About Singapore

Cost of Living in Singapore

On the average, a foreign student in Singapore spends about $1000 - $1900 per month.
(All amounts are in Singapore dollars.)

Accommodation

It's best to find temporary accommodation first. You can look up this website: Click Here and refer to short-term Student Accommodation on page 13 or call Student Services Hotline at 6381 3761 for help. Once you are here in Singapore, you will have enough time to find a suitable place to stay.

Here are some of the types of accommodation you can choose from

1. Private hostel
2. Homestay
3. Private Housing - landed property, apartments and condominiums
4. HDB-flat (government housing)

There are various accommodation options available to suit your budget. The following table gives an indication of what you can expect to pay.

1. Private Homestays : $700 to $1,500 per month.
2. HDB :$350 - $600 (room only) to $800 - $1200.00(whole flat) per month.
3. Private Property : $1,500 and above
4. Hostels : $200 to $600 per student per month depending on the number of student sharing the room.
5. Serviced Apartments : $4,000 to $8,000 per month.
6. Hotels : $50 to $700 per room per night.
   

Food

Local food is quite cheap and can be found everywhere. You will find Chinese, Malay and Indian food in most places. A plate of rice or noodles may cost between $3.00 and $6.00. Soft drinks vary from $1.00 cents to $2.50 per glass or can.

Transport

Singapore has a very good and affordable public transport system. You can travel to most places easily by bus or by train. Bus fares vary from $0.60 to $1.80 and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) – the Singapore train system – fares range from $0.70 to $1.90, depending on distance of travel. You can buy an EZlink card at any MRT station.

Taxi fares start from $2.50 and a 10km trip should usually cost around $29.00.