Living Abroad in Singapore As an Expat in 2026
Singapore is known for its cleanliness, multiculturalism, its Garden City, and for being one of the greenest cities in the world. This global financial center has a booming economy and an ever-expanding expat community, and popular sights and attractions that can entertain you for a lifetime.
Discover the world's top
health insurers.
Compare quotes with
a click of the button.
The average cost of living in Singapore for one person is USD $3,193 a month, and that for a family is about USD $6,953 a month. The average monthly salary after tax in Singapore is USD $4,604. These are things expats should bear in mind when contemplating living abroad in the Lion City.
This article is designed to help you decide if Singapore is the right place for you to live. We’ll talk about some practical topics like financial expectations, what it’s like as an American moving to Singapore, several entry passes available to long-term visitors, and healthcare options.
Living Abroad As an Expat in Singapore
If you’re an expat dreaming of living abroad in Singapore, you’ll want to consider whether or not you can afford it because it is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Consider your lifestyle and budget for housing, food, transportation, education, healthcare, and entertainment.
To ease your research, we’ve addressed these categories so you can determine if this technologically advanced country is your new home. Another great resource is our page about living abroad in Asia.
By the end of this article, you’ll be ready to check out the best places to live in Singapore. All money amounts in this article are in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise indicated.
Cost of Living in Singapore Vs. USA
The average cost of living in Singapore for one person is $3,193 a month vs. $2,516 a month in the USA. The cost of living for a family is about $6,953 a month in Singapore compared to $5,730 a month in the United States. These amounts depend largely on where you are and your lifestyle.
We got these costs from crowd-sourced data, and they are intended to be estimates, not exact expenses.
To help you determine if you can afford to live in Singapore, we will compare the average costs in that country to those in the USA.
Housing Expenses in Singapore Vs. USA
On average, one person in Singapore will spend about $2,215 a month on rent, while one person in the USA will spend about $1,598 a month on rent. For a family to rent a home in Singapore, it costs on average $3,746 a month compared to only $2,655 a month in the USA.
Here are some average housing expenses:
- 1-bedroom apartment downtown: $2,655 in Singapore vs. $1,659 in the USA
- A cheap 1-bedroom apartment: $1,941 in Singapore vs. $1,336 in the USA
Food Expenses in Singapore Vs. USA
In Singapore, the average monthly food expenses are $556, compared to $651 a month in the USA. Overall, dining out tends to cost more in the United States, though grocery prices are comparable between the two countries, resulting in similar total grocery expenses.
Average restaurant prices:
- Lunch: $8.80 in Singapore vs. $19.50 in the USA
- Dinner: $64.80 in Singapore vs. $76.50 in the USA
- Fast Food Meal: $7.80 in Singapore vs. $11.50 in the USA
Average grocery prices:
- Milk: $2.93 in Singapore vs. $1.11 in the USA
- Bread: $2.19 in Singapore vs. $3.57 in the USA
- 2.2 lb of Rice: $2.41 in Singapore vs. $4.43 in the USA
- 2.2 lb of Cheese: $19.90 in Singapore vs. $13.40 in the USA
- 2.2 lb of Chicken Breast: $11.30 in Singapore vs. $12.30 in the USA
- 2.2 lb of Banana: $3.07 in Singapore vs. $1.85 in the USA
Transportation Expenses in Singapore Vs. USA
Singapore has some of the highest transportation prices in the world. On average, the transportation expenses in Singapore cost $263 a month, while the transportation expenses in the USA cost $101 a month.
Average Transportation Prices:
- Local Transport Ticket: $1.53 in Singapore vs. $2.35 in the USA
- Monthly Transport Ticket: $87.60 in Singapore vs. $69.50 in the USA
- Taxi for 5 miles: $15.50 in Singapore vs. $18.40 in the USA
- ¼ gallon of Gas: $2.17 in Singapore vs. $0.92 in the USA
Salaries in Singapore Vs. USA
The average monthly salary after tax in Singapore is USD $4,604, compared to USD $4,539 in the USA. While salaries are comparable, the higher cost of living means income covers about 1.4 months of expenses in Singapore, versus 1.8 months in the USA.
Is Singapore Expensive to Live In?
The average cost of living in Singapore is 27% higher than that in the United States. Singapore is ranked as the third most expensive country in the world, while the USA ranks ninth. Much of Singapore’s high expenses are due to high housing costs and strict car ownership policies.
The USA only ranks as the ninth most expensive country in the world, so if you’re an expat or digital nomad thinking of moving to Singapore from the West, you’ll likely need to plan to compensate for the increased spending in your budget.
Here are some reasons why Singapore is so expensive:
- There isn’t much land in Singapore, so the cost of land increases with the growing population.
- The natural resources found there are quite limited.
- Prices for home buying and renting are incredibly high.
- Education is strongly emphasized, and its costs have been increasing.
- It is among the most expensive places to own a car.
- Food must be imported.
- The government invests substantially in healthcare systems, and as these systems improve, monthly healthcare premiums rise accordingly.
- General living standards for Singapore residents are high.
To prepare for your move, you will want to explore the available healthcare plans in Singapore. Pacific Prime is happy to answer any of your questions about what healthcare looks like in this country.
Living in Singapore As an American
Singapore blends numerous cultures, so for Americans, immersing in this cultural crossroads can feel strikingly novel. Joining the expat community can help smooth the transition when living there as an American.
Here are some identifying features of Singapore:
- Massive buildings
- Fast-paced development
- Flourishing economy overflowing with businesses, markets, and trade
- A congregation hub for different ethnicities, such as Chinese, Malay, and Indian
- The three-month-long Hindu festival called Theemithi
- Peranakan beadwork and embroidery
- Muslim traditions, such as Hari Raya Puasa, the “Festival of Breaking Fast”
- English is the language of trade and commerce, but the official Singaporean languages are Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil
- It can be quite humid
- There are fines for behaviors Americans might not expect, such as feeding the pigeons and importing chewing gum, so you’ll want to research those
Retiring in Singapore from the USA
There is no specific retirement visa in Singapore, so if you are interested in retiring in Singapore from the USA, you will need to apply for permanent residence. To do that, you will first need to get either an Employment Pass, an EntrePass, or an S Pass.
Detailed steps for applying for permanent residence are described later on in this article.
The retirement age in Singapore is 63, and retirement begins on the day you turn 63.
If you’re a Singapore citizen or permanent resident (PR), you can receive retirement benefits from the Central Provident Fund Board (CPF). Even if you’re not a PR, you can reap rewards from the Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS), a voluntary scheme available to all taxpayers in Singapore.
Moving to Singapore from the USA
If relocating to Singapore from the USA, your required steps will vary based on whether you plan to work or study there. There are also additional steps if you’d like to apply for permanent residence.
Working Passes in Singapore
If you would like to move to Singapore and work there as a foreigner, you will need to apply for the correct employment pass based on your circumstances, job plans, and eligibility.
Here are a few types of working passes:
- Work Permit for Migrant Worker: Allows semi-skilled workers to work in certain regions
- Work Permit for Confinement Nanny: This short-term permit is for Malaysian confinement nannies. It lasts up to 16 weeks from the birth of your baby.
- S Pass: For mid-level skilled employees who earn at least SGD $3,000 a month.
- Employment Pass: For foreign professionals, managers, and executives who earn at least SGD $5,000 a month.
- EntrePass: For foreign entrepreneurs who start and operate a business in Singapore that has innovative technologies.
- Dependent’s Pass: For dependent children and spouses of holders of an Employment Pass or S Pass.
See more about Singapore work passes.
Student Pass in Singapore
If you’re a foreign student who’s been accepted into a school in Singapore, you’ll need to apply for a Student Pass. You must be accepted as a full-time student, not part-time, in order to be eligible. The procedures for applying differ for each type of educational institution.
Take this link to learn more about the Student Pass requirements for each type of institution.
Applying for Permanent Residence in Singapore
Everyone who applies to become a permanent resident in Singapore must submit the application online via the ICA e-Service. A processing fee of SGD $100 is charged to each applicant. Generally, it can take about six months to process each application.
Once your application is approved, you must visit an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) office to finalize PR formalities and pay extra fees.
You can qualify as a foreigner to apply for permanent residence in Singapore if you are a/an:
- Spouse of a Singapore permanent resident (PR)
- Unmarried child under age 21 of a Singapore PR
- Elderly parent of a Singapore citizen
- Holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass
- A student studying in Singapore
- Foreign investor in Singapore’s economy
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the overall monthly cost of living in Singapore compare with that in the United States?
For a single person, average monthly expenses in Singapore are estimated at around USD 3,193, while in the United States, they are roughly USD 2,516, with family budgets also significantly higher in Singapore due to housing and transportation costs.
What should foreigners know about transportation costs, including public transit and owning a car, before moving to Singapore?
Public transport is well‑developed and reasonably priced, but owning a car is extremely expensive because of taxes, permits, and limited road space, making many expats rely primarily on buses, trains, and occasional taxis instead of purchasing their own vehicle.
How does an American professional typically become eligible to live and work legally in Singapore?
Most American professionals secure a job offer from a Singapore‑based employer, who then sponsors an Employment Pass or similar work authorization; once approved, this pass allows them to reside and work in the country for the duration of the pass.
Conclusion
We have now thoroughly examined average living costs in Singapore, reasons for its high expenses, the local culture, and steps for retirement and relocation.
Before you board your plane, check out this helpful PDF about public and private healthcare in Singapore. Selecting your coverage is a key step in moving abroad that you won’t want to miss, so contact us to get started!
If you’re not sure if Singapore is for you, consider living abroad in Malaysia or South Korea.
Happy travels!
Since joining Pacific Prime, Martin has become even more aware of the gap between the true value of insurance products and most people’s appreciation of it, and developed a passion for demystifying and simplifying matters, so that more people get the protection they need at a cost they can easily afford.
In his free time, Martin attends concerts of various genres, and plays the violin with piano accompaniment he pre-recorded himself or played live by his niece.
- The Cost of Living in the United Kingdom in 2026 - May 29, 2026
- Life in Shanghai as an Expat in 2026 - May 22, 2026
- Living Abroad in Shanghai in 2026: Cost of Living and Steps to Move - May 20, 2026
Comments
1 Comment
Are there any expat-specific healthcare providers or clinics in Singapore? What are some common challenges expats face when moving to Singapore, and how can they be addressed?
Ask a Question
We'll notify you
when our team replies!