Cost of living comparison
Singapore is 38.4% more expensive than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 30.2% less in Singapore
- Groceries
-
pay 20.1% more in Singapore
- Transportation
-
pay 2.5 times more in Singapore
- Housing
-
pay 54.3% more in Singapore
- Childcare
-
pay 28.9% more in Singapore
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 26.7% more in Singapore
- Clothing
-
pay 16.5% more in Singapore
The cost of transportation, housing, childcare, entertainment and sports, groceries, and clothing in Singapore are more expensive than in Iowa. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in Singapore.
If you lived in Singapore instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 30.2% less for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Singapore
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$10.16
SGD13.80
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$7.52
SGD10.22
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$1.52
SGD2.06
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$1.12
SGD1.52
|
|
pay 20.1% more for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Singapore
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$2.11
SGD2.86
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$8.41
SGD11.43
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$10.38
SGD14.11
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.30
SGD4.48
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$4.50
SGD6.11
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$1.80
SGD2.45
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$1.36
SGD1.85
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$1.80
SGD2.44
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$1.27
SGD1.72
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$1.02
SGD1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.04
SGD1.41
|
|
pay 2.5 times more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Singapore
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$8.18
SGD11.12
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$90.29
SGD122.68
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$135,434.68
SGD184,015.10
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$9.48
SGD12.88
|
|
pay 54.3% more for housing
|
Iowa
|
Singapore
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$36.16
SGD49.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$2,745.11
SGD3,729.78
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$1,988.78
SGD2,702.15
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$121.43
SGD164.99
|
|
pay 28.9% more for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Singapore
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$1,189.74
SGD1,616.50
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$27,370.99
SGD37,188.97
|
|
pay 26.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Singapore
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$6.73
SGD9.15
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$4.71
SGD6.40
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$12.64
SGD17.17
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$105.20
SGD142.93
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$11.29
SGD15.33
|
|
pay 16.5% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Singapore
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$66.32
SGD90.11
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$44.36
SGD60.28
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$96.71
SGD131.39
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$111.62
SGD151.66
|
|
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