Asia · English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil · updated 2026-10

Moving to Singapore: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $4,150 a month to live in Singapore, and a family of four about $8,500, including rent. Singapore usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 2 yrs, with citizenship after 4 yrs, and dual citizenship is not allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the ONE Pass.

Monthly budget

$4,150

Very high cost

Safety

Very safe

Stability

Very stable

Family

Excellent

Main city: Singapore
Language: English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil
Permanent residence: 2 yrs
Citizenship: 4 yrs
Dual citizenship: Not allowed
Digital nomad visa: No

What can your passport do in Singapore?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.

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Cost of living in Singapore, per month in US$

One person

$4,150

Family of four

$8,500

RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther

1-bed flat, Singapore centre

$3,000

Estimate

3-bed family flat

$5,550

Estimate

Price level

US = 100

Income per person

$6,813

GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score

Very safe

Homicides per 100k

0.07

US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability

+1.33

Rule of law

+1.49

Control of corruption

+1.97

Government effectiveness

+2.09

−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (93/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score

Excellent

Child outcomes (HCI)

0.879

Health & schooling, 0–1

Under-5 mortality

2.7

per 1,000 births

Life expectancy

83.3 yrs

at birth

Health spending

$3,922

per person / year

Education spending

2.2%

of GDP

Dependant's Pass needs a salary of S$6,000+. Local schools give priority to citizens; international schools are expensive.

Visa & residence routes

Talent

ONE PassS$30,000/month salary or outstanding achievements; not tied to one employer.

Job offer

Employment PassS$5,600/month (S$6,200 in finance) plus COMPASS points; rising to S$6,000 in January 2027.

Investment

EntrePassVenture-backed or innovative founders.

Who gets easier access to Singapore

Singapore is not part of a free-movement area in the index.

Visiting: 164 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 34 can apply for an eVisa and 0 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs

Permanent residence: 2 yrs; Discretionary; most apply after 2+ years
Citizenship: 4 yrs; 2 years as a permanent resident, discretionary
Dual citizenship: Not allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.mom.gov.sg

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Singapore?

About $4,150 a month for one person and $8,500 for a family of four in Singapore, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $3,000 a month and a 3-bedroom around $5,550. Prices are 78% of US levels. Singapore is the 75th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Singapore safe to live in?

Singapore scores 96/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 1st of 76. The homicide rate is 0.07 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Singapore politically stable?

Singapore scores 93/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 2nd of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Singapore good for families?

Singapore scores 95/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 1st of 76. Life expectancy is 83.3 years and under-5 mortality is 2.7 per 1,000 births. Dependant's Pass needs a salary of S$6,000+. Local schools give priority to citizens; international schools are expensive.