cinema Ticket (Golden Village, Shaw, Cathay)	SGD 12 – SGD 15 (INR 720–900)	IMAX and 3D tickets cost more
Gym Membership (Fitness First, Virgin Active, Pure Fitness)	SGD 80 – SGD 180/month (INR 4.8K–10.8K)	Premium gyms have better facilities

Leisure Time Activities

For a better living and having some quality time, there are several Theme Parks, concert stadiums and shopping centers  in Singapore. 

Activity	Average Cost (SGD)	Notes
Theme Parks (Universal Studios, Adventure Cove, Zoo)	40–85 (INR 2.4K–5.1K)	Online bookings offer discounts
Concert Tickets (Indoor Stadium, National Stadium)	80–300+ (INR 4.8K–18K+)	VIP seating costs more
Shopping and Fashion	100 - 300 per month (INR 6.7k - 20k)	Clothing, Footwear and others

Cost of Living in Singapore vs Other Asian Cities (H2)

Singapore has been ranked consequently among the top asian cities in terms of income, standard of living, HDI rank and much more. While other major asian cities like Dubai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur are also among top contenders having high quality standards.

Here’s a detailed comparison of cost of Living in Singapore vs Other Asian cities:

City	Average Monthly Cost (SGD/INR)	Key Differences
Singapore	SGD 3,500–SGD 6,000 (INR 2L–3.6L)	High rent, no wealth tax, efficient transport
Hong Kong	SGD 4,500–SGD 7,000 (INR 2.7L–4.2L)	More expensive rent, smaller apartments
Tokyo	SGD 2,800–SGD 5,000 (INR 1.7L–3L)	Lower rent, but higher food costs
Seoul	SGD 2,500–SGD 4,800 (INR 1.5L–2.9L)	Healthcare is cheaper, but public transport is pricier
Dubai	SGD 4,000–SGD 7,500 (INR 2.4L–4.5L)	No income tax, high transport & leisure costs
Kuala Lumpur	SGD 1,500–SGD 3,000 (INR 90K–1.8L)	Lower rent, cheaper transport, but lower salaries

Singapore sits on the third position after Hong Kong and Dubai, where they have higher costs on transport and rent. Others may have cheaper costs but income is also low compared to that of Singapore.

For more comparisons, check out Cost of Living in UAE.

Conclusion

Depending on your lifestyle, the kind of housing facility you prefer and financial planning, the cost of living in Singapore in the year 2025 varies accordingly. Although it is true that Singapore is one of the costliest cities of Asia and at the same time has a lot to give in return like clean streets, safe neighbourhoods, international education and quality healthcare.

Making intelligent choices like staying in the suburbs, going to the hawker centres or using public transport, students and working professionals can live their life in comfort without spending too much money. Learning about these costs is the initial stage of a successful and well-balanced life building in Singapore.