Singapore

Living in Singapore: the short version

Singapore is Asia’s leading business hub: safe, efficient, English-speaking and lightly taxed, with top salaries in finance and tech. It is also one of the most expensive cities in the world for housing and cars, and work passes are tied to salary and points thresholds.

Best for: Well-paid professionals, executives and founders relocating with a company.

How to move to Singapore: main visa and residency routes

Summaries only — requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.

Employment Pass

For professionals, managers and executives; assessed with salary criteria and the COMPASS points framework.

S Pass

For mid-skilled workers, subject to employer quotas.

ONE Pass

Five-year pass for top talent in business, arts, sports, science and research.

EntrePass

For founders starting a venture-backed or innovative business.

Healthcare for newcomers

Healthcare is excellent but costly for foreigners, who are not covered by the national MediSave system; employers usually provide insurance.

How Singapore compares

Calculated from our data for all 55 countries. How we calculate this

Cost of living rank

4th most expensive of 55

Single person, core costs

$2,785/mo

Family of four, core costs

$5,426/mo

Take-home on $60,000

$46,305/yr

• Renting a one-bedroom home takes about 44% of the average local salary in Singapore, more than the median of 36% across the countries we cover.
• Core monthly costs for one person (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, internet and eating out) come to about $2,785, or 61% of the average local monthly salary.
• On a gross salary of $60,000 taxed locally, our estimate leaves $46,305 a year after income tax and employee social security (an effective rate of 23%), the 17th highest take-home pay of 55 countries. After single-person core costs, that leaves roughly $12,885 a year to save or spend.
• Countries with a similar overall cost of living: Norway, Denmark, Australia.
• Cheaper options in Asia: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan.

Estimates for planning, using simplified national tax brackets in US dollars; local taxes, deductions and your own spending will differ. Try your own numbers in the tax calculator or budget planner.

Our guides to Singapore

• Singapore vs Hong Kong: Cost of Living Comparison · Cost of Living

Sources and methodology

Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on September 30, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.