Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Nagano

For one person, living is cheaper in Nagano: $1,180 a month against $3,500 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $27,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,500
/mo nomad
Nagano
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,180
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Nagano

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

A single person spends $3,500 per month in Singapore vs $1,180 in Nagano, rent included.

  • Singapore $3,500
  • Nagano $1,180

A couple spends around $5,265 per month in Singapore vs $1,942 in Nagano, rent included.

  • Singapore $5,265
  • Nagano $1,942

A family of three spends $7,030 per month in Singapore vs $2,705 in Nagano, rent included.

  • Singapore $7,030
  • Nagano $2,705

Singapore costs about 197% more than Nagano, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Singapore sits 159% above the global median, while Nagano is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Nagano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.76 SGD 15.05
$6.27 ¥991
87.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 SGD 90.4
$40.83 ¥6,451
72.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 SGD 10.94
$4.94 ¥781
73.08%
Cappuccino
$5.20 SGD 6.66
$3.37 ¥533
54.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SGD 2.27
$1.06 ¥167
66.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 SGD 1.58
$0.75 ¥119
64.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.26 SGD 10.58
$2.46 ¥388
235.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.17 SGD 13.01
$3.09 ¥488
229.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Nagano
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.04 SGD 3.89
$1.37 ¥216
121.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 SGD 3.26
$1.70 ¥269
50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 SGD 3.66
$3.73 ¥589
-23.32%
Eggs
$3.53 SGD 4.51
$1.99 ¥314
77.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.12 SGD 27.02
$10.18 ¥1,608
107.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.90 SGD 12.67
$6.08 ¥961
62.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.42 SGD 32.53
$14.50 ¥2,290
75.31%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 SGD 5.85
$5.78 ¥913
-20.93%
Banana (1kg)
$3.13 SGD 4.00
$2.84 ¥448
10.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.72 SGD 6.04
$2.88 ¥455
63.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 SGD 2.85
$4.07 ¥643
-45.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 SGD 3.29
$2.52 ¥398
1.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 SGD 2.93
$2.63 ¥415
-12.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 SGD 2.39
$1.27 ¥201
47.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 SGD 1.84
$0.80 ¥126
80.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 SGD 17.88
$3.81 ¥602
266.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.48 SGD 30.05
$6.43 ¥1,015
265.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 SGD 5.80
$1.73 ¥274
162.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 SGD 5.68
$2.11 ¥333
110.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Nagano
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 SGD 2.01
$1.62 ¥256
-3.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 SGD 120
$50.6 ¥7,987
85.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 SGD 4.66
$3.12 ¥493
16.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 SGD 0.97
$2.64 ¥417
-71.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.14 SGD 20.66
$20.77 ¥3,281
-22.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.45 SGD 3.14
$1.07 ¥169
128.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$155.2K SGD 198.5K
$21.4K ¥3.4M
623.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$148.5K SGD 190.0K
$18.2K ¥2.9M
715.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Nagano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 SGD 220
$130 ¥20.5K
31.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.39 SGD 15.86
$24.11 ¥3,810
-48.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.21 SGD 33.54
$12.46 ¥1,969
110.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Nagano
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$108 SGD 138
$52.9 ¥8,361
104.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.31 SGD 15.75
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.64 SGD 14.90
$12.36 ¥1,953
-5.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Nagano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,481 SGD 1,895
$640 ¥101.1K
131.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K SGD 36.3K
$14.8K ¥2.3M
91.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Nagano
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.6 SGD 103
$62.8 ¥9,924
28.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 SGD 64.1
$36.95 ¥5,838
35.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 SGD 143
$61.3 ¥9,685
82.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 SGD 165
$104 ¥16.4K
23.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Nagano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,015 SGD 3,858
$504 ¥79.7K
497.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,171 SGD 2,778
$323 ¥51.1K
571.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,842 SGD 7,475
$1,231 ¥194.6K
374.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,044 SGD 5,174
$797 ¥126.0K
407.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.8K SGD 30.4K
$4,473 ¥706.8K
431.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.8K SGD 21.4K
$1,575 ¥248.9K
963.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Nagano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,385 SGD 5,611
$622 ¥98.3K
604.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
2.64
-7.58%

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

Last update for Singapore: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nagano: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Nagano
$323 85.1% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Nagano
$289 36.9% $169
Eating Out
Singapore
$256
Nagano
$131 48.7% $125
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210
Nagano
$167 20.7% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$167
Nagano
$119 28.6% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$131
Nagano
$78 40.9% $54
Getting Around
Singapore
$107
Nagano
$73 31.7% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,015 in Singapore versus $504 in Nagano. 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 605% 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 $71.0 in Singapore versus $41.00 in Nagano. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $458 vs $289 – making Nagano the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇯🇵 Nagano
🕒 Local time
23:10 11:10 PM
00:10 12:10 AM
1 h ahead of Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
372,760
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 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 Nagano 5,280 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Nagano

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 Nagano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Singapore or Nagano?
Singapore costs about 197% more than Nagano, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Singapore and in Nagano?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,251 per month in Singapore and $1,770 in Nagano. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Singapore or Nagano?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nagano, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Singapore and in Nagano?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Singapore and $41.00 in Nagano. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Singapore compared to Nagano?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,500 in Singapore and $1,180 in Nagano. That's a gap of about 197%.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Singapore or in Nagano?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nagano, where all-in costs run around $1,180, than in Singapore at $3,500. In Nagano it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Nagano – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Singapore compared to Nagano?
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.
Should I move to Singapore or to Nagano?
If budget matters most, go with Nagano. 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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