What if you were born in Singapore?

If you had grown up in Singapore instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Singapore could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore skyline at sunset. Photo: Chensiyuan., CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Singapore

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in SGD and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Singapore: SGD 5,260Rs 1,130,000
Rent (city centre): SGD 1,520
Transport (public transport): SGD 201
Food: SGD 760
Saved: SGD 788

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Singapore: SGD 12,100Rs 2,600,000
Rent (suburbs): SGD 3,080
Transport (public transport): SGD 462
Food: SGD 2,050
Saved: SGD 1,810

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Singapore: SGD 19,600Rs 4,220,000
Rent (city centre): SGD 4,790
Transport (car): SGD 1,830
Food: SGD 2,400
Saved: SGD 5,480

Try it with my own income

A day in Singapore

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Singapore, a city of mild winters around 26°C and warm summers around 28°C, and an umbrella is never far away.
Commute
You take the metro or train: about 25 to 35 minutes, door to door, and it runs on time.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak English.
Lunch
Lunch might be hainanese chicken rice and chilli crab.
Evening
You get home with SGD 1,810 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast.

Singapore compared with Pakistan

	Singapore	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	3.4× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	83 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	15 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	2.8%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	27°C	26°C
Languages	English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	SGD	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Singapore, living in Singapore and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Singapore?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around SGD 12,100 a month at the same level in Singapore (about Rs 2,600,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Singapore more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 3.4 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Singapore?

Mainly English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil. English is an official language.

Can I actually move to Singapore?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Singapore page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.