πŸ’°
Singapore saves you $400/month
10% cheaper on rent, food & transport
🌑️
Tropical Wet vs Hot Desert climate
Different weather patterns year-round
πŸ›‚
United Arab Emirates offers a digital nomad visa
Long-stay visa for remote workers

πŸ’° Cost of Living Breakdown

Monthly expenses comparison in USD

Expense
Singapore
Dubai
Total Budget
$3,800/mo βœ“
$4,200/mo
Rent (1BR)
$2,500/mo
$1,750/mo βœ“
Coworking
$400/mo
$260/mo βœ“
Meal Out
$5 βœ“
$11
Coffee
$5.5
$4.5 βœ“
Singapore is $400/mo cheaper (10% savings)

πŸ’» Remote Work Essentials

Internet, timezone, and language comparison

πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¬ Singapore
πŸ“Ά Internet300 Mbps
πŸ• TimezoneUTC+7
πŸ—£οΈ Englishhigh
πŸ›‚ Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ US West0h
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ US East0h
πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ London4h
πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ Berlin5h
πŸ‡¦πŸ‡ͺ Dubai
πŸ“Ά Internet300 Mbps
πŸ• TimezoneUTC+4
πŸ—£οΈ Englishhigh
πŸ›‚ Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ US West0h
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ US East2h
πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ London7h
πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ Berlin8h

🌑️ Climate Comparison

Weather patterns and best times to visit

Singapore

ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp27Β°C
Rainy Days299/year

Dubai

ClimateHot Desert
Avg Temp28Β°C
Rainy Days7/year
Best months: April, December, May, January

Quarterly Temperatures

Jan
26Β°20Β°
Apr
27Β°26Β°
Jul
27Β°36Β°
Oct
27Β°31Β°
SingaporeDubai

πŸ“Š Full Comparison

Category
πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¬Singapore
πŸ‡¦πŸ‡ͺDubai
πŸ’°
Monthly Budget
$3,800
$4,200
πŸ“Ά
Internet Speed
300 Mbps
300 Mbps
πŸ›‘οΈ
Safety
5/5
Winner
4.2/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4.3/10
4.1/10
🍽️
Food Scene
10/10
Winner
8/10
πŸŽ‰
Nightlife
8/10
8/10
🚢
Walkability
9/10
Winner
6/10
πŸ‘₯
Community
large
large
3
Singapore wins
vs
0
Dubai wins

Which City is Right for You?

Recommendations based on your nomad style

πŸ’΅Budget Nomad
Singapore

$400/mo cheaper with similar quality of life

πŸ’»Developer
Either works

Both have adequate internet for development work

πŸ¦‹Social Butterfly
Either works

Similar social opportunities

πŸ›‘οΈSafety-First
Singapore

Significantly higher safety rating

🍜Foodie
Singapore

Better food scene with incredible variety

πŸŽ‰Party Person
Either works

Both have great nightlife

πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¬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
  • βˆ’Very expensive - one of costliest cities globally
  • βˆ’Hot and humid year-round with temperatures 24-32C
  • βˆ’No dedicated digital nomad visa available
  • βˆ’Strict laws and regulations on many activities

πŸ‡¦πŸ‡ͺDubai

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
  • βˆ’High cost of living for rent, eating out and going out compared with most other nomad hubs
  • βˆ’Summer heat is extreme with very high temperatures and humidity from June to September
  • βˆ’Car culture and long distances make some areas less walkable, especially in hot months
  • βˆ’Limited traditional street life in many new districts with much of life happening in malls

Related Comparisons

Compare other cities

Use our comparison tool to find your perfect destination

Compare More Cities→