Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Toyama

For one person, living is cheaper in Toyama: $1,156 a month against $3,500 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $28,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,500
/mo nomad
Toyama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,156
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Singapore and in Toyama

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,500 in Singapore versus $1,156 in Toyama.

  • Singapore $3,500
  • Toyama $1,156

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,265 in Singapore versus $1,838 in Toyama.

  • Singapore $5,265
  • Toyama $1,838

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,030 in Singapore versus $2,519 in Toyama.

  • Singapore $7,030
  • Toyama $2,519

Living in Singapore is roughly 203% more expensive than in Toyama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Singapore is 159% above, Toyama is 14% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Singapore
Toyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.76 SGD 15.05
$3.93 ¥621
199.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 SGD 90.4
$41.37 ¥6,536
70.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 SGD 10.94
$5.18 ¥819
65.06%
Cappuccino
$5.20 SGD 6.66
$3.51 ¥555
48.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SGD 2.27
$1.04 ¥164
70.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 SGD 1.58
$0.74 ¥117
66.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.26 SGD 10.58
$2.59 ¥410
218.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.17 SGD 13.01
$3.19 ¥504
218.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Singapore
Toyama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.04 SGD 3.89
$1.07 ¥169
184.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 SGD 3.26
$0.77 ¥122
231.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 SGD 3.66
$3.66 ¥579
-21.86%
Eggs
$3.53 SGD 4.51
$1.98 ¥313
78.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.12 SGD 27.02
$10.52 ¥1,662
100.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.90 SGD 12.67
$5.98 ¥945
65.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.42 SGD 32.53
$14.45 ¥2,283
75.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 SGD 5.85
$5.75 ¥909
-20.52%
Banana (1kg)
$3.13 SGD 4.00
$2.70 ¥426
15.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.72 SGD 6.04
$2.95 ¥467
60.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 SGD 2.85
$4.20 ¥663
-46.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 SGD 3.29
$2.52 ¥398
1.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 SGD 2.93
$2.53 ¥400
-9.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 SGD 2.39
$1.23 ¥195
52.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 SGD 1.84
$0.64 ¥102
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 SGD 17.88
$3.80 ¥600
267.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.48 SGD 30.05
$6.25 ¥988
275.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 SGD 5.80
$1.82 ¥287
149.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 SGD 5.68
$2.00 ¥315
122.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Singapore
Toyama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 SGD 2.01
$1.52 ¥240
3.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 SGD 120
$58.7 ¥9,270
59.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 SGD 4.66
$3.19 ¥503
14.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 SGD 0.97
$2.71 ¥428
-71.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.14 SGD 20.66
$20.33 ¥3,211
-20.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.45 SGD 3.14
$1.11 ¥176
120.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$155.2K SGD 198.5K
$21.7K ¥3.4M
613.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$148.5K SGD 190.0K
$18.2K ¥2.9M
717.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
Toyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 SGD 220
$133 ¥21.0K
29.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.39 SGD 15.86
$23.98 ¥3,788
-48.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.21 SGD 33.54
$32.22 ¥5,091
-18.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
Toyama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$108 SGD 138
$52.9 ¥8,351
104.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.31 SGD 15.75
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.64 SGD 14.90
$11.50 ¥1,817
1.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Singapore
Toyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,481 SGD 1,895
$634 ¥100.2K
133.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K SGD 36.3K
$14.6K ¥2.3M
94.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
Toyama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.6 SGD 103
$61.6 ¥9,735
30.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 SGD 64.1
$37.28 ¥5,889
34.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 SGD 143
$60.7 ¥9,583
84.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 SGD 165
$100 ¥15.8K
28.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Singapore
Toyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,015 SGD 3,858
$233 ¥36.8K
1195.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,171 SGD 2,778
$303 ¥47.8K
616.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,842 SGD 7,475
$1,105 ¥174.6K
428.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,044 SGD 5,174
$648 ¥102.4K
523.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.8K SGD 30.4K
$3,962 ¥625.9K
500.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.8K SGD 21.4K
$1,608 ¥254.1K
941.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Singapore
Toyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,385 SGD 5,611
-
-
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 Toyama: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Singapore
$2.2K
Toyama
$303 86% $1.9K
Groceries & Markets
Singapore
$458
Toyama
$274 40% $183
Eating Out
Singapore
$256
Toyama
$116 54.8% $140
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Singapore
$210
Toyama
$189 10% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Singapore
$167
Toyama
$117 30.1% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Singapore
$131
Toyama
$76 42.2% $55
Getting Around
Singapore
$107
Toyama
$81 24.2% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,015 in Singapore and $233 in Toyama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $71.0 in Singapore vs $41.00 in Toyama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $458 vs $274 per month, with Toyama cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇯🇵 Toyama
🕒 Local time
18:44 6:44 PM
19:44 7:44 PM
1 h ahead of Singapore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,535,002 Capital
421,259
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to SGD – Singapore Dollar Converter

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 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 18, 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 Toyama 5,220 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Singapore
  • Toyama

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 Toyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toyama cheaper than Singapore?
Toyama is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 203% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $5,251 in Singapore and $1,735 in Toyama to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Singapore and Toyama?
Rent for a central apartment: $3,015 in Singapore versus $233 in Toyama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Singapore and in Toyama?
All in, you'll spend $3,500 per month in Singapore versus $1,156 in Toyama – a 203% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Toyama runs roughly 60% less than in Singapore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Singapore or in Toyama?
At $1,156 in Toyama versus $3,500 in Singapore, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Toyama but tight or insufficient in Singapore. The gap between the two cities makes Toyama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Singapore or in Toyama?
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.
Which city is safer, Singapore or Toyama?
Safety-wise, Singapore and Toyama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Toyama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 203% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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