Singapore Cost of Living 2026
Singapore · Big city — pricier than the US average. Updated September 2026 Not just the exchange rate: how cheap it feels on your own income, and where a price turns into a rip-off.
Singapore price table & rip-off thresholds
| Item | Base price | Normal range | Rip-off? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | S$7$5.38 | S$4.9 – S$11.2 | S$13.44+ |
| Street food1 item | S$3.1$2.38 | S$1.86 – S$5.58 | S$6.7+ |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | S$35$26.9 | S$24.5 – S$56 | S$67.2+ |
| Bakery & dessert1 item | S$5.4$4.15 | S$3.24 – S$9.72 | S$11.66+ |
| Coffeeone cup | S$6$4.62 | S$3.6 – S$9.6 | S$11.52+ |
| Fruit juiceone cup | S$6.5$5 | S$3.9 – S$11.7 | S$14.04+ |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | S$3.8$2.92 | S$2.28 – S$7.22 | S$8.66+ |
| Bottled water | S$1.5$1.15 | S$1.05 – S$3 | S$3.6+ |
| Beerone bottle | S$12$9.23 | S$7.2 – S$20.4 | S$24.48+ |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | S$31$23.8 | S$18.6 – S$52.7 | S$63.24+ |
| Taxi5 km in town | S$8$6.15 | S$6.4 – S$12.8 | S$15.36+ |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | S$10$7.69 | S$7 – S$18 | S$21.6+ |
| Transitone ride | S$1.8$1.38 | S$1.62 – S$2.34 | S$2.81+ |
| Scooter rentalper day | S$32$24.6 | S$22.4 – S$51.2 | S$61.44+ |
| Hotel night3-star | S$220$169 | S$132 – S$352 | S$422.4+ |
| Laundry | S$5$3.85 | S$3.5 – S$8 | S$9.6+ |
| SIM card1 week data | S$20$15.4 | S$14 – S$34 | S$40.8+ |
| Haircutcut | S$25$19.2 | S$15 – S$45 | S$54+ |
| Massage1 hour | S$72$55.4 | S$50.4 – S$115.2 | S$138.24+ |
| Half-day tourper person | S$78$60 | S$54.6 – S$124.8 | S$149.76+ |
| Entry ticketTourist town | S$32$24.6 | S$25.6 – S$44.8 | S$53.76+ |
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in what travelers actually paid. Rate S$1.3 per USD, for reference.
Live prices reported in Singapore
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FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Singapore for a month?
A short-term studio rental (about $6,624) plus food, coffee, transport and a SIM (about $1,124) comes to roughly $7,748 a month. A local long-term lease (studio S$3,800) brings it down a lot.
What is a realistic daily budget for Singapore?
A mid-range room (about $174 a night) plus three meals, a coffee and two taxi rides is about $245 a day. Hostels and local eateries bring it well under that.
How do I know if a taxi in Singapore is overcharging?
For 5 km in the city, expect S$6.4 – S$12.8. Anything above S$15.36 is suspicious. The app's Price Check lets you pick the distance and gives a verdict in seconds.
How much is a coffee or a local meal in Singapore?
Coffee about S$6 ($4.62), a local meal about S$7 ($5.38), dinner at a mid-range restaurant about S$35.