Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Singapore Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Singapore

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,765 per month in Seoul vs $3,507 in Singapore, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,881 per month in Seoul vs $5,136 in Singapore, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,997 per month in Seoul vs $6,764 in Singapore, rent included.

Seoul is about 50% cheaper than Singapore, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Seoul and Singapore sit above the global median – Seoul by 32%, Singapore by 163%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.73 ₩12.9K

$10.77 SGD 13.90

-18.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩80.2K

$78.1 SGD 101

-30.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 ₩9,546

$7.58 SGD 9.78

-14.64%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,717

$4.84 SGD 6.25

-19.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₩2,435

$1.70 SGD 2.19

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,263

$1.20 SGD 1.55

-28.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 ₩5,562

$7.85 SGD 10.13

-51.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.72 ₩8,444

$9.15 SGD 11.81

-37.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,340

$3.07 SGD 3.96

-26.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 ₩5,051

$2.38 SGD 3.07

43.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,565

$2.79 SGD 3.60

10.75%

Eggs

$3.06 ₩4,509

$3.29 SGD 4.24

-6.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.51 ₩21.4K

$19.19 SGD 24.78

-24.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 ₩15.9K

$11.42 SGD 14.74

-5.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.54 ₩51.0K

$22.61 SGD 29.18

52.76%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 ₩11.3K

$4.56 SGD 5.88

67.76%

Banana (1kg)

$3.54 ₩5,227

$2.98 SGD 3.85

18.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.42 ₩7,995

$4.95 SGD 6.40

9.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 ₩9,575

$2.74 SGD 3.53

136.86%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 ₩5,705

$2.52 SGD 3.25

53.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 ₩4,236

$2.17 SGD 2.80

32.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 ₩3,856

$1.95 SGD 2.52

33.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,943

$1.49 SGD 1.93

-11.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₩4,905

$13.20 SGD 17.04

-74.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.50 ₩24.3K

$23.04 SGD 29.74

-28.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₩3,517

$4.17 SGD 5.38

-42.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩4,973

$5.16 SGD 6.66

-34.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,587

$1.59 SGD 2.06

-32.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.87 ₩69.1K

$94.0 SGD 121

-50.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ₩5,109

$3.68 SGD 4.75

-5.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩840

$0.72 SGD 0.94

-20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.00 ₩13.3K

$16.54 SGD 21.35

-45.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,846

$2.20 SGD 2.84

-43.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.9K ₩41.2M

$142.5K SGD 183.9K

-80.39%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K ₩37.4M

$127.5K SGD 164.6K

-80.10%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$160 ₩236.5K

$156 SGD 201

3.07%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$34.41 ₩50.8K

$18.63 SGD 24.05

84.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.05 ₩32.5K

$37.75 SGD 48.73

-41.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 ₩85.5K

$120 SGD 155

-51.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.44 ₩34.6K

$12.10 SGD 15.61

93.72%

Cinema Ticket

$10.93 ₩16.1K

$11.53 SGD 14.89

-5.20%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$417 ₩615.5K

$1,190 SGD 1,536

-64.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K ₩34.8M

$29.1K SGD 37.6K

-19.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₩87.3K

$83.5 SGD 108

-29.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.41 ₩71.4K

$42.55 SGD 54.9

13.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 ₩117.8K

$108 SGD 139

-25.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ₩169.4K

$128 SGD 166

-10.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ₩1.4M

$3,209 SGD 4,142

-70.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₩867.2K

$2,299 SGD 2,968

-74.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,584 ₩3.8M

$6,127 SGD 7,909

-57.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₩1.9M

$3,793 SGD 4,896

-65.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$26.0K ₩38.4M

$23.3K SGD 30.0K

11.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.7K ₩15.8M

$16.4K SGD 21.2K

-34.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 ₩4.6M

$3,969 SGD 5,124

-20.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

3.19

29.78%

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

Last update for Seoul: July 14, 2026

Last update for Singapore: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $944 in Seoul versus $3,209 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 26% 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 $54.0 in Seoul versus $78.0 in Singapore. Groceries tell a different story – $491 in Seoul vs $450 in Singapore – so Singapore wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Seoul vs Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Singapore costs about 99% more than Seoul, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,647 per month in Seoul and $5,261 in Singapore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Seoul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 100% less in Seoul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $417 per month in Seoul and $1,190 in Singapore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Seoul, where all-in costs run around $1,765, than in Singapore at $3,507. In Seoul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Seoul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Seoul. 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.