Moving to Singapore from Australia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Australia to Singapore — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Australia to Singapore, you would find that Singapore is 34.7% more expensive than Australia overall. A A$107,450 salary in Australia would need to be roughly SGD207,507 in Singapore to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Singapore averages 89°F vs 67°F in Canberra, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Australia to Singapore.
What does your salary buy?
A$107,450 → SGD207,507
To maintain the same standard of living in Singapore
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 38.0% less
Groceries
pay 28.4% more
Transportation
pay 2.1 times more
Housing
pay 62.4% more
Childcare
pay 47.5% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 22.5% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Australia to Singapore, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Australia to Singapore.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Singapore performs significantly better than Australia across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Singapore generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Australia generally does better on environment, though Singapore leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Australia generally does better on infrastructure, though Singapore leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Singapore performs significantly better than Australia across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Singapore generally does better on family life, though Australia leads in education spending.
Data: Australian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Canberra | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) | 89°/76°F (31°/25°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) | 89°/78°F (31°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) |
View all months
| Month | Canberra | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) | 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.3°C) |
| Feb | 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.6°C) |
| Mar | 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) | 90°/77°F (32.2°/24.9°C) |
| Apr | 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) | 90°/78°F (32.4°/25.3°C) |
| May | 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) | 90°/78°F (32.3°/25.7°C) |
| Jun | 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) | 89°/78°F (31.9°/25.7°C) |
| Jul | 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) | 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.4°C) |
| Aug | 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) | 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.3°C) |
| Sep | 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) | 89°/77°F (31.6°/25.2°C) |
| Oct | 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) | 89°/77°F (31.8°/25.0°C) |
| Nov | 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) | 88°/76°F (31.2°/24.6°C) |
| Dec | 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) | 87°/76°F (30.5°/24.3°C) |
Data:
Bureau of Meteorology,
Meteorological Service Singapore
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and Singapore. To live, work, or study long-term in Singapore, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Singapore's immigration authority.
Australia passport holder visiting Singapore
Visa Free
Singapore passport holder visiting Australia
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Singapore than Australia?
No — Singapore is on average about 114% more expensive than Australia. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Singapore?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SGD51,877 in Singapore on a A$107,450 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Singapore?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Singapore has 37.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Singapore safe for expats?
Singapore performs significantly better than Australia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Singapore is 0.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.
How is healthcare in Singapore compared to Australia?
Singapore generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Singapore, compared to 39.8 in Australia. Singapore scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Australia: 87).
What's the weather like in Singapore compared to Australia?
The average high temperature in Singapore is 89°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Singapore receives around 83.2 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.
What language do they speak in Singapore?
The official languages in Singapore are Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. In Australia, the official language is English.
