Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Gimhae

For one person, living is cheaper in Gimhae: $1,541 a month against $3,500 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $23,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,500
/mo nomad
Gimhae
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,541
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Gimhae

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,500 in Singapore versus $1,541 in Gimhae.

  • Singapore $3,500
  • Gimhae $1,541

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,265 in Singapore versus $2,437 in Gimhae.

  • Singapore $5,265
  • Gimhae $2,437

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,030 in Singapore versus $3,333 in Gimhae.

  • Singapore $7,030
  • Gimhae $3,333

Living in Singapore is roughly 127% more expensive than in Gimhae, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 159% above, Gimhae 14% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Gimhae
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.76 SGD 15.05
$7.67 ₩10.2K
53.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 SGD 90.4
$48.55 ₩64.6K
45.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 SGD 10.94
$6.61 ₩8,790
29.35%
Cappuccino
$5.20 SGD 6.66
$3.59 ₩4,771
44.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SGD 2.27
$1.84 ₩2,451
-3.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 SGD 1.58
$1.40 ₩1,865
-12.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.26 SGD 10.58
$3.75 ₩4,979
120.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.17 SGD 13.01
$4.24 ₩5,632
139.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Gimhae
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.04 SGD 3.89
$2.25 ₩2,997
35.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 SGD 3.26
$3.19 ₩4,237
-20.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 SGD 3.66
$3.05 ₩4,052
-6.23%
Eggs
$3.53 SGD 4.51
$2.70 ₩3,588
30.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.12 SGD 27.02
$11.02 ₩14.7K
91.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.90 SGD 12.67
$10.56 ₩14.0K
-6.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.42 SGD 32.53
$25.32 ₩33.7K
0.39%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 SGD 5.85
$11.29 ₩15.0K
-59.52%
Banana (1kg)
$3.13 SGD 4.00
$3.59 ₩4,774
-12.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.72 SGD 6.04
$8.31 ₩11.0K
-43.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 SGD 2.85
$6.04 ₩8,034
-63.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 SGD 3.29
$6.15 ₩8,173
-58.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 SGD 2.93
$3.29 ₩4,380
-30.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 SGD 2.39
$2.85 ₩3,795
-34.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 SGD 1.84
$1.27 ₩1,695
13.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 SGD 17.88
$3.38 ₩4,494
313.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.48 SGD 30.05
$18.56 ₩24.7K
26.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 SGD 5.80
$2.39 ₩3,173
89.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 SGD 5.68
$3.50 ₩4,653
26.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Gimhae
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 SGD 2.01
$1.09 ₩1,451
44.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 SGD 120
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 SGD 4.66
$3.65 ₩4,859
-0.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 SGD 0.97
$0.77 ₩1,023
-1.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.14 SGD 20.66
$16.84 ₩22.4K
-4.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.45 SGD 3.14
$1.28 ₩1,707
91.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$155.2K SGD 198.5K
$29.4K ₩39.2M
426.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$148.5K SGD 190.0K
$33.7K ₩44.8M
340.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Gimhae
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 SGD 220
$202 ₩268.2K
-14.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.39 SGD 15.86
$35.95 ₩47.8K
-65.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.21 SGD 33.54
$26.53 ₩35.3K
-1.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Gimhae
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$108 SGD 138
$51.5 ₩68.4K
109.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.31 SGD 15.75
$12.05 ₩16.0K
2.16%
Cinema Ticket
$11.64 SGD 14.90
$12.09 ₩16.1K
-3.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Gimhae
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,481 SGD 1,895
$627 ₩833.8K
136.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K SGD 36.3K
$21.5K ₩28.6M
31.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Gimhae
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.6 SGD 103
$103 ₩137.3K
-21.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 SGD 64.1
$66.3 ₩88.1K
-24.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 SGD 143
$92.2 ₩122.6K
21.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 SGD 165
$127 ₩168.5K
1.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Gimhae
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,015 SGD 3,858
$491 ₩653.2K
513.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,171 SGD 2,778
$361 ₩480.5K
500.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,842 SGD 7,475
$1,146 ₩1.5M
409.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,044 SGD 5,174
$744 ₩989.1K
443.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.8K SGD 30.4K
$7,025 ₩9.3M
238.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.8K SGD 21.4K
$5,432 ₩7.2M
208.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Gimhae
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,385 SGD 5,611
$2,546 ₩3.4M
72.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
4.22
-42.18%

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

Last update for Singapore: October 13, 2026

Last update for Gimhae: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Gimhae
$361 83.4% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Gimhae
$488 6.7% $31
Eating Out
Singapore
$256
Gimhae
$164 35.7% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210
Gimhae
$264 25.7% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$167
Gimhae
$175 4.6% $7.7
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$131
Gimhae
$76 42.4% $56
Getting Around
Singapore
$107
Gimhae
$12 * 89% $96

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,015 in Singapore and $491 in Gimhae. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Singapore pays 72% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71.0 in Singapore vs $49.00 in Gimhae. Groceries flip the comparison at $458 vs $488, with Singapore cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇰🇷 Gimhae
🕒 Local time
07:10 7:10 AM
08:10 8:10 AM
1 h ahead of Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
532,132
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.781 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 SGD (1 SGD = 0.695 EUR).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Singapore Gimhae 4,580 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Gimhae

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
Singapore vs Gimhae: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Singapore or Gimhae?
Gimhae wins on cost – living expenses run 127% lower than in Singapore. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gimhae the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Singapore or in Gimhae?
Average pay runs 72% higher in Singapore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Singapore compared to Gimhae?
Rent for a central apartment: $3,015 in Singapore versus $491 in Gimhae. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Singapore and in Gimhae?
Childcare runs $1,481 in Singapore versus $627 in Gimhae. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Singapore and in Gimhae?
Dining out is cheaper in Gimhae – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $71.0 in Singapore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Singapore or in Gimhae?
At $1,541 in Gimhae versus $3,500 in Singapore, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gimhae but tight or insufficient in Singapore. The gap between the two cities makes Gimhae the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Singapore or Gimhae?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Singapore compared to Gimhae?
Safety-wise, Singapore and Gimhae are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Gimhae gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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