Cost of living in the United Kingdom
If you're planning on relocating from Singapore to the United Kingdom it’s important to build a realistic budget based on the cost of living in your chosen destination. The cost of everyday life, from rent and utilities, to childcare and education, tax and other unavoidable costs, can vary enormously based on market forces, the strength of the local economy and government policies.
Read on as we explore key information about the differences in cost of living between the United Kingdom & Singapore, focusing on everything from the costs of food, healthcare, entertainment and more.
What contributes to the cost of living between the United Kingdom & Singapore?
In this guide we look at differences in cost of living between the United Kingdom & Singapore, so you can start to build up a budget to cover your costs when you relocate. Cost of living is highly personalised, and can depend on the things you like to do, food you like to eat, type of home you want to live in, and so on. Naturally, living in a new country with a family, paying for a larger property, education and healthcare, would cost significantly more than an international student looking only to cover basic expenses during a relatively short term stay.
To help you plan your spending we’ve covered different common expenses in the United Kingdom such as transport, healthcare, childcare and entertainment. Read on for more detail on each.
Pro tip: Use our international payment comparison tools to work out the best options for you to send international payments to and from the United Kingdom & Singapore with low fees and great rates.
Is the United Kingdom expensive?
Based on data from Numbeo, the cost of living in the United Kingdom is 23.8% lower vs Singapore when you take into account daily spending without rent.
Once you include rent into your calculations, the cost of living in the United Kingdom is 36.9% lower vs Singapore.
If you look just at rent, the cost of rent in the United Kingdom is 55.9% lower than Singapore.
Your own exact cost of living will depend on many different factors including your lifestyle, hobbies and even health - this guide can help you build up your own budget to live comfortably in your new home.
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Transport in the United Kingdom
Getting around will be an important cost to consider when living in the United Kingdom. Whether you’re commuting to work, getting to school or travelling for pleasure, the costs of transport can vary widely from country to country, based on fuel and vehicle prices, and the availability of public transport, taxis, and ride hailing services.
| Transport | Singapore | United Kingdom | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| One way ticket (local transport) | S$2 (£1) | S$4.2 (£2) | 107.7% |
| Monthly pass (local transport) | S$120 (£68) | S$121.2 (£69) | 1% |
| Taxi start | S$4.6 (£3) | S$6.6 (£4) | 43% |
| Taxi (1km) | S$1 (£1) | S$2.9 (£2) | 185.2% |
| Taxi (1 hour waiting) | S$20.9 (£12) | S$34.6 (£20) | 65.6% |
| Gas (1 Litre) | S$2.9 (£2) | S$2.5 (£1) | -12.7% |
Utilities (monthly) in the United Kingdom
No matter where you choose to live in the United Kingdom you’ll need to pay utility bills for electricity, gas, water and other similar services. Utility costs are often dictated, or capped, by government policies, as well as market forces, which can mean that what you pay in one country is quite different to another. Here’s a look at utility costs in the United Kingdom as an example.
| Item | Singapore | the United Kingdom | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills (electricity, gas, water) for 85m2 Apartment | S$210.9 (£120) | S$413.8 (£236) | 96.2% |
| Mobile Phone Contract (Calls and 10GB+ Data) | S$22.7 (£13) | S$22.1 (£13) | -2.6% |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data) | S$46.1 (£26) | S$53.7 (£31) | 16.4% |
Grocery costs in the United Kingdom
Daily grocery costs and availability changes depending on the country you’re in, with factors like the proportion of foods that are imported making a big difference. When you’re in the United Kingdom you’ll need to think about building a suitable food budget for your personal tastes, and based on the costs of items you buy often.
| Item | Singapore | the United Kingdom | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 Litre) | S$3.7 (£2) | S$2.2 (£1) | -42.6% |
| Loaf of fresh bread | S$2.9 (£2) | S$2.1 (£1) | -27.1% |
| Rice (1kg) | S$3.7 (£2) | S$2.9 (£2) | -22.3% |
| 12 eggs (regular) | S$4.3 (£2) | S$5.1 (£3) | 18.7% |
| Local cheese (1kg) | S$23.1 (£13) | S$12.4 (£7) | -46.3% |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | S$14.1 (£8) | S$11.5 (£7) | -18.5% |
| Beef (1kg) | S$27.8 (£16) | S$17.9 (£10) | -35.5% |
| Apples (1kg) | S$5.7 (£3) | S$3.8 (£2) | -34.1% |
| Bananas (1kg) | S$4 (£2) | S$2.1 (£1) | -47.5% |
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Accommodation in the United Kingdom
If you’re moving to the United Kingdom you’ll likely need to rent a place to live. No matter where in the world you choose to reside, the costs of rent tend to make up a huge slice of your monthly budget. That said, you can often bring down the overall costs of renting by choosing a less central location or by sharing with others.
| Accommodation | Singapore | the United Kingdom | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) City Centre | S$3943.9 (£2,251) | S$1784.1 (£1,018) | -54.8% |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | S$2818.6 (£1,609) | S$1448.7 (£827) | -48.6% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) City Centre | S$7779 (£4,440) | S$2984.8 (£1,704) | -61.6% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | S$4870.8 (£2,780) | S$2350.8 (£1,342) | -51.7% |
Salaries in the United Kingdom
The amount of money you have in your pocket when you’re living in the United Kingdom is a function of both the salary you can earn, and the amount of tax you need to pay on your income. As taxes can be structured quite differently from one country to the next it’s crucial to get a realistic idea of the amount you’ll lose in taxes - and so the amount you have for spending - before you move.
| Salary | Singapore | the United Kingdom | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | S$5090.7 (£2,906) | S$4111.6 (£2,347) | -19.2% |
Education and childcare in the United Kingdom
For people moving to the United Kingdom with a family, the costs of education and childcare will be an important budget line. Childcare, school fees and university costs can be a huge proportion of your annual budget, particularly when you’re outside of your home country, and may not have access to government funded educational institutions. Here’s a look at some common costs in the United Kingdom to help your research.
| Childcare | Singapore | the United Kingdom | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | S$1493.8 (£853) | S$2159.0 (£1,232) | 44.5% |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | S$36844 (£21,030) | S$26661.3 (£15,218) | -27.6% |
Entertainment and eating out in the United Kingdom
Don’t forget to include discretionary spending on entertainment and personal care to your budget for the United Kingdom. While your own spending in this area will be unique, planning to have some money for fun activities can help you settle into your new home, make new friends and relax into your new life.
| Entertainment | Singapore | the United Kingdom | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee (1 Adult) | S$144.2 (£82) | S$58.5 (£33) | -59.5% |
| Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend) | S$15.8 (£9) | S$19.8 (£11) | 25.4% |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 ticket | S$15 (£9) | S$17.3 (£10) | 15.4% |
| Eating out | Singapore | the United Kingdom | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal out (cheap restaurant) | S$14 (£8) | S$26 (£15) | 85.5% |
| Meal for 2 (mid-range restaurant), 3 courses | S$100 (£57) | S$112.5 (£64) | 12.5% |
| Meal at McDonalds (or equivalent) | S$10 (£6) | S$13 (£7) | 29.8% |
| Local Beer (0.5 litres) | S$10 (£6) | S$8.7 (£5) | -13.5% |
| Imported Beer (0.33 litre) | S$6.7 (£4) | S$4.2 (£2) | -37% |
| Cappuccino (regular) | S$6.2 (£4) | S$5.8 (£3) | -6.1% |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre) | S$2.2 (£1) | S$3.1 (£2) | 37.4% |
| Water (0.33 litre) | S$1.6 (£1) | S$2.2 (£1) | 37.6% |
Exchange rates between Singapore & the United Kingdom
Understanding the differences in exchange rate between Singapore & the United Kingdom is important to allow you to manage your money across currencies. Looking at historical data and trends for the GBP/SGD exchange rate can help you understand how far your funds will go once you move.
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Conclusion
Understanding the differences in cost of living between the United Kingdom & Singapore is important for anyone who plans to relocate - either for a short period of work or study, or on a long term basis. By understanding how different costs may be for day to day essentials, you can plan your budget effectively and make sure you hit the ground running in your new home.
If you live an international lifestyle, our currency conversion and international payment comparison tools are the perfect way to help you manage your money across currencies. Use our guides and calculators to figure out the cheapest and most convenient ways to spend in your new country, and to send international payments to and from the United Kingdom & Singapore with low fees and great rates.