Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and North Korea
For one person, living is cheaper in North Korea: $836 a month against $3,454 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $31,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Singapore Living Index168Cost of Living Index in SingaporeLearn more -
North Korea Living Index41Cost of Living Index in North KoreaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Singapore is 63.9% more expensive than North Korea without rent, and 313.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Singapore is 81.7% more expensive than North Korea without rent, and 291.5% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
North Korea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.53 SGD 14.77
$2.75 $2.75
319.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2 SGD 91.2
$22.54 $22.54
215.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 SGD 11.22
$19.33 $19.33
-54.68%
Cappuccino
$5.25 SGD 6.73
$1.09 $1.09
381.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 SGD 2.34
$2.25 $2.25
-18.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 SGD 1.60
$1.28 $1.28
-2.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.42 SGD 10.78
$13.50 $13.50
-37.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.02 SGD 12.83
$3.46 $3.46
189.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
North Korea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.94 SGD 3.76
$0.90 $0.90
226.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 SGD 3.16
$2.52 $2.52
-1.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 SGD 3.47
$1.56 $1.56
73.72%
Eggs
$3.73 SGD 4.77
$2.89 $2.89
29.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.54 SGD 27.57
$4.91 $4.91
338.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.52 SGD 12.19
$3.86 $3.86
146.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.98 SGD 33.26
$5.50 $5.50
372.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.48 SGD 5.74
$6.12 $6.12
-26.80%
Banana (1kg)
$3.11 SGD 3.99
$5.13 $5.13
-39.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.62 SGD 5.92
$2.28 $2.28
102.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 SGD 2.86
$2.18 $2.18
2.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 SGD 3.20
$4.53 $4.53
-44.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 SGD 3.05
$4.53 $4.53
-47.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 SGD 2.28
$2.26 $2.26
-21.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 SGD 1.93
$0.46 $0.46
228.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.18 SGD 18.15
$4.52 $4.52
213.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.79 SGD 30.47
$7.94 $7.94
199.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.51 SGD 5.78
$1.15 $1.15
292.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 SGD 5.86
$2.18 $2.18
109.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
North Korea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.58 SGD 2.03
$1.00 $1.00
58.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.4 SGD 123
$38.72 $38.72
148.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 SGD 4.65
$1.52 $1.52
138.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 SGD 1.02
$2.25 $2.25
-64.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.18 SGD 20.71
$39.80 $39.80
-59.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.51 SGD 3.21
$0.71 $0.71
253.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$155.9K SGD 199.6K
$22.2K $22.2K
601.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$145.8K SGD 186.6K
$27.9K $27.9K
422.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
North Korea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 SGD 224
$33.64 $33.64
420.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.45 SGD 15.94
$11.23 $11.23
10.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.64 SGD 34.10
$45.44 $45.44
-41.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
North Korea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 SGD 143
$59.4 $59.4
87.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.07 SGD 15.45
$14.41 $14.41
-16.24%
Cinema Ticket
$11.60 SGD 14.85
$7.78 $7.78
49.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
North Korea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,463 SGD 1,874
$106 $106
1285.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.4K SGD 36.3K
$2,149 $2,149
1219.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
North Korea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.5 SGD 104
$22.12 $22.12
268.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 SGD 64.8
$28.19 $28.19
79.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 SGD 143
$62.9 $62.9
77.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 SGD 166
$84.7 $84.7
53.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
North Korea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,916 SGD 3,734
$97.2 $97.2
2899.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,128 SGD 2,724
$104 $104
1952.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,654 SGD 7,239
$1,399 $1,399
304.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,968 SGD 5,080
$208 $208
1806.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.6K SGD 30.2K
$1,684 $1,684
1301.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.8K SGD 21.5K
$1,392 $1,392
1108.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
North Korea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,369 SGD 5,594
$232 $232
1784.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
7.11
-65.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Singapore: October 5, 2026
Last update for North Korea: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore $2.1K 61.4%
North Korea $104 12.3% 95.1% $2K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore $457 13.2%
North Korea $247 29.4% 46% $210
Eating Out
Singapore $256 7.4%
North Korea $182 21.6% 29.1% $74
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore $214 6.2%
North Korea $90 10.7% 57.8% $124
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore $168 4.9%
North Korea $89 10.6% 47% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore $135 3.9%
North Korea $75 8.9% 44.3% $60
Getting Around
Singapore $110 3.2%
North Korea $56 6.6% 49.7% $55
Accommodation & Living
Singapore $4K 56.9%
North Korea $208 11.6% 94.8% $3.8K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore $1K 14.9%
North Korea $588 32.6% 43.6% $454
Eating Out
Singapore $859 12.3%
North Korea $428 23.8% 50.2% $431
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore $227 3.3%
North Korea $102 5.6% 55.2% $125
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore $373 5.4%
North Korea $198 11% 47% $176
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore $282 4%
North Korea $164 9.1% 41.6% $117
Getting Around
Singapore $224 3.2%
North Korea $113 6.3% 49.5% $111
Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇰🇵 North Korea
Weather
Population
5,535,002 Capital
26,418,204
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Singapore North Korea 4,750 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
- Singapore
- North Korea
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,454
/mo nomad
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,822
/mo nomad
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,454
/mo nomad
Macao
🇲🇴 Macao (China)
$2,107
/mo nomad
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,454
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,454
/mo nomad
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,405
/mo nomad
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