Moving to Singapore from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Singapore — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Singapore, you would find that Singapore is 24.8% more expensive than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly SGD171,886 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 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to Singapore.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → SGD171,886
To maintain the same standard of living in Singapore
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 40.9% less
Groceries
pay 12.4% more
Transportation
pay 2.2 times more
Housing
pay 19.1% more
Childcare
pay 7.9% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 33.0% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Singapore
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United States to Singapore, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to Singapore.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Singapore performs significantly better than United States 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 United States 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
United States 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
United States performs better than Singapore across all infrastructure metrics.
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 United States 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 United States leads in education spending.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 89°/76°F (31°/25°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 89°/78°F (31°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.3°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.6°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 90°/77°F (32.2°/24.9°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 90°/78°F (32.4°/25.3°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 90°/78°F (32.3°/25.7°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 89°/78°F (31.9°/25.7°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.4°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.3°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 89°/77°F (31.6°/25.2°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 89°/77°F (31.8°/25.0°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 88°/76°F (31.2°/24.6°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 87°/76°F (30.5°/24.3°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Meteorological Service Singapore
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 United States?
No — Singapore is on average about 77% more expensive than United States. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Singapore?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SGD42,972 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?
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 United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Singapore is 0.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.
How is healthcare in Singapore compared to United States?
Singapore generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Singapore, compared to 36.1 in United States. Singapore scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Singapore compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Singapore is 89°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Singapore receives around 83.2 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Singapore?
The official languages in Singapore are Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. In United States, the official language is English.
