City comparison

🇺🇸 New York vs 🇸🇬 Singapore

Side-by-side comparison of cost of living, taxes, and quality of life for expats.

Quick verdict

More affordable
Singapore
4% cheaper overall
Higher quality of life
Singapore
8/10 vs 8.5/10

Cost of living comparison

Category 🇺🇸 New York 🇸🇬 Singapore
Rent (1-bed, center) €3,705 €2,507
Rent (1-bed, suburb) €2,403 €1,777
Groceries (single) €285 €269
Transport pass €121 €86
Restaurant (2 people) €125 €54
Monthly budget (moderate) €4,000 €3,300

Quality of life

Metric 🇺🇸 New York 🇸🇬 Singapore
Overall 8/10 8.5/10
Safety 7/10 9.7/10
Healthcare 8/10 9/10
Education 8.5/10 8.5/10
Expat Community 9/10 9.5/10
English Proficiency 10/10 9.5/10

Tax & practical info

🇺🇸

New York

United States
Effective tax rate 31–35%
Avg. salary €100,000–€180,000
Full New York guide →
🇸🇬

Singapore

Singapore
Tax regime 0–24% progressive (max)
Climate Tropical
Nomad visa –
Effective tax rate 7–11% (no CPF for foreigners)
Avg. salary €80,000–€120,000
Full Singapore guide →

Crunch the numbers

Use our calculators to compare your actual take-home pay and monthly budget.

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