Moving to Singapore from New York
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New York to Singapore — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New York to Singapore, you would find that Singapore is 12.8% more expensive than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly SGD108,000 in Singapore to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Singapore averages 89°F vs 62°F in New York City, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Singapore cheaper than New York?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 38.1% less
Groceries
pay 5.2% less
Transportation
pay 97.2% more
Housing
pay 18.4% more
Childcare
pay 11.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 11.6% 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.
What salary do you need in Singapore?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → SGD108,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Singapore
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Singapore
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from New York to Singapore, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New York to Singapore.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Singapore performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Singapore performs significantly better than New York across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Singapore performs significantly better than New York across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Singapore performs significantly better than New York across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Singapore vs New York
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | New York City | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/30°F (6°/-1°C) | 89°/76°F (31°/25°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 70°/54°F (21°/12°C) | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/66°F (27°/19°C) | 89°/78°F (31°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/41°F (12°/5°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) |
View all months
| Month | New York City | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°/27°F (3.5°/-2.8°C) | 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.3°C) |
| Feb | 42°/29°F (5.3°/-1.7°C) | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.6°C) |
| Mar | 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.8°C) | 90°/77°F (32.2°/24.9°C) |
| Apr | 61°/45°F (16.2°/7.1°C) | 90°/78°F (32.4°/25.3°C) |
| May | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.2°C) | 90°/78°F (32.3°/25.7°C) |
| Jun | 79°/64°F (26.3°/17.6°C) | 89°/78°F (31.9°/25.7°C) |
| Jul | 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.4°C) | 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.4°C) |
| Aug | 83°/68°F (28.1°/19.9°C) | 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.3°C) |
| Sep | 75°/61°F (24.0°/16.0°C) | 89°/77°F (31.6°/25.2°C) |
| Oct | 64°/50°F (17.7°/10.0°C) | 89°/77°F (31.8°/25.0°C) |
| Nov | 54°/42°F (12.1°/5.3°C) | 88°/76°F (31.2°/24.6°C) |
| Dec | 43°/32°F (6.1°/0.0°C) | 87°/76°F (30.5°/24.3°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Meteorological Service Singapore
Can you move from New York to Singapore?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Singapore
Visa Free
Singapore passport holder visiting United States
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 New York?
No — Singapore is on average about 13% more expensive than New York. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Singapore?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SGD27,000 in Singapore on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Singapore?
Usually fine from major cities in Singapore. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Singapore compared to New York?
Singapore performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Singapore compared to New York?
The average high temperature in Singapore is 89°F, compared to 62°F in New York City. Singapore receives around 83.2 in of rainfall per year, while New York City gets 49.9 in.
What language do they speak in Singapore?
The official languages in Singapore are Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. In New York, the official language is English.
