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Own a Car vs Public Transport (Singapore, 2026)
Decision comparison · Last updated: February 2026
This is rarely a pure “cheaper” question.
It’s a trade between time certainty, logistics reality, and financial fragility.
The decision in one sentence
Choose car ownership when time/logistics certainty is worth the 5-year exposure and you can afford it without fragility.
Otherwise, public transport wins — you keep liquidity, and you can always buy later.
What most people miss
- Instalment is not cost. Depreciation + COE exposure is the real spend.
- Fragility is the hidden price. A car that forces you to cut savings, take bad loans, or sell during a bad month is expensive.
- Time value is not infinite. If your “saved time” doesn’t convert into rest, family, health, or income, you’re paying for a story.
Run the numbers (quick)
When a car is rational
- Multiple daily trips + unpredictable schedules (kids, caregiving, shift work).
- High value on time certainty (not just speed).
- You can absorb a bad year without panic (repairs, income dip).
When public transport wins
- You’re early in wealth building: liquidity matters more than convenience.
- Your commute is stable and well-served by MRT/bus.
- You’d be stretching: the car becomes a permanent background stressor.