How much do expats need to earn to live comfortably in Singapore

Modern, clean, safe, and efficient Singapore is a dream to live in. But it is also one of the most expensive cities in the world, and not every expat arrives with a generous package covering school fees, prime-location rent and weekend entertainment.

For many expats, relocating to Singapore means building a life here on their own budget. Some come for new career goals or business opportunities. Others are drawn to the high standard of living, the safety, the convenience, or simply the chance to experience life in a different country.

So, how much do you actually need to earn to live comfortably in Singapore? That depends very much on your version of “comfortable”.

Weekly Michelin-starred meals, a Sentosa villa, a luxury car, and monthly holidays will need a very different salary from hawker centre meals, public transport, weekend picnics, a top-class local government school system, and a well-connected HDB neighbourhood.

This guide will break down the main costs of living in Singapore for expats, so you can work out what kind of salary you’ll need to live comfortably in 2026.

Overview of expats in Singapore (2026)

According to the Singapore Department of Statistics, there are approximately 1.91 million expatriates (or non-residents) in Singapore as of June 2025. This was an increase of 2.7% from the year before.

Expats who work in Singapore come from many countries, with the largest groups coming from India, China, Malaysia, the US, the UK, and Australia, working primarily in the IT, finance, business, hospitality, engineering, and education sectors.

Median income of expats in Singapore (2026)

You may have seen reports that the pay and benefits packages for average expat middle managers in Singapore were reported at S$342,218 in 2023, according to a global survey conducted by ECA International, the world's leading provider of knowledge, information, and software for the management and assignment of employees around the world.

This seems high, but such packages are often generous and include the base salary, tax, and benefits, which usually include accommodation, utilities, and a car.

Median incomes for expats here on their own expense are more similar to Singapore resident salaries, and are highly dependent on the industry and level of experience.

The median monthly household market income of Singapore resident households was S$12,446 in 2025. This works out to approximately S$149,352 annually, although this is a household-level figure rather than an individual expat salary benchmark.

As a broad guide, here is the monthly median income of residents in some of the most popular expat industries at middle manager positions:

• Information Technology: S$7,300

• Finance: S$8,200

• Education: S$6,800

• Healthcare: S$6,200 (nurses) / S$7100 (GP doctors)

• Hospitality: S$5,000

Costs of living in Singapore (2026)

Knowing how much you might spend each month would help you decide if you’re earning enough to live comfortably in Singapore. We’ve provided different ranges for each category so that you can do your own calculations.

Please note that all costs provided here are average estimates gathered from many sources across the web, as well as personal experiences of locals and expats who live in Singapore, so do expect some variation in range as well when doing your budgeting.

1. Housing

Your preferred neighbourhood and the type of house you want to live in play a big role in determining how much you should earn to live comfortably here in Singapore.

Whether you decide to rent a government-built HDB flat in a new town neighbourhood away from Singapore’s city centre, or a sprawling landed home near the historic civic district, makes a huge difference in rental costs. We break it down for you here.

2. Transport

In Singapore, you may own a vehicle as an expat. However, it does not come cheap. In order to purchase a car, you must first purchase a Certificate of Entitlement (COE), which costs around S$123,000 to S$129,000 for car categories in the latest June 2026 bidding exercise, depending on prevailing market rates for the month.

These are the prices of brand new cars, which include a 10-year COE.

3. Food

4. Education

5. Healthcare

6. Entertainment

We’ve added in some of the more common things you’d do in Singapore to get some much-needed R&R, including travel, fitness, and movies. Getting a country club membership will also allow you to golf, swim, and bowl.

There are lots of free things to do in Singapore for leisure though – most of our public parks are free, and museums can be visited at low costs.

7. Taxes

All income earned while you live in Singapore is taxable.

Tax rates for non-residents are 15% or the current progressive resident tax rate (whichever is the higher amount), for income earned from employment remuneration.

Average cost of living in Singapore for expats (2026)

Numbeo and the Economic Development Board of Singapore estimate the current cost of living for a family of four, with two school-going children, to be approximately S$9,000 a month.

If you’re moving here alone, this figure is a lot lower, probably closer to S$5,000 to S$6,000 per month

Salary needed to live comfortably in Singapore (2026)

It’s been said countless times before: how much you need to earn to live comfortably in Singapore depends very much on what kind of lifestyle you want to lead.

As a general guide:

• S$8,000 to S$10,000 per month: A realistic range if your idea of “comfortable” means a flat in a local heartland with plenty of amenities, eating hawker fare and home-cooked meals using local produce, visiting public parks and museums on the weekends, and going out for family meals at mid-priced restaurants once every week or fortnight.

• S$20,000 to S$25,000 per month: A more realistic range if you prefer the finer things in life, such as a sprawling landed home, champagne and golf on the weekends, luxury accessories, and quick getaways around the region every month or so.

In the end, living comfortably in Singapore is less about one magic number and more about knowing which version of comfort you’re budgeting for.

Planning your move to Singapore?

Working out whether you can live comfortably in Singapore is one part of the plan. Getting your belongings there safely, efficiently, and without adding more stress to an already big move is another.

Whether you’re relocating to Singapore for work, family, study, or a fresh start, Wise Move can help make the move feel more manageable. Our moving teams can assist with international removals, furniture transport, and the practical logistics that come with settling into a new country.

Once you know the lifestyle you’re budgeting for, you can start planning the move that gets you there. Book trusted moving teams with Wise Move and take the next step towards life in Singapore.