Compare countries · Australia vs Singapore
Australia vs Singapore
Australia(Oceania)·
Singapore(Asia)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Australia leads on 5, Singapore on 4, 4 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Australia cheaper than Singapore?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Australia at 67.9 and Singapore at 87.7. Australia is about 23% cheaper overall.
Is Australia or Singapore safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Australia scores 1.60 and Singapore scores 1.44. Singapore ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Australia or Singapore?
On the UN Human Development Index, Australia scores 0.958 and Singapore scores 0.946. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Australia compared to Singapore?
GNI per capita runs $64,120 in Australia against $81,760 in Singapore; people live 83.1 years on average against 83.3; Numbeo users rate healthcare 72 against 72. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Australia
67.9
Worse than 87% of countries
Singapore
87.7
Worse than 97% of countries
Australia: 23% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Australia
33.7
Worse than 92% of countries
Singapore
73.1
Worse than 99% of countries
Australia: 54% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Australia
1.60
Better than 88% of countries
Singapore
1.44
Better than 96% of countries
Singapore: more peaceful (1.44 vs 1.60).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Australia
52.5
Worse than 57% of countries
Singapore
77.5
Better than 94% of countries
Singapore: higher perceived safety (77.5 vs 52.5).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Australia
0.958
Better than 96% of countries
Singapore
0.946
Better than 93% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Australia
$71,934
Better than 88% of countries
Singapore
$163,354
Better than 99% of countries
Singapore: 127% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Australia
83.1 yrs
Better than 91% of countries
Singapore
83.3 yrs
Better than 93% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Australia
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
Singapore
71.9
Better than 74% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Australia
157 Mbps
Better than 69% of countries
Singapore
421 Mbps
Better than 99% of countries
Singapore: 169% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Australia
75/100
Better than 81% of countries
Singapore
45/100
Worse than 69% of countries
Australia: freer press (75 vs 45 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Australia
6.92
Better than 90% of countries
Singapore
6.58
Better than 76% of countries
Australia: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.92 vs 6.58).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Australia
700
Better than 94% of countries
Singapore
700
Better than 94% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Australia
91.9
Better than 80% of countries
Singapore
57.5
Worse than 91% of countries
Australia: more pleasant climate rating (91.9 vs 57.5).
Deciding between Australia and Singapore for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Australia profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.