Cost of Living in Singapore for Indonesian Nationals in 2026

The cost of living in Singapore for Indonesian nationals in 2026 typically runs from about S$1,800 to S$3,500 a month for a single person, depending on housing choice, visa type, and lifestyle. That covers a room in a shared home, food, transport, phone and basic admin, but not tuition or a whole apartment on your own. Converted at current rates, that's roughly IDR 25 million to IDR 49 million a month, a big jump from a comparable budget in Jakarta, which is why housing choice matters more here than almost anywhere else in the region.

This piece breaks that number down by category, looks at how it shifts depending on whether you're moving on an Employment Pass, S Pass, or Student Pass, and covers the costs specific to Indonesians relocating here, like remittance and where to find familiar food.

How far does a Singapore budget go compared to Jakarta?

Singapore is consistently ranked one of the most expensive cities in the world, and the gap with Jakarta is real. Cost-of-living comparison sites put Singapore at roughly double to triple Jakarta's cost across the board once you account for rent, transport, and eating out (Numbeo, Expatistan). The exact multiple you'll see quoted varies a lot by source and methodology, so treat any single "X% more expensive" headline figure as a rough signal rather than a precise number **** against your own spending pattern.

What that means in practice: your Jakarta budget doesn't translate one-to-one. Rent is the biggest swing factor, since Jakarta rent for a comparable standard of living is a fraction of Singapore's. Food and transport gaps are smaller, especially if you eat at hawker centres and use public transport rather than eating out often or taking private cars.

At current exchange rates, 1 SGD converts to roughly IDR 14,000, though this moves week to week ****. That single number is worth keeping in your head, since every SGD figure in this article is roughly ×14,000 in rupiah terms.

Which visa pathway are you moving on?

Cost of living looks different depending on how you're in Singapore, since your pass type sets a salary floor and shapes what you can afford before you even start budgeting.

• Employment Pass (EP): for professional, managerial, and executive roles. The minimum qualifying salary in 2026 is S$5,600 a month in most sectors, and S$6,200 in financial services, rising with age and experience. Applications are also scored under the COMPASS framework, which weighs salary, qualifications, and a few other factors.
• S Pass: for mid-skilled roles, typically diploma holders. Minimum qualifying salary in 2026 is S$3,150 a month for most sectors, S$3,650 for financial services.
• Student Pass: for those studying at a Singapore institution. Indonesia's ASEAN status generally means subsidised tuition rates compared to non-ASEAN international students, and a realistic student living budget (excluding tuition) runs roughly S$1,400 to S$1,600 a month.
• Dependent's Pass: for spouses and children of EP holders above a certain salary threshold, letting family move together.

Whichever pass you're on, check the current thresholds on the Ministry of Manpower's website before you commit to anything, since these numbers are revised periodically and the EP floor is already scheduled to rise again from January 2027.

What does housing actually cost?

Housing is the single biggest line item and the one where your choices matter most. A room in a shared home or co-living setup is consistently the fastest, cheapest way to get a real Singapore address, especially in your first few months while you're still finding your feet.

Rather than repeat the numbers here, the full room-by-room and unit-by-unit breakdown, including what typically comes bundled into rent, is covered in Cost of Renting in Singapore 2026: A Realistic Budget. Read that alongside this piece for the housing half of your monthly total.

One thing specific to newcomers on any pass: a furnished room with utilities and wifi already bundled removes a lot of the setup cost and admin that comes with a bare unit, which matters more when you're also handling a new visa, a new bank account, and a new job at the same time.

What does food actually cost?

Food is where Singapore is more forgiving than its reputation suggests, largely because of the hawker centre system.

• A hawker meal typically runs S$3 to S$6.
• A casual restaurant meal runs roughly S$10 to S$25 per person.
• A sit-down restaurant meal can run S$25 to S$60 or more per person.
• Groceries for one person, cooking regularly, run roughly S$200 to S$400 a month.

Halal food is widely available and easy to find, which matters for many Indonesian nationals settling in. Geylang Serai is the historic centre of Malay-Indonesian food culture in Singapore, with a market and food centre selling Indonesian dishes, spices, and produce alongside Malay staples. Joo Chiat Road, just next door, has over 30 MUIS-certified halal restaurants in restored shophouses, and Lucky Plaza on Orchard Road has several well-known Indonesian eateries.

Eating mostly hawker with occasional restaurant meals keeps food costs manageable. Eating out at casual and sit-down restaurants regularly is where the budget climbs fast.

What does transport cost?

Singapore's public transport is genuinely good value. A monthly unlimited travel pass runs roughly S$128, and most residents, expat or local, get by without owning a car. Car ownership in Singapore is exceptionally expensive by design, with a Certificate of Entitlement alone running S$80,000 to S$110,000 before you've bought the car itself, so it's not something most newcomers should budget for.

Grab and other ride-hailing apps cover the gaps for late nights or heavy luggage days, and a single ride within the city typically runs S$8 to S$20 depending on distance and time of day.

Sending money back to Indonesia

Remittance is a real recurring cost for many Indonesians working in Singapore, and it's worth getting right, since the difference between a bank transfer and a dedicated remittance app adds up over a year.

Banks and traditional money changers typically charge noticeably more than digital-first providers once you account for the exchange rate margin, not just the stated fee. Licensed digital remittance services such as Wise, InstaRem, and Remitly are consistently cited as cheaper for SGD to IDR transfers, and the World Bank's own remittance price tracker is a useful independent check on what a fair rate looks like for the corridor (World Bank Remittance Prices).

A few practical rules: only use a provider licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, compare the total amount that lands in Indonesia rather than just the advertised fee, and larger, less frequent transfers are usually cheaper per rupiah than lots of small ones ****.

Other costs to budget for

• Phone and data: a local SIM with a reasonable data plan runs roughly S$15 to S$40 a month.
• Healthcare: Singapore doesn't have free public healthcare for foreigners. Work pass holders should check what their employer provides, and it's worth budgeting S$50 to S$150 a month for basic insurance or out-of-pocket costs if it isn't fully covered.
• Consular and documentation costs: the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Singapore handles passport renewal, document legalisation, and other consular services, now via an online appointment system. Budget a little time and a modest fee for anything you need renewed or notarised while you're here, and book early if your passport is close to expiring, since expiring documents get appointment priority for a reason.
• Remittance and savings: whatever you plan to send home or save should be budgeted as a fixed line item, not whatever's left over at the end of the month.

A realistic monthly budget, put together

Add these to your room cost from the renting guide, and you land close to the S$1,800 to S$3,500 range from the top of this article, before remittance and savings are set aside.

Where a co-living room fits into this budget

For a newcomer working out this budget for the first time, the single biggest lever is housing, and it's the one place where bundling helps rather than hurts. A furnished room that already includes utilities, wifi, and cleaning removes several separate bills and separate deposits from your first months in Singapore, at exactly the point when you're also opening a bank account, registering an address, and settling into a new job or course.

Lazybee runs co-living rooms across Chiltern Park, Ivory Heights, and Thomson Grove in Singapore, with rooms that come fully furnished and bundled, and flexible enough for someone landing on an EP, S Pass, or Student Pass without a long local rental history. If you're planning a move, browse available rooms or get in touch to talk through timing before you land.

FAQ

Is Singapore much more expensive than Jakarta? Yes, generally by a wide margin, especially on rent. Food and transport gaps are smaller if you lean on hawker centres and public transport rather than restaurants and private cars.

What's the cheapest way to get started in Singapore? A furnished room in a shared or co-living home is usually the fastest and cheapest way to get settled, since it avoids the upfront costs and separate bills that come with a whole unit.

What's the best way to send money back to Indonesia? Licensed digital remittance apps like Wise, InstaRem, and Remitly are consistently cheaper than banks and money changers for SGD to IDR transfers. Compare the amount that actually lands, not just the advertised fee, and check current rates before every transfer since they move often.

Do Indonesian students get a discount on Singapore tuition? ASEAN nationals, including Indonesians, are generally eligible for the same subsidised rates as other ASEAN students at Singapore universities, which are lower than non-ASEAN international rates. Confirm the exact figure with the institution you're applying to, since it varies by course and changes over time.

Figures here that come from government schedules, MOM salary thresholds, ICA and HDB requirements, URA rules, fees and fares, are reviewed on their own timetables and move. Check the current number at the source before you rely on it.