Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Daegu and Singapore

For one person, living is cheaper in Daegu: $1,569 a month against $3,500 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $23,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Daegu
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,569
/mo nomad
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,500
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Daegu and in Singapore

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Daegu and in Singapore actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,569 per month in Daegu vs $3,500 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Daegu $1,569
  • Singapore $3,500

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Daegu vs $5,265 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Daegu $2,402
  • Singapore $5,265

A family of three spends $3,235 per month in Daegu vs $7,030 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Daegu $3,235
  • Singapore $7,030

Daegu is about 55% cheaper than Singapore, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Daegu and Singapore sit above the global median – Daegu by 16%, Singapore by 159%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Daegu
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.29 ₩12.3K
$11.76 SGD 15.05
-21.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.12 ₩49.4K
$70.6 SGD 90.4
-47.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ₩7,536
$8.55 SGD 10.94
-33.68%
Cappuccino
$3.97 ₩5,284
$5.20 SGD 6.66
-23.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ₩2,075
$1.77 SGD 2.27
-11.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₩1,202
$1.23 SGD 1.58
-26.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.82 ₩5,082
$8.26 SGD 10.58
-53.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.42 ₩7,204
$10.17 SGD 13.01
-46.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Daegu
Singapore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.38 ₩3,161
$3.04 SGD 3.89
-21.71%
White Bread (500g)
$4.49 ₩5,976
$2.55 SGD 3.26
76.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 ₩3,541
$2.86 SGD 3.66
-6.99%
Eggs
$2.72 ₩3,619
$3.53 SGD 4.51
-22.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.30 ₩13.7K
$21.12 SGD 27.02
-51.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.44 ₩9,888
$9.90 SGD 12.67
-24.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.76 ₩27.6K
$25.42 SGD 32.53
-18.33%
Apples (1kg)
$6.59 ₩8,762
$4.57 SGD 5.85
44.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.69 ₩3,577
$3.13 SGD 4.00
-14.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.72 ₩7,599
$4.72 SGD 6.04
21.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.96 ₩7,921
$2.23 SGD 2.85
167.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 ₩3,518
$2.57 SGD 3.29
3.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 ₩2,735
$2.29 SGD 2.93
-10.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.35 ₩5,789
$1.87 SGD 2.39
132.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 ₩1,825
$1.44 SGD 1.84
-4.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88 ₩3,832
$13.97 SGD 17.88
-79.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 ₩19.8K
$23.48 SGD 30.05
-36.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 ₩2,848
$4.54 SGD 5.80
-52.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 ₩3,317
$4.44 SGD 5.68
-43.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Daegu
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.11 ₩1,473
$1.57 SGD 2.01
-29.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.4 ₩101.5K
$93.8 SGD 120
-18.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ₩4,172
$3.64 SGD 4.66
-13.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 ₩811
$0.76 SGD 0.97
-19.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 ₩10.7K
$16.14 SGD 20.66
-50.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₩1,775
$2.45 SGD 3.14
-45.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K ₩37.9M
$155.2K SGD 198.5K
-81.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.5K ₩55.1M
$148.5K SGD 190.0K
-72.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Daegu
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$280 ₩371.6K
$172 SGD 220
62.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 ₩67.1K
$12.39 SGD 15.86
307.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.09 ₩62.6K
$26.21 SGD 33.54
79.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Daegu
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 ₩67.8K
$108 SGD 138
-52.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.89 ₩15.8K
$12.31 SGD 15.75
-3.41%
Cinema Ticket
$11.26 ₩15.0K
$11.64 SGD 14.90
-3.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Daegu
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$531 ₩706.4K
$1,481 SGD 1,895
-64.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.9K ₩37.1M
$28.3K SGD 36.3K
-1.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Daegu
Singapore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 ₩74.8K
$80.6 SGD 103
-30.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3 ₩66.9K
$50.1 SGD 64.1
0.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ₩127.7K
$112 SGD 143
-14.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 ₩218.5K
$129 SGD 165
27.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Daegu
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$408 ₩542.1K
$3,015 SGD 3,858
-86.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$273 ₩363.6K
$2,171 SGD 2,778
-87.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,044 ₩1.4M
$5,842 SGD 7,475
-82.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 ₩806.7K
$4,044 SGD 5,174
-84.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,125 ₩9.5M
$23.8K SGD 30.4K
-70.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,559 ₩7.4M
$16.8K SGD 21.4K
-66.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Daegu
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,478 ₩3.3M
$4,385 SGD 5,611
-43.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.07
2.44
107.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Daegu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Singapore: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Daegu
$414
Singapore
$458 10.6% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Daegu
$377
Singapore
$210 44.3% $167
Accommodation & Living
Daegu
$273
Singapore
$2.2K 694% $1.9K
Eating Out
Daegu
$179
Singapore
$256 43.1% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Daegu
$165
Singapore
$167 1.2% $2
Getting Around
Daegu
$87
Singapore
$107 23.6% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Daegu
$73
Singapore
$131 78.7% $58

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $408 in Daegu versus $3,015 in Singapore. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 77% higher in Singapore, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Daegu versus $71.0 in Singapore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 vs $458 – making Daegu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Daegu
🇸🇬 Singapore
🕒 Local time
20:43 8:43 PM
19:43 7:43 PM
1 h behind Daegu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,528,933
5,535,002 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SGD, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.781 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 SGD (1 SGD = 0.695 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Daegu Singapore 4,620 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Daegu
  • Singapore

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Daegu vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Daegu and in Singapore compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,569 in Daegu, $3,500 in Singapore – roughly 123% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Daegu compared to Singapore?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,353 per month in Daegu and $5,251 in Singapore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Daegu and Singapore?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Daegu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Daegu and $71.0 in Singapore. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Daegu or Singapore?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,569 in Daegu and $3,500 in Singapore. That's a gap of about 123%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Daegu, where all-in costs run around $1,569, than in Singapore at $3,500. In Daegu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Daegu or Singapore?
Families tend to lean toward Daegu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Daegu or Singapore safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Daegu and Singapore?
If budget matters most, go with Daegu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Singapore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Daegu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?