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Cost of Living in Singapore in 2025: Living Expenses, Rent, Food Charges and Transportation
Edited By Sukriti Sahoo | Updated on Nov 20, 2024 10:25 AM IST
Cost of living in Singapore in 2025: If a student is planning to study in Singapore, they must be aware of the monthly expenses in Singapore and the cost of living in that city. The living expenses in Singapore for international students vary according to the choice of their accommodation.
Singapore is regarded as the best city for quality education and job opportunities for international students. Before planning to pursue higher education in Singapore, students must have an idea of everyday expenses. The living cost in Singapore for international students studying in Singapore includes accommodation changes, cost of groceries, transportation, food, internet usage, hourly rate for house help and healthcare.
This Story also Contains
- Cost of Living in Singapore for Indian Students in 2025
- Food Expenses in Singapore in 2025
- Monthly Grocery Expenses in Singapore in 2025
- Transportation Cost in Singapore in 2025
- Average Utility Cost in Singapore (Monthly)
- Apartment Rent in Singapore Per Month
- Cost of Studying in Singapore for International Students in 2025
The cost of living in Singapore for Indian students is quite expensive as the universities & colleges in Singapore are situated in the centre of the city. The cost of living in Singapore for 1 person is Rs. 95,687.1 (S$ 1,485.7) without rent charges.
The expenses in sharing will be less as the house rent, house help fee, food expenses, internet bills, groceries bills will be split among the two persons. Before planning to study in top universities in Singapore, candidates will have to maintain a budget. The cost of living in Singapore is quite high for Indian students and the costs of accommodation are also higher. It is around Rs. 1 lakh on average per month in Singapore. The income tax in Singapore is rather low and has a GST of 9%, which applies to the majority of consumer goods. However, the cost of living in Singapore for international students depends on several factors including the lifestyle of the student, choices and his/ her preferences. Read the complete article to know all about living expenses in Singapore for Indian students.
Cost of Living in Singapore for Indian Students in 2025
Students will have to keep in mind the living expenses in Singapore per month when they plan to study abroad. The living expenses in Singapore for Indians depend on various factors including the location of the rented house or apartment, type of accommodation, charges on food, transportation charges and other expenses.
The living expenses in Singapore for a student estimated monthly will be Rs. 95,687.1 (S$ 1,485.7) and the rent charges are not included. The cost of living in Singapore for a family of four will be around Rs. 344,443.2 (S$ 5,348.0) (excluding the rent) according to the data available on the Numbeo website. The cost of living in Singapore with rent will be higher for international students as the rent in Singapore will be an average of 1,208.8% higher than India. Detailed information on the cost of living in Singapore for international students is given below which includes food, accommodation, and transportation charges:
Food, Accommodation and Transportation Expenses in Singapore
Particulars | Amount in SD | Amount in Rs. |
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | S$ 2,621.46 | Rs. 168,856.92 |
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | S$ 5,047.30 | Rs. 325,113.67 |
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) (Transportation) | S$ 2.00 | Rs. 128.83 |
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) (Transportation) | S$ 120.00 | Rs. 7,729.60 |
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | S$ 15.00 | Rs. 966.20 |
(Source: Numbeo)
Note: The exchange rate for the Singapore dollar to the Indian rupee fluctuates every day.
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Food Expenses in Singapore in 2025
Students who prefer to eat outside at an inexpensive restaurant will cost around S$ 15.00. The meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant will cost about S$ 95.00.
Expenses of Foods in Singapore
Particulars | Amount in SD | Amount in Rs. |
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | S$ 15.00 | Rs. 966.20 |
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | S$ 95.00 | Rs. 6,119.27 |
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | S$ 10.00 | Rs. 644.13 |
Domestic Beer (0.5 litre draught) | S$ 9.90 | Rs. 637.69 |
Imported Beer (0.33 litre bottle) | S$ 10.00 | Rs. 644.13 |
Cappuccino (regular) | S$ 6.37 | Rs. 410.19 |
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle) | S$ 2.07 | Rs. 133.23 |
Water (0.33 litre bottle) | S$ 1.54 | Rs. 99.17 |
(Source: Numbeo)
Note: The exchange rate for the Singapore dollar to the Indian rupee fluctuates every day.
Monthly Grocery Expenses in Singapore in 2025
If students want to cook their meals, they will have to spend more than 100 S$ on groceries for living expenses in Singapore per month. The list of groceries along with their prices is mentioned in the table below.
Grocery Expenses in Singapore
Particulars | Amount in SD | Amount in Rs. |
Milk (regular), (1 litre) | S$ 3.63 | Rs. 233.77 |
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | S$ 2.74 | Rs. 176.70 |
Rice (white), (1kg) | S$ 3.77 | Rs. 242.77 |
Eggs (regular) (12) | S$ 4.35 | Rs. 280.44 |
Local Cheese (1kg) | S$ 23.60 | Rs. 1,519.93 |
Chicken Fillets (1 kg) | S$ 12.59 | Rs. 810.81 |
Beef Round (1 kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | S$ 25.54 | Rs. 1,644.88 |
Apples (1 kg) | S$ 5.36 | Rs. 345.06 |
Banana (1 kg) | S$ 4.05 | Rs. 260.94 |
Oranges (1 kg) | S$ 5.31 | Rs. 342.23 |
Tomato (1 kg) | S$ 3.69 | Rs. 237.60 |
Potato (1 kg) | S$ 3.07 | Rs. 197.49 |
Onion (1 kg) | S$ 3.17 | Rs. 203.97 |
Lettuce (1 head) | S$ 2.22 | Rs. 143.06 |
Water (1.5 liter bottle) | S$ 1.89 | Rs. 122.01 |
(Source: Numbeo)
Note: The exchange rate for the Singapore dollar to the Indian rupee fluctuates every day.
Transportation Cost in Singapore in 2025
The transportation charges are also part of the living expenses in Singapore per month. The cost of transportation in Singapore depends on the mode of transportation. Students can take the Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) to save expenses on transportation. The regular price of the monthly pass is 120.00 S$. Mentioned below are the transportation charges in Singapore.
Cost of Transportation in Singapore
Particulars | Amount in SD | Amount in Rs. |
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | S$ 2.00 | Rs. 128.83 |
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | S$ 120.00 | Rs. 7,729.60 |
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | S$ 4.60 | Rs. 296.30 |
Taxi 1 km (Normal Tariff) | S$ 1.00 | Rs. 64.41 |
Taxi 1 hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | S$ 20.40 | Rs. 1,314.03 |
Gasoline (1 litre) | S$ 2.86 | Rs. 184.39 |
(Source: Numbeo)
Note: The exchange rate for the Singapore dollar to the Indian rupee fluctuates every day.
Average Utility Cost in Singapore (Monthly)
The utility charges in Singapore include the basic charges of electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage, mobile phone bills and internet charges. The living expenses in utilities cost around 214.21 S$. However, the monthly Mobile phone plan with calls is 23.24 S$ and monthly internet charges are 47.82 S$.
Utility Cost in Singapore
Particulars | Amount in SD | Amount in Rs. |
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | S$ 214.21 | Rs. 13,798.15 |
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB + Data | S$ 23.24 | Rs. 1,496.97 |
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | S$ 47.82 | Rs. 3,080.18 |
(Source: Numbeo)
Note: The exchange rate for the Singapore dollar to the Indian rupee fluctuates every day.
Apartment Rent in Singapore Per Month
The cost of living in Singapore is much higher as compared to India. Singapore has good public transport services and provides quality of life and various job opportunities. The rent of one bedroom in the city centre is 3,629.33 S$ and outside of the centre is 2,621.46 S$.
Apartment Rent in Singapore
Particulars | Amount in SD | Amount in Rs. |
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | S$ 3,629.33 | Rs. 233,777.53 |
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | S$ 2,621.46 | Rs. 168,856.92 |
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | S$ 7,260.42 | Rs. 467,667.79 |
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | S$ 5,047.30 | Rs. 325,113.67 |
(Source: Numbeo)
Note: The exchange rate for the Singapore dollar to the Indian rupee fluctuates every day.
Cost of Studying in Singapore for International Students in 2025
Students should have a clear idea of the overall cost of studying in Singapore based on their desired course. Institution type and course type are two major factors that affect the total cost of study in the top universities of Singapore. For undergraduate courses in Singapore, students will have to keep an average budget between Rs. 6 lakhs to Rs. 46 lakhs per year. Yearly, the fee for postgraduate courses varies between Rs. 6 lakhs to Rs. 40 lakhs. This amount can cover only the tuition fee and doesn't include other expenses and it may vary depending on the study programme the student opts for.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it expensive to live in Singapore?
Yes, it's expensive to live in Singapore as the rent prices, food, transportation and other expenses are very high.
2. What is the cost of living in Singapore?
According to the data in Numbeo, the cost of living in Singapore for 1 person is Rs. 95,687.1 (S$ 1,485.7) without rent.
3. Is Singapore costly for Indians?
Yes, Singapore is costly for the Indians as it is the most expensive country as compared to India.
4. What is the cheapest way to live in Singapore?
The cheapest way to live in Singapore is to live far away from the centre of the city and nearest to any supermarket.
5. What is the benefit of living in Singapore?
The main benefit of living in Singapore is that it is the cleanest country. It is also the safest place to live because the crime rate is very low and is environment friendly.
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Dec 26, 2024
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Hello,
Hope you are doing great.
To answer your question To gain admission to the Computer Engineering program at the National University of Singapore (NUS), it is crucial to comprehend the admission criteria
JEE Mains Percentile:
The anticipated JEE Main Cutoff for 2024 across different categories is as follows:
General: 89+ percentile
EWS: 78+ percentile
OBC: 74+ percentile
SC: 44+ percentile
PwD: 0.11+ percentile¹.
A commendable percentile in JEE Mains 2024 falls within the range of 90-95 percentile³.
However, it is important to note that meeting the previous year's cutoff does not guarantee admission for the current year.
Hope this helps!!
satyamercedes0626 06 February,2024
Dear Aspirant,
Singapore is one of the best country across the world for Business and Finance Studies. Some of the best institutions for Masters of Business Adminstration (MBA) are as follows-
1. INSEAD
2. NUS (National University of Singapore)
3. Lee Kinf Chian School of Business
4. Manchester Business School
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6. ESSEC Global MBA
7. The Strathclyde MBA
You can visit the respective websites for details .
Hope this helps you !
Karman saini 23 January,2022
Hello,
Yes you can! As long as your medical certification is from a recognised institution by the Singapore Medical Council, yo can apply to be allowed to practice in Singapore. Of course there will be a set of admin stuff you will have to complete before being allowed to practice here.
For practicing in in Singapore as a medical practitioner you must secure a job with hospitals, register with Singapore medical council and finally get accredited with Specialists Accreditation Board (SAB) registration if you are practising as a specialist.
Alternatively, if there is a hospital/Medical institution willing to hire you, they can complete the procedutes on your behalf which will be much more convinient for you.
Hope this helps!!!
darshita 25 October,2021
Dear Aspirant,
There are many colleges that accept students without the said exams but make sure you have your transcripts ready- LORs, projects/internships/Volunteering certificates, Statement of Purpose, Essays, Extra-curricular activities. These things are a must when trying to apply for colleges abroad.
Colleges in the US:
https://yocket.in/blog/universities-that-dont-require-sat-act-3527
There are 08 top Australian Universities which follow the above given criteria in order to exempt international students from submitting IELTS scores for admission. They are as follows:
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Most of the colleges in Australia require an IELTS test score but have been waived off only on a case by case basic which is entirely judged. Many a times they have also waived it off if the students have completed their education in english medium.
Colleges in Singapore:
- Nanyang Technological College
- National college of Singapore
- Singapore Management University
Singapore also has numerous centres of internationally acknowledged universities like Duke University, University of Chicago, Booth Graduate School of Business, University of Nevada Las Vegas, and SP Jain Centre of Management.
Colleges in Canada:
- University of Saskatchewan
- Brock University
- Carleton University
- University of Winnipeg
- University of Regina
- Memorial University
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Hope this helps!
Ananya Krishnan 17 August,2021
Hello,
Designing is an upcoming and demanding field and is gaining recognition faster than ever. Studying abroad does seem desirable but it is not entirely different from studying in your own country. Several Indian institutes ,not just NID offer amazing designing programs. Many Institutes in India have tie-ups with international universities and study abroad programs which will give you the exposure required for an undergraduate degree.
Studying abroad for an UG degree also requires a lot of capital ,so instead of spending that money for UG , you can save up for PG/higher studies abroad which will be of much more use. As long as you choose study and work hard, choose a good college with experiential learning then from where you study NID or NAFA or Lasalle or UAL it doesn't matter.
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