Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and South Korea
For one person, living is cheaper in South Korea: $1,543 a month against $3,454 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $22,900 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 -
South Korea Living Index76Cost of Living Index in South KoreaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Singapore is 23.7% more expensive than South Korea without rent, and 123.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Singapore is 25% more expensive than South Korea without rent, and 102.8% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
South Korea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.53 SGD 14.77
$7.67 ₩10.3K
50.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2 SGD 91.2
$45.23 ₩60.7K
57.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 SGD 11.22
$6.43 ₩8,637
36.24%
Cappuccino
$5.25 SGD 6.73
$3.92 ₩5,266
33.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 SGD 2.34
$1.64 ₩2,199
11.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 SGD 1.60
$0.83 ₩1,117
50.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.42 SGD 10.79
$3.63 ₩4,874
131.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.02 SGD 12.83
$4.55 ₩6,112
120.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
South Korea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.94 SGD 3.76
$2.09 ₩2,810
40.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 SGD 3.16
$3.02 ₩4,060
-18.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 SGD 3.47
$3.38 ₩4,545
-19.82%
Eggs
$3.73 SGD 4.77
$3.22 ₩4,321
15.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.54 SGD 27.58
$13.53 ₩18.2K
59.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.52 SGD 12.20
$8.81 ₩11.8K
8.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.98 SGD 33.27
$26.06 ₩35.0K
-0.31%
Apples (1kg)
$4.48 SGD 5.74
$8.59 ₩11.5K
-47.85%
Banana (1kg)
$3.11 SGD 3.99
$3.38 ₩4,546
-7.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.62 SGD 5.92
$6.23 ₩8,364
-25.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 SGD 2.86
$6.09 ₩8,185
-63.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 SGD 3.20
$3.97 ₩5,331
-37.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 SGD 3.05
$2.72 ₩3,653
-12.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 SGD 2.28
$2.60 ₩3,492
-31.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 SGD 1.93
$1.20 ₩1,612
25.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.18 SGD 18.16
$3.38 ₩4,542
319.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.79 SGD 30.47
$15.90 ₩21.3K
49.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.51 SGD 5.78
$2.02 ₩2,712
123.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 SGD 5.86
$2.89 ₩3,875
58.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
South Korea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.58 SGD 2.03
$1.14 ₩1,532
38.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.4 SGD 123
$46.85 ₩62.9K
105.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 SGD 4.65
$3.43 ₩4,610
5.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 SGD 1.02
$0.64 ₩862
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.18 SGD 20.72
$9.10 ₩12.2K
77.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.51 SGD 3.21
$1.38 ₩1,856
81.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$155.9K SGD 199.6K
$29.8K ₩40.0M
423.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$145.8K SGD 186.7K
$29.9K ₩40.2M
387.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
South Korea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 SGD 224
$206 ₩276.3K
-14.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.45 SGD 15.94
$39.21 ₩52.7K
-68.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.64 SGD 34.11
$23.22 ₩31.2K
14.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
South Korea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 SGD 143
$52.8 ₩70.9K
111.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.07 SGD 15.46
$16.59 ₩22.3K
-27.25%
Cinema Ticket
$11.60 SGD 14.85
$10.99 ₩14.8K
5.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
South Korea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,463 SGD 1,874
$906 ₩1.2M
61.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.4K SGD 36.3K
$23.3K ₩31.3M
21.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
South Korea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.5 SGD 104
$56.7 ₩76.2K
43.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 SGD 64.8
$43.14 ₩57.9K
17.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 SGD 143
$79.5 ₩106.8K
40.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 SGD 166
$96.1 ₩129.1K
35.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
South Korea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,916 SGD 3,734
$593 ₩796.1K
391.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,128 SGD 2,725
$423 ₩568.2K
403.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,654 SGD 7,241
$1,531 ₩2.1M
269.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,968 SGD 5,081
$922 ₩1.2M
330.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.6K SGD 30.2K
$16.5K ₩22.1M
43.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.8K SGD 21.5K
$8,341 ₩11.2M
101.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
South Korea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,369 SGD 5,594
$2,293 ₩3.1M
90.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
4.23
-42.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Singapore: October 5, 2026
Last update for South Korea: October 4, 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%
South Korea $423 27.1% 80.1% $1.7K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore $457 13.2%
South Korea $449 28.7% 1.9% $8.7
Eating Out
Singapore $256 7.4%
South Korea $165 10.6% 35.6% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore $214 6.2%
South Korea $268 17.2% 25.3% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore $168 4.9%
South Korea $124 7.9% 26.2% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore $135 3.9%
South Korea $75 4.8% 44.5% $60
Getting Around
Singapore $110 3.2%
South Korea $58 3.7% 47.4% $52
Accommodation & Living
Singapore $4K 56.9%
South Korea $922 27.2% 76.8% $3K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore $1K 14.9%
South Korea $1.1K 31% 1.2% $12
Eating Out
Singapore $859 12.3%
South Korea $552 16.3% 35.7% $307
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore $227 3.3%
South Korea $307 9.1% 35.7% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore $373 5.4%
South Korea $276 8.1% 26.2% $98
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore $282 4%
South Korea $166 4.9% 41% $115
Getting Around
Singapore $224 3.2%
South Korea $118 3.5% 47.1% $105
Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇰🇷 South Korea
Weather
Population
5,535,002 Capital
51,466,201
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Singapore South Korea 4,680 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
- Singapore
- South 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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