Housing & Cost of Living

What it really costs to live here.

Rental viewings, agent fees, HDB vs condo, and monthly budgets from real people — not the glossy expat estimates.

3 guides · newest first

Cost of living by salary: what S$3,000, S$6,000, S$9,000 and more actually buy in Singapore

Full monthly breakdowns for four income bands — rent, meals, transport, gym, insurance and school — and the pass rules that decide whether bringing family is even possible.

5 min 02

How renting works in Singapore: viewings, LOI, deposit, agent fees and the clauses to insist on

The rental process for newcomers — what an LOI is, who pays the agent, how much deposit is normal, the diplomatic clause, stamp duty, and the scams that catch people early.

5 min 03

A real monthly budget in Singapore: single, couple and family of four

What people actually spend in 2026 — rent, utilities, food, transport, insurance and school — line by line for a single, a couple and a family of four.

5 min