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Compare cities βΊ Dubai vs Singapore
Dubai vs Singapore cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money Β· Updated September 2026
π¦πͺ Dubai
πΈπ¬ SingaporeDubai is 14% cheaper than Singapore
Living on $6,582 a month in Dubai feels like about $7,748 in Singapore β same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$224 vs $245
Per month
$6,582 vs $7,748
Local meal
AED 35 vs S$ 7
$9.54 vs $5.38
Taxi 5 km
AED 14 vs S$ 8
$3.81 vs $6.15
At a glance
FoodSingapore 36% cheaper
CafΓ©s & drinksSingapore 22% cheaper
TransportDubai 9% cheaper
StayDubai 28% cheaper
FunSingapore 33% cheaper
- Where Singapore is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (57%β), Street food (45%β), Local meal (44%β)
- Where Dubai is clearly cheaper: Convenience store (53%β), Bottled water (53%β), Taxi (38%β)
Item by item
| Item | Dubai | Singapore | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | AED 35$9.54 | S$ 7$5.38 | Singapore β44% |
| Street food1 item | AED 16$4.36 | S$ 3.1$2.38 | Singapore β45% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | AED 120$32.7 | S$ 35$26.9 | Singapore β18% |
| Coffeeone cup | AED 20$5.45 | S$ 6$4.62 | Singapore β15% |
| Beerone bottle | AED 45$12.3 | S$ 12$9.23 | Singapore β25% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | AED 120$32.7 | S$ 31$23.8 | Singapore β27% |
| Bottled water | AED 2$0.54 | S$ 1.5$1.15 | Dubai β53% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | AED 5$1.36 | S$ 3.8$2.92 | Dubai β53% |
| Taxi5 km in town | AED 14$3.81 | S$ 8$6.15 | Dubai β38% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | AED 42$11.4 | S$ 10$7.69 | Singapore β33% |
| Transitone ride | AED 5$1.36 | S$ 1.8$1.38 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | AED 210$57.2 | S$ 32$24.6 | Singapore β57% |
| Hotel night3-star | AED 500$136 | S$ 220$169 | Dubai β19% |
| Studio rent (month) | AED 7,000$1,907 | S$ 3,800$2,923 | Dubai β35% |
| Laundry | AED 17$4.63 | S$ 5$3.85 | Singapore β17% |
| SIM card1 week data | AED 84$22.9 | S$ 20$15.4 | Singapore β33% |
| Haircutcut | AED 110$30 | S$ 25$19.2 | Singapore β36% |
| Massage1 hour | AED 300$81.7 | S$ 72$55.4 | Singapore β32% |
| Half-day tourper person | AED 340$92.6 | S$ 78$60 | Singapore β35% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | AED 130$35.4 | S$ 32$24.6 | Singapore β31% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Dubai or Singapore?
Dubai is 14% cheaper than Singapore. Daily budget $224 vs $245; a month $6,582 vs $7,748.
How do monthly costs compare between Dubai and Singapore?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Dubai is about $6,582 and Singapore about $7,748 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.