Country guide

Overview

Singapore🇸🇬

At a Glance

How Singapore compares across key indices

Quality of Life181Safety95Healthcare77Affordability78ClimateClean Air28

Cost of Living

78 vs NYC

100 = NYC

Safety Index

95/100

Healthcare

77/100

Quality of Life

181/200

Cost of Living

How far your money goes in Singapore

Cost of Living

78

100 = NYC baseline

Rent Index

58

100 = NYC rent

Groceries

78

100 = NYC groceries

Restaurant Prices

82

100 = NYC dining

Safety & Crime

Low Risk

How safe residents feel in Singapore - based on surveys of people living there

Safety Index

95/100

Crime Index

0/100

Lower is better

Walking Safety

Daytime100
Nighttime100

0 point drop from day to night

Cities in Singapore

Singapore has 65 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,544 in Novena to $2,127 in Singapore. Bedok New Town leads on safety, scoring 95/100. Pasir Ris New Town ranks highest for quality of life at 180/200.

đź’¸Most Affordable

Novena

$1,544/mo

Safest

Bedok New Town

95/100

Best Quality of Life

Pasir Ris New Town

180/200

Best Healthcare

Singapore

93/100

City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
40 of 65 shown
CityMonthly CostSafetyQuality of LifeHealthcarePollution
Singapore$2,12787/100174/20093/10041
Bedok New Town$1,68595/100179/20078/10026
Ulu Bedok$1,68595/100179/20078/10026
Tampines Estate$1,68195/100179/20078/10026
Jurong Town$1,68095/100179/20078/10026
Tampines New Town$1,68095/100179/20078/10026
Jurong West$1,67895/100179/20078/10026
Woodlands$1,67895/100179/20078/10026
Sengkang New Town$1,67495/100180/20078/10026
Hougang New Town$1,66895/100179/20078/10026
Yishun New Town$1,66695/100179/20078/10026
Punggol$1,65795/100180/20077/10025
Choa Chu Kang New Town$1,65495/100180/20077/10025
Ang Mo Kio New Town$1,63895/100180/20077/10024
Bukit Batok New Town$1,63895/100180/20076/10024
Bukit Merah Estate$1,63595/100180/20076/10024
Kampong Pasir Ris$1,63295/100180/20076/10024
Bukit Panjang New Town$1,62895/100180/20076/10024
Kembangan$1,62395/100180/20076/10024
Toa Payoh New Town$1,61695/100180/20076/10023
Serangoon$1,61495/100180/20076/10023
Serangoon New Town$1,61495/100180/20076/10023
Geylang$1,60995/100180/20075/10023
Sembawang Estate$1,60995/100180/20075/10023
Kallang$1,60295/100180/20075/10023
Queenstown Estate$1,59795/100180/20075/10022
Clementi Housing Estate$1,59495/100180/20075/10022
Bishan New Town$1,59095/100180/20075/10022
Jurong East$1,58295/100180/20074/10022
Bukit Timah$1,58095/100180/20074/10022
Pasir Ris New Town$1,55195/100180/20073/10020
Matilda Estate$1,54795/100180/20073/10020
Novena$1,54495/100180/20073/10020
Marine Parade$1,54495/100180/20073/10020
Yew Tee$1,54495/100180/20073/10020
Simei New Town$1,54495/100180/20073/10020
Keat Hong Village$1,54495/100180/20073/10020
Kaki Bukit Estate$1,54495/100180/20073/10020
Serangoon Garden$1,54495/100180/20073/10020
Peng Siang$1,54495/100180/20073/10020

Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.

Compare Cities Side by Side

Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life

Families

Schools

93 verified school profiles across 1 city in Singapore — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.

Browse all 93 schools

Canadian International School, Lakeside Campus

Verified

Location variesAges varyContact school

Website
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years

Chatsworth International School

Verified

Location variesAges varyContact school

Website
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years

5 Steps Academy

Verified

SingaporeAges varyContact school

Website
International Curriculum
Ap Course Ledger
Cambridge International School

Australian International School, Singapore

Verified

Location variesAges varyContact school

Website
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Primary Years

Dulwich College (Singapore)

Verified

Location variesAges varyContact school

International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
Ib World School

Elmwood International College

Verified

SingaporeAges varyContact school

Website
International Curriculum
Ap Course Ledger
Cambridge International School

69 more verified schools in Singapore are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.

School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.

Healthcare

Healthcare system overview for Singapore

Healthcare77Safety95Quality of Life181
Expat InsuranceRecommended Partner

Don't skip health insurance

Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.

A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR

Environment

Clean

Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Singapore

Pollution Index

28/100

Lower is better

PM2.5

13.9ug/m3

Good

Environmental Quality

Air Quality100/100

Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about living in Singapore, answered with data

What is the cost of living in Singapore?

Singapore has a cost of living index of 78 relative to New York City (100). It is comparable in cost to most US cities. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,602 in Kallang and reach $2,127 in Singapore.

What is the cheapest city in Singapore for expats?

Kallang is the most affordable city in Singapore in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,602 for a single person including rent. Geylang is the next most affordable at $1,609/mo.

Is Singapore safe for expats?

Singapore has a safety index of 95/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Ulu Bedok scores highest on safety at 95/100.

What is the best city in Singapore for expats and digital nomads?

Geylang ranks highest for quality of life in Singapore, scoring 180/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,609/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Kallang offers the lowest monthly costs at $1,602/mo.

How good is healthcare in Singapore?

Singapore scores 77/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it excellent by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.

Is Singapore cheaper than the United States?

Yes. Singapore's cost of living is roughly 22% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 42% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.

What is the air quality and pollution like in Singapore?

Singapore has a pollution index of 28/100 (lower = cleaner). This is relatively clean by global standards, making it appealing for those prioritising air quality and outdoor lifestyle.

Weekly articles

Get the Freedom Abroad weekly

Three reviewed articles a week on practical relocation decisions, including countries like Singapore when there is something useful to say.

Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources

Freedom Abroad helps you figure out the part nobody talks about: how to actually build a life in another country. Films, tools, and data. No fluff.

Learn about our mission