Your all-in-one guide to cost of living in Singapore for South Africans
Singapore is a city-state with incredible infrastructure, businesses, and people. Brimming with culture, great food, and a whole lot of opportunity, there’s no wonder why people want to move to Singapore.
Planning to move to Singapore from South Africa, whether you’re thinking of going for a short period or relocating permanently, is an exciting idea.
But what’s the cost of living in Singapore for South Africans?
This guide will take a look at the cost of living in Singapore, from rental prices to general living costs. Plus, we’ll also be looking at the difference between the cost of living in South Africa and Singapore.
Plus, if you want to send money from Singapore to South Africa, make sure you keep in mind Wise, a bank alternative to reduce international transfer costs¹ for international money transfers.
How expensive is Singapore in comparison to South Africa?
Singapore is the second most expensive city in the world⁵, and in comparison to South Africa, it has a much higher cost of living.
There’s a huge difference in the cost of living in Singapore and South Africa. The cost of groceries is 184.2% higher in Singapore than in South Africa, rent is 615.4% higher, and general consumer prices (not including rent) are 153.6% higher⁶.
The currency in Singapore
The currency in Singapore is the Singapore Dollar (shown as S$ in this article).
When you’re making transfers or converting your money into SGD, you can make sure you’re getting the best exchange rate by using a converter that uses the mid-market exchange rate.
You can find out the exact worth of your money (or more specifically, ZAR) by using our online currency converter.
Get the mid-market rate for international money transfers from Singapore to South Africa with Wise
South Africans living in Singapore can save money¹ by using Wise, a bank alternative, to make international payments to South Africa.
When sending money to South Africa from Singapore with Wise, you can reduce international transfer costs¹.
The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them.
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate along with a small fee mentioned upfront for all transfers. This means you’ll likely be getting better rates for international money transfers, and you’ll know upfront how much each transaction will cost you¹.
Using Wise in Singapore, you can send money to South Africa and hold and receive money in 40+ currencies³.
Cost of living in Singapore vs. South Africa
Singapore is the second most expensive city in the world, as of the 2023 Mercer cost of living rankings⁵. Compared, Cape Town ranks at the 194th most expensive⁵. Therefore, before we even get into any statistics and numbers, it’s clear just how much more expensive Singapore is than South Africa.
Rental costs in Singapore
Let’s take a look at the rental costs in Singapore.
| Rental for | Average monthly rent in Singapore |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment | S$4,025.31⁶ |
| 3-bedroom apartment | S$8,180.12⁶ |
Cost of groceries in Singapore
Let’s take a look at the cost of groceries in Singapore.
| Basic groceries | Average cost in Singapore |
|---|---|
| Bread | S$2.86⁷ |
| Milk | S$4.28⁷ |
| Eggs | S$4.24⁷ |
| Rice | S$3.40⁷ |
| Cheese | S$24.05/kg⁷ |
| Apples | S$5.84/kg⁷ |
| Local beer | S$5.10⁷ |
Transport costs in Singapore
Singapore is an uber-modern city, with a great public transport system. It has an underground and overground rail system, buses, motorbike taxis, and bikes. It’s also very reasonably priced.
| Type of ticket | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-day ticket in Singapore | S$1.95⁷ |
| Monthly transport pass in Singapore | S$128⁷ |
Study costs in Australia
Singapore has one renowned university - the National University of Singapore. It ranks 71st in the world according to Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings⁸.
According to the QS World University Rankings, the National University of Singapore ranks 8th in the world¹³.
The average cost for an undergraduate degree as a foreign student at The National University of Singapore ranges from S$30,331-S$168,308⁹.
What is the average salary in Singapore?
The average salary in Singapore is S$70,000¹⁰.
Let’s take a look at a selection of jobs and their average salaries in Singapore.
| Designation | Average salary in Singapore |
|---|---|
| IT manager | S$92,570¹¹ |
| Marketing manager | S$78,313¹¹ |
| Software Engineer | S$65,803¹¹ |
| Web developer | S$50,964¹¹ |
| Nurse | S$38,623¹¹ |
What about healthcare costs in Singapore?
There’s a public healthcare system in Singapore that allows subsidised or free healthcare for natives, and there’s a private system for anyone else, including expats. You can use the private healthcare system by paying with cash or with your insurance.
The average cost to see a doctor in Singapore is between S$20 - S$100¹².
Singapore is a diverse, interesting, and wonderful city-state with a lot of reasons to move there. However, as the second most expensive city in the world⁵, the cost of living is high, especially when you compare it to the cost of living in South Africa.
The cost of living in Singapore in comparison to South Africa is definitely something to consider before making a move.
Remember with Wise, you can save money when sending money to South Africa from Singapore¹.
_Sources: _
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- Mercer Cost Of Living Rankings
- Cost of living comparison South Africa and Singapore
- Cost of living Singapore
- University Rankings Worldwide
- Tuition Fees National University of Singapore
- Singapore Salary Guide - Morgan Mckinley
- Teleport Singapore Salaries
- Singapore Medical Costs
- QS World Rankings - Universities
*Sources last checked as of Friday 24th November, 2023.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
