Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Sangju

For one person, living is cheaper in Sangju: $1,418 a month against $3,500 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $25,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,500
/mo nomad
Sangju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,418
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Sangju

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

A single person spends $3,500 per month in Singapore vs $1,418 in Sangju, rent included.

  • Singapore $3,500
  • Sangju $1,418

A couple spends around $5,265 per month in Singapore vs $2,194 in Sangju, rent included.

  • Singapore $5,265
  • Sangju $2,194

A family of three spends $7,030 per month in Singapore vs $2,970 in Sangju, rent included.

  • Singapore $7,030
  • Sangju $2,970

Singapore costs about 147% more than Sangju, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Singapore and Sangju sit above the global median – Singapore by 159%, Sangju by 5%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Sangju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.76 SGD 15.05
$6.08 ₩8,086
93.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 SGD 90.4
$34.36 ₩45.7K
105.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 SGD 10.94
$6.65 ₩8,846
28.57%
Cappuccino
$5.20 SGD 6.66
$3.71 ₩4,939
40.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SGD 2.27
$1.55 ₩2,055
14.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 SGD 1.58
$0.58 ₩775
112.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.26 SGD 10.58
$3.54 ₩4,708
133.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.17 SGD 13.01
$4.38 ₩5,817
132.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Sangju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.04 SGD 3.89
$2.26 ₩3,005
34.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 SGD 3.26
$3.02 ₩4,020
-15.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 SGD 3.66
$2.30 ₩3,058
24.35%
Eggs
$3.53 SGD 4.51
$3.31 ₩4,399
6.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.12 SGD 27.02
$15.56 ₩20.7K
35.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.90 SGD 12.67
$7.62 ₩10.1K
29.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.42 SGD 32.53
$11.32 ₩15.1K
124.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 SGD 5.85
$7.57 ₩10.1K
-39.63%
Banana (1kg)
$3.13 SGD 4.00
$3.26 ₩4,335
-3.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.72 SGD 6.04
$7.57 ₩10.1K
-37.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 SGD 2.85
$7.12 ₩9,462
-68.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 SGD 3.29
$3.54 ₩4,701
-27.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 SGD 2.93
$2.37 ₩3,154
-3.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 SGD 2.39
$2.00 ₩2,657
-6.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 SGD 1.84
$1.33 ₩1,769
8.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 SGD 17.88
$3.29 ₩4,379
324.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.48 SGD 30.05
$18.50 ₩24.6K
26.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 SGD 5.80
$2.20 ₩2,921
106.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 SGD 5.68
$3.47 ₩4,609
27.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Sangju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 SGD 2.01
$1.15 ₩1,523
36.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 SGD 120
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 SGD 4.66
$3.74 ₩4,977
-2.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 SGD 0.97
$0.61 ₩817
24.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.14 SGD 20.66
$12.83 ₩17.1K
25.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.45 SGD 3.14
$1.39 ₩1,855
76.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$155.2K SGD 198.5K
$28.9K ₩38.4M
436.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$148.5K SGD 190.0K
$35.5K ₩47.3M
317.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Sangju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 SGD 220
$208 ₩276.1K
-17.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.39 SGD 15.86
$43.09 ₩57.3K
-71.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.21 SGD 33.54
$20.94 ₩27.8K
25.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Sangju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$108 SGD 138
$51.5 ₩68.5K
109.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.31 SGD 15.75
$12.08 ₩16.1K
1.90%
Cinema Ticket
$11.64 SGD 14.90
$11.00 ₩14.6K
5.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Sangju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,481 SGD 1,895
$297 ₩394.3K
399.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K SGD 36.3K
$17.8K ₩23.7M
59.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Sangju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.6 SGD 103
$64.8 ₩86.1K
24.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 SGD 64.1
$63.2 ₩84.0K
-20.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 SGD 143
$75.4 ₩100.3K
48.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 SGD 165
$100 ₩133.0K
28.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Sangju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,015 SGD 3,858
$492 ₩653.6K
513.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,171 SGD 2,778
$365 ₩485.9K
494.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,842 SGD 7,475
$1,160 ₩1.5M
403.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,044 SGD 5,174
$757 ₩1.0M
434.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.8K SGD 30.4K
$7,193 ₩9.6M
230.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.8K SGD 21.4K
$5,380 ₩7.2M
211.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Sangju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,385 SGD 5,611
$1,433 ₩1.9M
206.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
4.1
-40.49%

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

Last update for Singapore: October 13, 2026

Last update for Sangju: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Sangju
$365 83.2% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Sangju
$412 10.1% $46
Eating Out
Singapore
$256
Sangju
$148 42.1% $108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210
Sangju
$272 29.3% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$167
Sangju
$137 18.3% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$131
Sangju
$74 44% $58
Getting Around
Singapore
$107
Sangju
$11 * 89.4% $96

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,015 in Singapore versus $492 in Sangju. 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 206% 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 $34.00 in Sangju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $458 vs $412 – making Sangju the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇰🇷 Sangju
🕒 Local time
01:07 1:07 AM
02:07 2:07 AM
1 h ahead of Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
100,947
💱 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 Sangju 4,640 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Sangju

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 Sangju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sangju cheaper than Singapore?
Yes – Singapore is pricier by about 147%, 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 $5,251 per month in Singapore and $2,127 in Sangju. 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 Sangju, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Singapore or in Sangju?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Singapore and $34.00 in Sangju. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Singapore and in Sangju?
Groceries cost about 11% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Singapore or in Sangju?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sangju, where all-in costs run around $1,418, than in Singapore at $3,500. In Sangju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Singapore or Sangju more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sangju – 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 Sangju?
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 Sangju. 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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