Singapore is one of the most highly developed countries in Asia and is widely popular for its rich economy. The average cost of living in Singapore is estimated at 8,403 SGD (5.23 lakhs INR) for a single person. With such high living expenses, Singapore is quite expensive as a study abroad destination. The tuition fees at top universities in Singapore ranges from 35,000 to 55,000 SGD (21.8 lakhs to 34.27 lakhs INR).
The cost of living in Singapore may differ depending on the region with the central region being the most expensive. The central region is home to the city's main financial and commercial hub, making it even more expensive to live. While the cheapest places to live in Singapore are the north and east regions. These are the most preferred regions by international students as it is close to many international schools.
The international students constitute 20% of the total students pursuing graduate studies in Singapore. Hence, there are various scholarships for international students in Singapore that help in reducing educational and other expenses. International students must apply for scholarships as soon as possible as they are limited due to high demand. NUS Science And Technology Undergraduate Scholarship is among the most popular scholarships that covers living and travel expenses
Cost of Living in Singapore: Travel
A one way ticket from India to Singapore may cost around 320 to 480 SGD (20,000 to 30,000 INR). International students must carry the below mentioned documents to complete the immigration process before arriving to Singapore:
- Your passport, with the Singapore Student Pass
- In-principle Approval (IPA) letter
- Disembarkation/Embarkation card, which is handed out in Singapore airlines
After reaching Singapore Changi Airport, students may either reach the place they will be staying or look for other accommodations by taking an MRT that generally costs around 1.50 to 2.50 SGD (94 to 156 INR). Other than MRT, students may travel via City Shuttle that costs 10 SGD (623 INR). If carrying heavy luggage, students may take taxi directly from the airport with fare of 4 SGD (250 INR)
Cost of Transportation in Singapore
As the cost of living in Singapore is high, the students must be aware of affordable transport in Singapore. It is best suggested to look for local transport due to the cheap fare. To travel via local transport in Singapore, one must maintain a minimum budget of 120 SGD (7,477.68 INR) per month.
- Cycle: Many people are opting for a cycle since Singapore has announced the National Cycling Plan. A new cycle in Singapore cost somewhere around 350 SGD (21,810 INR). The international students may also take a cycle on rent with per hour charges between 20-30 SGD (1,246 - 1, 869 INR)
- Taxi: Taxi is one of the most common means of transport in Singapore with fare ranging from 3.20 to 3.90 SGD (198 to 242 INR) for the first 1.5 km.
- Bus: There are two types of buses across Singapore: SBS Transit and SMRT. The average bus fare is 1.70 - 1.90 SGD (105 - 118 INR). Apart from this, there is also a "feeder" bus service with fixed charges regardless of distance.
- Trains: There are two types of trains in Singapore, the Mass Rapid Transit and the other one is Light Transit Train. The ticket cost for the MRT train ranges between 1.50 to 2.50 SGD (93 to 155 INR).
International students may also opt for an EZ-link card for smooth travelling in Singapore. It is basically a smart card allowing cashless transactions. The card is accepted across buses and trains. The cost of an EZ-link card is 10 to 50 SGD (623 to 3,115 INR). Also, various discounts and benefits can be availed with the help of EZ-link cards.
Cost of Living in Singapore: Accommodation
Accommodation is the major part of monthly expenses in Singapore with average rent of 5,375 SGD (3.34 lakhs INR) in a normal area. The cost of furnished accommodation in an expensive area is somewhere between 8,364 SGD (5.21 lakhs INR).
- The accommodation facility is offered by the majority of universities in Singapore, especially first-year students. Each residence on campus generally has an apartment with a capacity of 6 students. Students may choose from single or double rooms which are fully furnished. Such rooms cost around 140 to 440 SGD (8,723.97 to 27,418.18 INR) per month.
- Various private hostels are available for students across Singapore, some of which are managed by universities or some private accommodation agencies. Some hostels are either on short-term stay while
- If a student chooses to live in a shared room, they will have to spend an average monthly rent of 480 SGD (29,910 INR), while a shared room may cost around 730 SGD (45, 489 INR) per month.
- If one wants to get familiar with the environment of Singapore, then he may consider living with a host family. The host family provides a stay with various facilities such as food, room, etc for monthly rate form 500 - 1,000 SGD (31,157 to 62,314 INR).
- Students may also look for private accommodation in the form of one bedroom apartment or a studio costing between 1,988 to 5,964 SGD (1.23 lakhs to 3.7 lakhs INR) per month.
Majority of accommodations are equipped with facilities like air condition, and usually managed by universities. The cost of rent also depends on the area and region of accommodations.
Singapore Universities: Housing Rent
Singapore has around 48 universities with each of them offering different types of accommodations on-campus. Charted below are the accommodation rent for single person in top universities of Singapore per year:
| University | Annual Accommodation cost (SGD) | Annual Accommodation cost (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| National University of Singapore | 2,800 - 5,500 | 1.74 lakhs - 3.42 lakhs |
| Nanyang Technological University | 4,440 - 4,980 [Single Room] | 3,180 - 3,660 [Double Room] | 2.76 lakhs - 3.90 lakhs [Single Room] | 1.97 lakhs - 2.27 lakhs [Double Room] |
| Singapore Management University | 3,000 - 9,600 | 1.86 lakhs - 5.97 lakhs |
| Singapore Institute of Management | 8,160 - 54,000 | 5.07 lakhs - 33.59 lakhs |
Cost of Living in Singapore: Expenditure
Excluding the accommodation cost, international students will also be required to maintain an average monthly expenses in Singapore between 1,100 to 1,400 SGD (68,437 to 87,102 INR). Some of the major expenses in SIngapore are tabulated below:
- Utilities - SGD 155 per month
- Food - SGD 5-16 daily, if buying from outside
- - SGD 200 per month, if cooking own meals
- Public Transport - SGD 80-120 per month
- Mobile Plan - SGD 48-108 per month
- Books and Materials - SGD 150
| Expenses | Cost per month (SGD) | Cost per month (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity/Water/Gas | 200 - 600 | 12,443 - 37,329 |
| Internet and Mobile subscription | 35 - 100 | 2,177 - 6,221 |
| Grocery | 20 - 50 | 1,244 - 3,110 |
| Food | 25 - 60 | 1,555 - 3,732 |
| Medical Checkup | 40 - 80 | 2,500 - 5,000 |
Cost of Living in Singapore: Region Wise
The monthly accommodation cost varies from region to region in Singapore. There are a total five regions in Singapore namely Central, East, West, North and North-East. Also, the rent generally costs lower in outer regions and may cost higher in the Central region. For instance, an apartment with three bedrooms in the Central district has a monthly rent of 7,000 SGD (4.35 lakhs INR). The same apartment in the North district will cost much lower with a monthly rent around 2,600 SGD (1.61 lakhs INR).
| Region in Singapore | Monthly Rent Studio/Apartment (SGD) | Monthly Rent Studio/Apartment (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Central | 4,000 [Studio Apartment] | 7,000 [3 Bedroom Apartment] | 2.48 lakhs [Studio Apartment] | 4.35 lakhs [3 Bedroom Apartment] |
| North | 1,500 [Studio Apartment] | 2,600 [3 Bedroom Apartment] | 93,324 [Studio Apartment] | 1.61 lakhs [3 Bedroom Apartment] |
| North-East | 1,700 [Studio Apartment] | 2,700 [3 Bedroom Apartment] | 1.05 lakhs [Studio Apartment] | 1.67 lakhs [3 Bedroom Apartment] |
| East | 1,900 [Studio Apartment] | 2,450 [3 Bedroom Apartment] | 1.18 lakhs [Studio Apartment] | 1.52 lakhs [3 Bedroom Apartment] |
| West | 2,700 [Studio Apartment] | 4,000 [3 Bedroom Apartment] | 1.67 lakhs [Studio Apartment] | 2.48 lakhs [3 Bedroom Apartment] |
International students planning to study in Singapore must maintain an overall living expenses of 10,000 SGD (62.21 lakhs INR) per year. Also, the students must look for affordable housing to reduce overall monthly expenditure. For smooth and affordable travelling, public transport is the best choice. It is advisable to research in advance before arriving in Singapore or even before planning to study there.
FAQs
Ques. Is Singapore expensive to live for students?
Ans. Singapore is one of the most expensive study abroad destinations in the world after the United Kingdom. The cost of living in Singapore is nearly 20% higher than in USA and 48% more expensive than Canada. The average monthly cost of living in Singapore is 8,403 SGD (5.23 lakhs INR).
Ques. How much is rent in Singapore for students?
Ans. The average rent for accommodation in Singapore is 5,375 SGD (3.34 lakhs INR) in a normal area. The cost of furnished accommodation in an expensive area is somewhere between 8,364 SGD (5.21 lakhs INR).
Ques. How much does it cost to study in Singapore from India?
Ans. The average cost to study in top universities of Singapore is seen to be around 35,000 to 55,000 SGD (21.8 lakhs to 34.27 lakhs INR) per annum.
Ques. How much is the monthly expense in Singapore for a student?
Ans. The monthly expenses in Singapore without accommodation cost ranges between 1,100 to 1,400 SGD (68,437 to 87,102 INR).
Ques. How much money is required for a Singapore student visa?
Ans. The total cost of a Singapore Students Visa is 90 SGD (5,588 INR) which also includes a Visa application fee of 30 SGD (1862 INR) and 60 SGD(3,725 INR) for issuance of students pass.
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