Singapore is a world class city with world class living expenses, consistently voted amoung the top three of most expensive cities to live in the whole world. However I feel (notion supported by my local friends) the main factors that tilt the scale were property and car costs; if those taken out of the equation Singapore would be very expensive but not crazy expensive.
Anyway as I am in Sydney let me perform a thorough financial assessment of the living expenses of these cities; let me juxtaxpose these two.
Food : Sydney comes on top. Restaurant meal prices are comparable with each other buy Sydney has no cheaper alternatives. Even food court are restaurant prices.
Transport: Sydney definitely. I just took a several stop ferry ride and it was $5.45. It's preposterous.
Shopping: Singapore. I find everyday items are more expensive in Singapore including shoes and your toothpaste.
Coffee: Sydney. At least $3.50 per coffee. Again no cheaper alternative. Did I mention mineral water is $3 from the vending machine?
Accommodation: Singapore win marginally. A basic room goes for $800-900 per month; that's perhaps 10-15% more than Sydney.
Touristy stuff: Tie. Both places are complete rip offs! Spending like a tourist because you are a tourist is pure stupidity.
Services: Singapore. Based on the prices I gathered for pedi and mani, Sydney seems cheaper.
Alcohol: Singapore is more expensive, hands down.
Car: No other country can top Singapore. No one even comes close.
So all in all I feel it's a tie. Both countries are very expensive. I would put them in the middleweight category. London would be heavyweight. The Scandinavian countries would be super heavyweight.
Epilogue
After there's been a bit more action in the evening. I remember back in 2004 when I visited Sydney as a toothless tourist with a guided tour, we stopped by at Darling harbour for a shirt while (a really short while ). The tour guide explained nightlife was wicked yada yada, I nodded absent mindedly and looked around. Before I could form my own opinion we we're ushered away to the next destination. Guided tours really are that shallow.
Almost 13 years later I revisited Darling harbour. I rode the ferry, strolled along the quay, listened to live music, watched street performances, spoke to locals, had a sandwich by the quay sat on the floor, fed some sea gulls, witnessed seagull bully bully fellow seagulls, had a pasta by the Quayside, danced salsa (in a Chinese restaurant that doubled as a popular Salsa joint by night(!), went food shopping at Woolworth and finally caught the late train back.
There is just no comparison
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