Dubai vs Singapore
💰
Singapore saves you $400/month
🌡️
Hot Desert vs Tropical Wet climate
🛂
United Arab Emirates offers a digital nomad visa
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Dubai
Singapore
Total Budget
$4,200/mo
$3,800/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$1,750/mo ✓
$2,500/mo
Coworking
$260/mo ✓
$400/mo
Meal Out
$11
$5 ✓
Coffee
$4.5 ✓
$5.5
Singapore is $400/mo cheaper (11% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇦🇪 Dubai
📶 Internet300 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+4
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East2h
🇬🇧 London7h
🇩🇪 Berlin8h
🇸🇬 Singapore
📶 Internet300 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Dubai
ClimateHot Desert
Avg Temp28°C
Rainy Days7/year
Best months: April, December, May, January
Singapore
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp27°C
Rainy Days299/year
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
20°26°
Apr
26°27°
Jul
36°27°
Oct
31°27°
DubaiSingapore
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇦🇪Dubai
🇸🇬Singapore
💰
Monthly Budget
$4,200
$3,800
📶
Internet Speed
300 Mbps
300 Mbps
🛡️
Safety
4.2/5
5/5
Winner⭐
Nomad Score
4.1/10
4.3/10
🍽️
Food Scene
8/10
10/10
Winner🎉
Nightlife
8/10
8/10
🚶
Walkability
6/10
9/10
Winner👥
Community
large
large
0
Dubai wins
vs
3
Singapore wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Singapore
$400/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Either works
Both have adequate internet for development work
🦋Social Butterfly
Either works
Similar social opportunities
🛡️Safety-First
Singapore
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Singapore
Better food scene with incredible variety
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🇦🇪Dubai
Pros
- +Ultra-fast fibre and 5G internet with Dubai among the top cities globally for broadband speed
- +Tax-free personal income and business-friendly environment for many nationalities
- +Modern infrastructure with reliable metro, trams and air-conditioned malls for extreme heat days
- +Huge expat population and strong English usage in business and daily life
Cons
- −High cost of living for rent, eating out and going out compared with most other nomad hubs
- −Summer heat is extreme with very high temperatures and humidity from June to September
- −Car culture and long distances make some areas less walkable, especially in hot months
- −Limited traditional street life in many new districts with much of life happening in malls
🇸🇬Singapore
Pros
- +World-class internet infrastructure with 300+ Mbps fiber speeds
- +Extremely safe - ranked 6th globally on Peace Index
- +Excellent public transport with MRT covering entire island
- +English widely spoken - one of four official languages
Cons
- −Very expensive - one of costliest cities globally
- −Hot and humid year-round with temperatures 24-32C
- −No dedicated digital nomad visa available
- −Strict laws and regulations on many activities