Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Okayama

For one person, living is cheaper in Okayama: $975 a month against $3,493 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $30,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,493
/mo nomad
Okayama
🇯🇵 Japan
$975
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Okayama

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,493 in Singapore versus $975 in Okayama.

  • Singapore $3,493
  • Okayama $975

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,174 in Singapore versus $1,564 in Okayama.

  • Singapore $5,174
  • Okayama $1,564

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,855 in Singapore versus $2,153 in Okayama.

  • Singapore $6,855
  • Okayama $2,153

Living in Singapore is roughly 258% more expensive than in Okayama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Singapore is 158% above, Okayama is 28% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Okayama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.74 SGD 15.02
$5.90 ¥933
98.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3 SGD 95.1
$24.92 ¥3,937
198.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 SGD 11.21
$5.01 ¥791
74.85%
Cappuccino
$5.32 SGD 6.80
$1.71 ¥270
211.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 SGD 2.42
$0.71 ¥111
166.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 SGD 1.55
$0.68 ¥107
77.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.46 SGD 10.82
$1.88 ¥296
350.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.83 SGD 12.57
$1.92 ¥304
411.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Okayama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.91 SGD 3.72
$1.35 ¥214
115.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 SGD 3.22
$0.61 ¥96.4
313.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 SGD 3.66
$4.11 ¥649
-30.41%
Eggs
$3.64 SGD 4.66
$1.48 ¥234
145.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.88 SGD 26.71
$15.36 ¥2,426
35.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.92 SGD 12.69
$6.33 ¥1,000
56.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.77 SGD 32.98
$17.08 ¥2,698
50.88%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 SGD 6.02
$4.98 ¥787
-5.62%
Banana (1kg)
$3.08 SGD 3.94
$2.90 ¥459
6.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 SGD 6.06
$4.94 ¥781
-4.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 SGD 2.80
$4.44 ¥701
-50.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 SGD 3.29
$2.24 ¥355
14.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 SGD 2.97
$1.84 ¥291
26.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 SGD 2.39
$1.14 ¥180
63.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 SGD 1.78
$0.67 ¥107
107.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.80 SGD 17.66
$3.81 ¥602
262.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.29 SGD 29.81
$9.59 ¥1,515
142.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.77 SGD 6.10
$1.94 ¥306
145.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 SGD 6.00
$1.86 ¥294
152.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Okayama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.60 SGD 2.04
$1.45 ¥229
10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.0 SGD 123
$52.5 ¥8,300
82.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.61 SGD 4.61
$3.22 ¥509
12.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 SGD 1.02
$2.46 ¥388
-67.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.63 SGD 21.28
$21.52 ¥3,399
-22.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.56 SGD 3.28
$0.99 ¥157
158.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$157.0K SGD 200.8K
$22.0K ¥3.5M
614.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$149.8K SGD 191.7K
$15.4K ¥2.4M
874.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Okayama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 SGD 220
$72.1 ¥11.4K
138.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.13 SGD 15.53
$14.09 ¥2,227
-13.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.02 SGD 35.86
$25.42 ¥4,016
10.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Okayama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$108 SGD 138
$52.7 ¥8,321
105.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.24 SGD 15.67
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.03 SGD 15.39
$11.33 ¥1,790
6.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Okayama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,473 SGD 1,885
$578 ¥91.3K
155.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.7K SGD 36.8K
$14.9K ¥2.4M
92.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Okayama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.0 SGD 99.9
$49.16 ¥7,766
58.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 SGD 65.1
$35.88 ¥5,668
41.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 SGD 139
$60.9 ¥9,628
78.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 SGD 158
$97.1 ¥15.3K
26.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Okayama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,917 SGD 3,733
$329 ¥52.0K
786.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,161 SGD 2,765
$192 ¥30.4K
1024.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,769 SGD 7,383
$644 ¥101.7K
796.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,849 SGD 4,925
$428 ¥67.7K
798.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.2K SGD 29.7K
$4,159 ¥657.1K
457.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.9K SGD 21.7K
$1,788 ¥282.4K
847.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Okayama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,547 SGD 5,818
$1,377 ¥217.6K
230.09%
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 Okayama: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Okayama
$192 91.1% $2K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Okayama
$311 32.1% $147
Eating Out
Singapore
$258
Okayama
$102 60.7% $157
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$212
Okayama
$112 47.4% $100
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$162
Okayama
$109 32.6% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$132
Okayama
$75 43% $57
Getting Around
Singapore
$110
Okayama
$74 32.8% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,917 in Singapore and $329 in Okayama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Singapore pays 230% 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: $74.0 in Singapore vs $25.00 in Okayama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $458 vs $311 per month, with Okayama cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇯🇵 Okayama
🕒 Local time
04:33 4:33 AM
05:33 5:33 AM
1 h ahead of Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
719,474
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 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 20, 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 Okayama 4,840 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Okayama

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 Okayama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Singapore and in Okayama?
Singapore and Okayama differ by about 258% in total monthly costs ($3,493 vs $975 including rent). Okayama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Singapore or Okayama?
Average pay runs 230% 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 do apartment prices compare in Singapore and in Okayama?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,917 in Singapore versus $329 in Okayama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Singapore or Okayama?
All in, you'll spend $3,493 per month in Singapore versus $975 in Okayama – a 258% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Singapore and in Okayama?
A monthly transit pass in Okayama runs roughly 83% less than in Singapore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $975 in Okayama versus $3,493 in Singapore, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Okayama but tight or insufficient in Singapore. The gap between the two cities makes Okayama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Singapore and Okayama?
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.
Is Singapore or Okayama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Singapore and Okayama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Singapore or Okayama?
Expats usually find Okayama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 258% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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