Average Salary in Singapore: Budget and Cost of Living in 2026

Salaire moyen à Singapour : budget et coût de la vie

Singapore continues to attract thousands of expatriates every year who are seeking a dynamic economy, favorable tax policies, and an exceptional quality of life in Asia. However, when packing your bags for the city-state, one crucial question arises: does the average salary in Singapore really cover the cost of living there?

Between soaring rents, a highly efficient but expensive private healthcare system, and day-to-day expenses, planning your budget is no matter for chance. A comprehensive breakdown of salaries by sector, housing costs, and ways to protect your health in Singapore.

Comprendre le salaire moyen à Singapour

To accurately assess the Singaporean job market, it is important to distinguish between the average and the median. The average salary in Singapore is around 6, 442 SGD (approximately 4,316 €) per month (excluding bonuses). However, the national median salary is 5,775 SGD (approximately 3,869 €) per month.

This notable difference can be explained by the high concentration of very high incomes in the finance, technology, and legal consulting sectors, which drive up the overall average. For qualified expatriate executives, salary scales are often much higher, especially since obtaining the required Employment Pass (EP) requires meeting a high minimum salary threshold set by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

Les rémunérations par secteur d’activité

Salaries vary considerably depending on your area of expertise. The tech and banking sectors have historically been the highest-paying on the island.

Maîtriser la monnaie locale

All local transactions are conducted in Singapore dollars, abbreviated as SGD (or S$). To accurately assess your purchasing power relative to the Singaporean currency, the average exchange rate is as follows:

• 1 SGD ≈ 0.67 €

• 1 € ≈ 1.49 SGD

Backed by a thriving economy and robust reserves, the Singapore dollar has established itself as one of the most stable and strong currencies in the Asia-Pacific region, protecting residents’ purchasing power against major inflationary fluctuations.

Le coût de la vie à Singapour : quel budget mensuel prévoir ?

Although it is regularly ranked among the world’s most expensive cities, the city-state offers an excellent return on investment thanks to a favorable tax system (with income tax capped at 24% for the highest brackets). On average, the cost of living requires a single person to have a total monthly budget ranging from 3,500 SGD (approximately 2,345 €) to 6,000 SGD (approximately 4,020 €) to maintain a comfortable standard of living.

Estimation du budget mensuel type d’un expatrié

To help you plan ahead, here is the average breakdown of expenses:

Note on daily life: While imported goods and alcohol remain expensive, eating locally at the famous “Hawker Centers” (open-air food markets) allows you to enjoy healthy meals for just 5 to 10 SGD (3.35 to 6.70 €) per meal.

Loyer à Singapour : le principal défi budgétaire

Housing is by far the largest expense for foreign households. The rental market has seen sharp increases in recent years, making it essential to carefully analyze your options before you arrive.

Les prix moyens du marché immobilier singapourien

The housing stock is mainly divided into two categories: HDBs (government-managed public housing, which is very affordable but more traditional) and condominiums (private residences with swimming pools, gyms, and security, which are popular among expats).

Geographic location has a major impact on the cost. Ultra-central or trendy neighborhoods (Marina Bay, Orchard, River Valley, Tanglin) have the highest rents. Conversely, moving further out toward the East Coast (Katong) or the Northeast (Serangoon, an area highly sought after by French families due to its proximity to the International French School) allows you to find more spacious apartments at more moderate prices.

Quel salaire minimum pour obtenir un Employment Pass à Singapour ?

The Employment Pass (EP) is the primary work visa for qualified expatriates who wish to work in Singapore. In most cases, it is essential for working legally in the country.

Following the latest regulatory changes, the minimum salary required to obtain an Employment Pass is set at 5,600 SGD (approximately 3,752 €) per month for most industries. In the highly competitive financial sector, the threshold is higher, starting at 6,200 SGD (approximately 4,154 €) per month.

These figures apply to the youngest candidates. Salary requirements increase gradually with the candidate’s age and professional experience. An experienced executive over the age of 40 will therefore need to demonstrate a significantly higher level of compensation to meet the eligibility criteria.

In addition to salary, Singaporean authorities also evaluate candidates’ qualifications, experience, industry sector, and the value they bring to the local economy through the COMPASS points system.

For a French expatriate, aiming for a salary between 6,000 and 8,000 SGD (4,020 to 5,360 €) per month is generally a good starting point for balancing visa requirements, the cost of living, and the ability to save.

Peut-on bien vivre avec le salaire médian à Singapour ?

Living comfortably on the national average salary is entirely feasible for a single person or a young couple without children who are willing to share an apartment or live in a slightly out-of-the-way location. The disposable income remains substantial thanks to the low level of mandatory taxes compared to other European systems.

On the other hand, the situation changes dramatically for expatriate families. Tuition fees at international schools (ranging from 25,000 SGD to 40,000 SGD, or 16,750 to 26,800 euros per year per child), along with the need to rent a spacious family home, drive up the cost of living. To maintain an excellent standard of living for the family, a monthly salary of more than 12,000 SGD (8,040 €), or even 15,000 SGD (10,050 €), is often necessary if the employer does not cover educational expenses.

Système de santé à Singapour : l’excellence au prix fort

Recognized worldwide for the quality of its infrastructure, the speed of its care, and the high qualifications of its healthcare professionals, Singapore’s healthcare system is divided into a subsidized public sector and a high-end private sector.

However, there is one major difference: expatriates are not eligible for government subsidies. You will therefore be charged the full rate, whether you use public or private healthcare. A simple visit to a general practitioner costs between 40 and 120 SGD (27 to 80 €), while an appointment with a specialist ranges from 150 to 500 SGD (100 to 335 €). In the event of hospitalization or surgery, the bill can instantly run into tens of thousands of dollars (or euros).

Pourquoi souscrire une assurance santé internationale ?

The Singaporean government requires employers to provide minimum health coverage for certain types of visas (such as the S Pass), but the reimbursement limits under these basic local policies are often insufficient to cover the actual costs of private hospitals.

Taking out international health insurance that covers you from the very first euro—or as a supplement to the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE)—is a must. Comprehensive international health coverage guarantees full coverage of your hospitalization costs, reimbursement for routine care (general medical, dental, and vision), as well as an essential assistance and medical repatriation option. It allows you to navigate Singapore’s world-class healthcare system with complete peace of mind.

carexpat, la nouvelle façon de
s'assurer à l'étranger

1.  Meilleurs prix

•   Sans surcoût sur les tarifs assureurs,
    nous comparons + de 300 offres d'assurance

2.  Simplicité

•   Un parcours simple pour sélectionner votre
    solution en quelques clics

3.  Accompagnement

•   Nos conseillers sont là pour un
    accompagnement 100% personnalisé

Je compare les offres

Je compare les offres

Fiscalité à Singapour : pourquoi les salaires sont-ils si attractifs ?

One of the reasons for the attractiveness of Singapore’s job market is its particularly favorable tax system. For the same gross salary, an expatriate generally keeps a larger portion of their income than in France.

Singapore’s tax system is based on a progressive income tax with a top rate capped at 24%. In practice, many expatriates fall into significantly lower tax brackets, which allows them to enjoy a particularly competitive take-home pay.

Another major difference from France is that social security contributions are limited for foreign workers. In particular, expatriates do not contribute to the Central Provident Fund (CPF), the mandatory savings system reserved primarily for Singaporean citizens and permanent residents.

Singapore also stands out for its lack of capital gains and inheritance taxes, which makes it even more attractive to international executives, entrepreneurs, and investors.

This favorable tax system helps to partially offset the high cost of housing and explains why many expatriates consider Singapore to be one of the most attractive destinations in Asia in terms of purchasing power.

Quel salaire viser pour votre expatriation ?

To ensure the success of your move abroad without sacrificing your comfort or your ability to save, here are some general budget guidelines to keep in mind during your salary negotiations:

• Single Person Profile: An income of 6,000 to 8,000 SGD (4,020 to 5,360 €) allows you to rent a studio apartment or a nice shared apartment, enjoy the nightlife, and travel around the region.

• Couples (without children): A budget of 9,000 to 13,000 SGD (6,030 to 8,710 €) provides comfortable living in a fully furnished condo in a pleasant neighborhood.

• Family (with children): A total package ranging from 14,000 to 22,000 SGD (9,380 to 14,740 €) (or a base salary plus housing and education allowances) is strongly recommended to comfortably cover the costs of international school and household expenses.

Planning for housing costs and securing appropriate health insurance before you leave are still the two essential steps to making your Singapore adventure a complete success.