Cost of Living in Singapore (2025): What Renters Should Expect

Singapore is famously efficient, clean, and connected — and yes, it can be expensive. The real picture depends on your housing choice, daily habits, and how often you dine out. Below is a grounded view for renters arriving in 2025, with realistic ranges and a sample monthly budget you can tweak.

Quick context (so numbers make sense)

• GST is 9%. This consumption tax applies to most goods and services you’ll buy in Singapore.¹
• Public transport costs are transparent. Distance-based fares mean most commutes cost roughly S$0.80–S$2.20 per ride on an adult card, and the Adult Monthly Travel Pass is S$128.²
• Utilities move with global energy/water prices. Electricity tariffs are revised quarterly, while water prices stepped up in 2024–2025.^{3 4 5}

The big ticket: Rent

Your rent will dominate your budget. Broad, 2025-typical asking ranges:

• Room in HDB (public housing) or condo: According to our data, most rent tend to fall within S$800–S$1,200 for a common room, S$1,300–S$2,100+ for a master room (own bathroom), depending on area, age of unit, and amenities; popular districts are higher.
• Whole unit (2-room/1-bedroom or studio): According to our data, most rent tend to fall within S$2,250–S$4,250+, with central/near-CBD units and newer condos commanding the top end. Market trackers showed rents stabilising year-over-year with modest changes through mid-2025.⁶

Tip: If you’re new, start with a room or flat-share while you learn the neighbourhoods. You’ll get a feel for commute, food options, and noise levels before committing to a larger lease.

The predictable stuff (monthly)

• Utilities (your share in a flat-share): S$50–S$120. Solo in a small unit, S$120–S$200. Air-con habits matter more than you think. Tariffs change quarterly; check SP Group updates when planning.^{3 5}
• Water & refuse: Usually bundled in SP bills. Rate adjustments were phased in 2024–2025; usage and household size drive the total.⁴
• Internet (home broadband): S$35–S$55 for mainstream fibre plans.
• Mobile plan: Competitive SIM-only plans now start under S$10/month for large data if you shop around.
• Transport: Distance-based. Many renters land around S$60–S$120/month on pay-per-ride. Heavy commuters may consider the S$128 pass.²
• Food: Hawker centres keep costs sane — S$4–S$8 per meal is common; coffeeshop/food-court meals in the heartlands often sit in that band, with city locations pricier. Eating out at restaurants adds up fast.^{7 8 9}

Sample monthly budgets for a single renter (S$)

How to use this: Start with your rent target, then add your lifestyle. If you dine out often, shift S$200–S$400 from “groceries/hawker” into “eating out”.

Where newcomers overspend

1. Paying for a location you don’t actually use. If you work hybrid, living farther from workplace can trim hundreds from rent with minimal commute pain.
2. Daily café habit. Hawker breakfasts are great; reserve cafés and restaurants for treats.
3. Under-researching mobile & broadband. The cheapest SIM-only deals change often — and they’re really cheap if you port-in.
4. Air-con 24/7. Set timers. Electricity is the silent budget creep; tariffs fluctuate quarterly.⁵

What an expat say

Comfort at ~S$6.5k–S$7k income for singles is common if rent stays under ~S$1.9k; travel and savings are possible with discipline.¹⁰

Rapid checklist for your first month

• Pick an interim base. Consider a room for 3–6 months while you survey neighbourhoods.
• Transport strategy. If your commute is frequent and long, test if the monthly pass saves you money. Otherwise, pay-per-ride is usually cheaper.²
• Food rhythm. Default to hawker/food-court on weekdays; save restaurants for weekends to keep the monthly average sane.^{8 9}
• Utilities habits. Use air-con sparingly, clean filters, and set sleep timers.
• Phone plan. Start with a low-cost SIM-only; you can always bump up data later.

References