Singapore vs Sydney
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Singapore
Sydney
The Verdict
Sydney is 6.7% less expensive than Singapore overall. A household earning $75,000 in Singapore would need approximately $70,313 in Sydney to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Singapore has the same purchasing power as $70,313 in Sydney.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sydney equals $80,000 in Singapore.
Living in Singapore vs Sydney
Housing Costs
Singapore's housing index of 165 is higher Sydney's 142, translating to median home prices of $950,000 vs $825,000. The $125,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,124 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,500/mo in Singapore compared to $2,050/mo in Sydney, a monthly difference of $450.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Singapore and 95 in Sydney. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Singapore vs $451/month in Sydney. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Singapore and 98 in Sydney. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Singapore vs $392 in Sydney. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 72 in Singapore and 72 in Sydney. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $58,000 in Singapore and $60,000 in Sydney. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,786 and $57,143 respectively. Sydney residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,353/month to housing in Singapore vs $1,400/month in Sydney. In Singapore, median rent of $2,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Sydney, median rent of $2,050/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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