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Bukit Merah vs Cincinnati

Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.

Central Region, Singapore
View Bukit Merah profile
#3 in Singapore
78
Overall Score
VS
Ohio, USA
View Cincinnati profile
#501 in USA
53
Overall Score
Bukit Merah scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Bukit Merah
Cincinnati
Livability
80
70
Affordability
30
97
Business
85
72
Growth
60
68

Cost of Living

Bukit Merah is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about 10% lower than in Cincinnati. Housing costs are a major driver: Bukit Merah's average rent is 11% higher than Cincinnati's.
MetricBukit MerahCincinnatiDiff
Average Rent
$1,563$1,410+11%
Groceries
$356$493-28%
Utilities
$141$178-21%
Transport
$94$120-22%
Healthcare
$47$250-81%
Monthly Total
$2,201$2,451-10%
Cost Index
82103out of 100

Salary & Income

Cincinnati offers 35% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cincinnati delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Bukit Merah is estimated at $65,629 vs $55,000 in Cincinnati.
MetricBukit MerahCincinnati
Average Salary
$51,566$79,000
Salary Needed
$65,629$55,000
Purchasing Power
62,885 idx76,699 idx
Household Income
$116,709$52,909

Climate Comparison

Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
MetricBukit MerahCincinnati
Avg Temp
°F°F
Summer High
°F°F
Winter Low
°F°F
Rainfall
in in
Snowfall
in in
Sunny Days
Humidity
84.00%70.00%

Commute & Transport

Cincinnati has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Bukit Merah. Bukit Merah scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Bukit Merah leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricBukit MerahCincinnati
Commute Time
30 min22 min
Transit Score
80.0/10040.0/100
Walkability
85.0/10049.0/100
Traffic Index
50.0050.00
Car Dependency
LowMedium

Economy & Demographics

Cincinnati is the larger city — approximately 0.5x the population of Bukit Merah. From a growth perspective, Cincinnati is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Bukit Merah has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricBukit MerahCincinnati
Population
146,200314,915
Pop. Growth
—0.70%
Median Age
42.033.2
Unemployment
2.90%3.20%
GDP
——

Pros & Cons

Bukit Merah
Advantages
Excellent public transport connectivity and walkability, with a median commute time of 30 minutes.
Home to Singapore General Hospital, providing high-quality healthcare services. [cite: 8, 24, from previous search]
Strong national economy and pro-business environment, ranking as the world's most competitive economy in 2024.
Mature residential estate with a blend of amenities and proximity to the Central Business District. [cite: 14, 46, from previous search]
High safety levels, consistent with Singapore's overall low crime rates.
Drawbacks
High cost of living, particularly for housing, with median 3-room HDB rents around S$2,500 (USD 1,953) in late 2025. [cite: 31, from previous search]
Negative population growth rate of -0.68% for the planning area between 2020 and 2025. [cite: 2, from previous search]
Aging population, with 22% of residents aged 65 or older. [cite: 28, from previous search]
High humidity (average 84%) and year-round rainfall can be uncomfortable for some. [cite: 4, 5, 31, from previous search]
Gasoline prices are among the highest globally, impacting car ownership costs (USD 9.23 per gallon in Sep 2026).
Cincinnati
Advantages
The cost of living in Cincinnati is 3% lower than the national average, making it more affordable than many major U.S. cities.
Cincinnati boasts a diverse and growing economy, with strong sectors in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services.
The city offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, including museums, theaters, and a symphony orchestra.
Several neighborhoods, such as Over-The-Rhine and the Central Business District, are highly walkable, with Walk Scores of 94 and 92 respectively.
The median property value in Cincinnati was $230,900 in 2024, significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership more accessible.
Drawbacks
While some areas are highly walkable, the city's overall Walk Score of 49 indicates a car-dependent environment for most errands.
Public transportation, while available, is not considered the most dependable, often necessitating a personal vehicle.
The city's poverty rate was 25.5% in 2024, which is higher than the national average.
Cincinnati experiences extreme seasonal variations in humidity, with muggy summers and very cold, snowy winters.
The average commute time in the Cincinnati metropolitan area was 2 hours daily in 2023, which is relatively long compared to some other cities.

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Bukit Merah
#3
Central Region, Singapore
78.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,563
Avg Salary
$51,566
Cost Index
82
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
80.0/100
Walkability
85.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
2.90%
Livability
80
Business
85
View Full Profile
Cincinnati
#501
Ohio, USA
52.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,410
Avg Salary
$79,000
Cost Index
103
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
49.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
70
Business
72
View Full Profile

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