Compare countries · Singapore vs United Arab Emirates
Singapore vs United Arab Emirates
Singapore(Asia)·
United Arab Emirates(Asia)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Singapore leads on 6, United Arab Emirates on 4, 3 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Singapore cheaper than United Arab Emirates?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Singapore at 87.7 and United Arab Emirates at 55.2. United Arab Emirates is about 37% cheaper overall.
Is Singapore or United Arab Emirates safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Singapore scores 1.44 and United Arab Emirates scores 1.93. Singapore ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Singapore or United Arab Emirates?
On the UN Human Development Index, Singapore scores 0.946 and United Arab Emirates scores 0.940. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Singapore compared to United Arab Emirates?
GNI per capita runs $81,760 in Singapore against $51,550 in United Arab Emirates; people live 83.3 years on average against 83.1; Numbeo users rate healthcare 72 against 71. 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)
Singapore
87.7
Worse than 97% of countries
United Arab Emirates
55.2
Worse than 78% of countries
United Arab Emirates: 37% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Singapore
73.1
Worse than 99% of countries
United Arab Emirates
39.6
Worse than 94% of countries
United Arab Emirates: 46% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Singapore
1.44
Better than 96% of countries
United Arab Emirates
1.93
Better than 56% of countries
Singapore: more peaceful (1.44 vs 1.93).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Singapore
77.5
Better than 94% of countries
United Arab Emirates
86.0
Better than 99% of countries
United Arab Emirates: higher perceived safety (86.0 vs 77.5).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Singapore
0.946
Better than 93% of countries
United Arab Emirates
0.940
Better than 93% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025 / 2024
Singapore
$163,354
Better than 99% of countries
United Arab Emirates
$79,344
Better than 93% of countries
Singapore: 106% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Singapore
83.3 yrs
Better than 93% of countries
United Arab Emirates
83.1 yrs
Better than 91% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Singapore
71.9
Better than 74% of countries
United Arab Emirates
70.8
Better than 71% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Singapore
421 Mbps
Better than 99% of countries
United Arab Emirates
398 Mbps
Better than 99% of countries
Singapore: 6% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Singapore
45/100
Worse than 69% of countries
United Arab Emirates
31/100
Worse than 87% of countries
Singapore: freer press (45 vs 31 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Singapore
6.58
Better than 76% of countries
United Arab Emirates
6.82
Better than 86% of countries
United Arab Emirates: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.82 vs 6.58).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Singapore
700
Better than 94% of countries
United Arab Emirates
487
Worse than 63% of countries
Singapore: stronger English proficiency (700 vs 487).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Singapore
57.5
Worse than 91% of countries
United Arab Emirates
43.4
Worse than 94% of countries
Singapore: more pleasant climate rating (57.5 vs 43.4).
Deciding between Singapore and United Arab Emirates 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 Singapore profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full United Arab Emirates profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.