Cars in Singapore cost on average 5 times more than they do in the US. Here's a breakdown of what 5 popular cars would set you back in each country.

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Cars in Singapore cost on average 5 times more than they do in the US. Here's a breakdown of what 5 popular cars would set you back in each country.
  • Singapore is the most expensive country in the world to buy cars.
  • On average, cars in the city-state cost five times more than they do in the US.
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In 2021, Singapore was the world's second-most expensive city to live in. It's also the most expensive country in the world to buy a car in.

In 2021, Singapore was the world's second-most expensive city to live in. It's also the most expensive country in the world to buy a car in.
The residence overlooks Singapore's Marina Bay area.Artie Ng/Artie Photography

Owning a compact sedan in the city-state costs, on average, around 125,000 Singapore dollars ($90,430), according to local financial website Value Champion. A car in Singapore can cost five times the amount it retails for in the US, per local financial website Budget Direct.

In addition to the base cost of a car, there are also additional fees to account for in Singapore, including a Certificate of Entitlement (COE). COE is a license that allows an individual to own and operate a vehicle in Singapore for 10 years. As of June 2022, the average cost of COE for a basic car is S$74,000 ($53,407), according to the Land Transport Authority.

Cars are also subject to excise duty and goods and services tax, an additional registration fee, and a price rebate and surcharge that depends on the vehicle's carbon emissions.

Insider has compiled a US-to-Singapore price comparison for five popular car models. All car prices are sourced from the manufacturers' official websites in each country. All Singapore car prices in this article, except for Tesla, include COE; the Tesla car price does not include COE.

1. Tesla Model 3

1. Tesla Model 3
Tesla Model 3.Tesla

Cost in the US: $59,490

Cost in Singapore: S$114,455 ($82,604), without COE

Unlike most car manufacturers in Singapore, Tesla does not include COE in its prices. Instead, it bids for the COE on the buyer's behalf when the vehicle is ready for registration.

On average, Singapore is the most expensive country in the world to buy a Tesla, according to an index by InsideEVs. The US is the cheapest place to purchase the electric vehicle, per InsideEVs' index.

Cars sold in North America are manufactured in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas. In Singapore, the cars are shipped to the city-state from Tesla's overseas factories around Asia.

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2. Toyota Corolla Standard

2. Toyota Corolla Standard
The 2020 Toyota Corolla.Paul Marotta/Getty Images

Cost in the US: $20,425

Cost in Singapore: S$134,888 ($97,369)

Toyota is the best-selling car manufacturer in the US and Singapore. But prices in the city-state are four times more expensive than in the US, with a Corolla costing over $70,000 more in Singapore.

3. Audi A8

3. Audi A8
Audi A8.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Cost in the US: $86,500

Cost in Singapore: S$516,777 ($373,033)

The flagship Audi vehicle costs four times more in Singapore than it does in the US. The high prices don't seem to deter Singapore buyers: The German luxury car manufacturer was the seventh-most popular by sales in the city-state in 2021.

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4. Honda Odyssey (8-seater)

4. Honda Odyssey (8-seater)
Honda Odyssey minivan.Smith Collection/Gado/Contributor/Getty Images

Cost in the US: $37,340

Cost in Singapore: S$226,999 ($163,801)

The Odyssey was the best-selling minivan in the US in 2021. Honda is also a best-seller in Singapore — it was the fourth-most popular car brand by registration in the city-state in 2021.

But there's a huge gap in the prices of Honda vehicles, with the minivan retailing for more than four times more in Singapore than in the US.

5. Mercedes-AMG E53

5. Mercedes-AMG E53
Mercedes-AMG E53 2022.teddyleung/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus

Cost in the US: $75,000

Cost in Singapore: S$510,888 ($368,652)

The German luxury car manufacturer was the third-most popular brand in Singapore by sales in 2021. In the US, Mercedes finished second to Tesla as the most popular luxury car manufacturer by registration in 2021.

The E35 costs almost five times more in Singapore than it does in the US. In Singapore, luxury brands like Mercedes are subject to a 220% tax of a car's open market value exceeding S$80,000 ($57,760).

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