Singapore is one of the most expensive countries to live in the world. As an expat, your monthly expenses in Singapore are likely to be much higher than elsewhere in the world. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a high-quality lifestyle in Singapore.

Yes, Singapore remains one of the most expensive cities in the world in 2026, consistently ranking in the global top 20 alongside Swiss cities and New York. While local "hawker centers" allow for affordable meals starting at $5–$10 SGD, the cost of housing and vehicle ownership is astronomical. A city-center one-bedroom apartment typically averages over $3,400 SGD per month, and the government's Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system makes owning a car more expensive than in almost any other nation. Despite high inflation in 2026, Singapore's competitive salaries and high GDP per capita help residents maintain a high standard of living, but the city-state is approximately 27% more expensive than the U.S. overall.