Cost of Living in Singapore

The standard of living in Singapore is amongst the highest in Asia. Compared to countries in western continents, the cost of living here is relatively low, and basic items like food and clothing are very reasonably priced.

When planning your budget, you will need to cater for these items :

• Accommodation
• Utilities
• Food
• Transport
• Clothing
• Telecommunications
• Books & Stationery
• Medical/Hospitalisation Insurance
• Personal Expenses

An international student in Singapore spends on average about S$750 to S$2,000 a month on living expenses. This amount of course, varies depending on your individual lifestyle and course of study.

These estimated cost ranges in the Table below gives a rough guide of the basic expenditure an international student may incur per month.

Item	Cost per month
Accommodation	$400 - $1,500 (rental varies with geographical area, type of accommodation, demand, facilities provided and the number of people sharing)
Utilities	$80 - $100 (not applicable for boarding schools)
Food	$300 - $450 (Based on $10-$15 a day for 3 meals) Note: Boarding schools usually provide 2 meals a day and Halls of Residence provide meals at extra charge.
Public Transport	$20 - $150
Telecommunications	From $30 (varies with usage and promotional packages subscribed)
Books & Stationery	$30 - $100 (varies with course of studies)
Medical Hospitalisation Insurance	$5 - $300 (depending on insurance policy)
Personal expenses	$100 - $300 (varies with individuals) (clothes, toiletries, entertainment, haircut, miscellaneous)

Please note that the average estimates were derived based on prices as at Nov 2007 and they serve as a reference only.