Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Himeji

For one person, living is cheaper in Himeji: $1,283 a month against $3,493 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $26,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,493
/mo nomad
Himeji
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,283
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Himeji

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 Himeji actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,493 per month in Singapore vs $1,283 in Himeji, rent included.

  • Singapore $3,493
  • Himeji $1,283

A couple spends around $5,174 per month in Singapore vs $2,047 in Himeji, rent included.

  • Singapore $5,174
  • Himeji $2,047

A family of three spends $6,855 per month in Singapore vs $2,811 in Himeji, rent included.

  • Singapore $6,855
  • Himeji $2,811

Singapore costs about 172% more than Himeji, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Singapore sits 158% above the global median, while Himeji is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Himeji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.74 SGD 15.02
$8.46 ¥1,336
38.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3 SGD 95.1
$31.07 ¥4,909
139.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 SGD 11.21
$5.11 ¥807
71.43%
Cappuccino
$5.32 SGD 6.80
$2.35 ¥371
126.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 SGD 2.42
$1.24 ¥196
52.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 SGD 1.55
$0.82 ¥129
47.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.46 SGD 10.82
$3.20 ¥505
164.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.83 SGD 12.57
$3.06 ¥483
221.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Himeji
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.91 SGD 3.72
$1.56 ¥247
86.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 SGD 3.22
$1.48 ¥233
70.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 SGD 3.66
$4.12 ¥650
-30.58%
Eggs
$3.64 SGD 4.66
$2.18 ¥344
66.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.88 SGD 26.71
$15.50 ¥2,449
34.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.92 SGD 12.69
$6.78 ¥1,072
46.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.77 SGD 32.98
$16.88 ¥2,667
52.67%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 SGD 6.02
$8.37 ¥1,323
-43.85%
Banana (1kg)
$3.08 SGD 3.94
$2.97 ¥470
3.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 SGD 6.06
$5.06 ¥799
-6.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 SGD 2.80
$7.86 ¥1,241
-72.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 SGD 3.29
$3.90 ¥617
-34.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 SGD 2.97
$4.70 ¥743
-50.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 SGD 2.39
$1.12 ¥177
66.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 SGD 1.78
$0.89 ¥141
56.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.80 SGD 17.66
$3.87 ¥611
256.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.29 SGD 29.81
$9.74 ¥1,539
139.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.77 SGD 6.10
$2.61 ¥412
82.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 SGD 6.00
$2.10 ¥332
123.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Himeji
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.60 SGD 2.04
$1.44 ¥228
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.0 SGD 123
$53.0 ¥8,373
81.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.61 SGD 4.61
$3.13 ¥494
15.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 SGD 1.02
$2.82 ¥446
-71.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.63 SGD 21.28
$15.45 ¥2,441
7.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.56 SGD 3.28
$1.07 ¥168
139.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$157.0K SGD 200.8K
$21.5K ¥3.4M
629.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$149.8K SGD 191.7K
$15.1K ¥2.4M
892.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Himeji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 SGD 220
$118 ¥18.6K
46.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.13 SGD 15.53
$23.44 ¥3,704
-48.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.02 SGD 35.86
$31.67 ¥5,003
-11.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Himeji
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$108 SGD 138
$52.6 ¥8,314
105.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.24 SGD 15.67
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.03 SGD 15.39
$11.36 ¥1,795
5.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Himeji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,473 SGD 1,885
$564 ¥89.1K
161.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.7K SGD 36.8K
$14.7K ¥2.3M
94.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Himeji
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.0 SGD 99.9
$49.92 ¥7,886
56.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 SGD 65.1
$35.51 ¥5,611
43.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 SGD 139
$61.6 ¥9,739
76.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 SGD 158
$99.2 ¥15.7K
24.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Himeji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,917 SGD 3,733
$541 ¥85.4K
439.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,161 SGD 2,765
$328 ¥51.8K
558.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,769 SGD 7,383
$1,100 ¥173.8K
424.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,849 SGD 4,925
$729 ¥115.2K
427.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.2K SGD 29.7K
$4,304 ¥680.0K
438.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.9K SGD 21.7K
$1,725 ¥272.5K
881.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Himeji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,547 SGD 5,818
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
2.02
20.79%

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

Last update for Singapore: October 20, 2026

Last update for Himeji: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Himeji
$328 84.8% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Himeji
$379 17.3% $79
Eating Out
Singapore
$258
Himeji
$142 45.2% $117
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$212
Himeji
$173 18.5% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$162
Himeji
$111 31.7% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$132
Himeji
$75 43% $57
Getting Around
Singapore
$110
Himeji
$76 30.8% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,917 in Singapore versus $541 in Himeji. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Singapore versus $31.00 in Himeji. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $458 vs $379 – making Himeji the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇯🇵 Himeji
🕒 Local time
08:35 8:35 AM
09:35 9:35 AM
1 h ahead of Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
535,571
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.781 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 SGD (1 SGD = 0.695 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Singapore Himeji 4,910 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Himeji

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 Himeji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Himeji cheaper than Singapore?
Yes – Singapore is pricier by about 172%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,240 per month in Singapore and $1,925 in Himeji. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Himeji, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Singapore and in Himeji?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Singapore, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Singapore or in Himeji?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Singapore and $31.00 in Himeji. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Singapore or in Himeji?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Himeji, where all-in costs run around $1,283, than in Singapore at $3,493. In Himeji it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Singapore or Himeji more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Himeji – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Singapore or Himeji?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Himeji. 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.

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