Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Yes, Tokyo is 12% cheaper than Singapore based on our cost of living index. Tokyo has a COLI of 77.3, while Singapore has a COLI of 87.7. 12% cheaper
Overall, Tokyo is approximately 12% cheaper than Singapore based on our cost of living index. Singapore has a COLI of 87.7 (ranked #5 of 182 cities), while Tokyo has a COLI of 77.3 (ranked #16).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Singapore averages $2,200/month compared to $1,500/month in Tokyo. That makes Tokyo approximately 32% cheaper for rent alone.
Singapore has lower total deductions (24.7%) compared to Tokyo (30.7%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Singapore. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn S$97,703 in Singapore, you would need approximately ¥10,240,463 in Tokyo to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 12% less thanks to lower cost of living.
Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:
| Job Title | Singapore (SGD) | Tokyo (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | S$205,646 | ¥21,554,127 |
| Software Engineer | S$97,111 | ¥10,178,338 |
| Product Manager | S$114,248 | ¥11,974,515 |
| Lawyer | S$114,248 | ¥11,974,515 |
| Data Scientist | S$108,535 | ¥11,375,789 |
| Marketing Manager | S$82,258 | ¥8,621,651 |
| Teacher | S$54,839 | ¥5,747,767 |
| Nurse | S$66,264 | ¥6,945,219 |
Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Sentosa | 1.40x (+40%) |
| Marina Bay | 1.35x (+35%) |
| Orchard Road | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Raffles Place | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Dempsey Hill | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Chiyoda (Marunouchi) | 1.35x (+35%) |
| Azabu | 1.35x (+35%) |
| Minato (Roppongi) | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Daikanyama | 1.28x (+28%) |
| Shibuya | 1.25x (+25%) |
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Open Salary ConverterSingapore is more expensive overall. Singapore has a COLI of 87.7 while Tokyo has a COLI of 77.3, making Tokyo approximately 12% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as S$97,703 in Singapore, you would need approximately ¥10,240,463 in Tokyo.
Average one-bedroom rent in Singapore is $2,200/month compared to $1,500/month in Tokyo. Tokyo has lower rent by approximately 32%.
Singapore has lower total deductions (24.7%) compared to Tokyo (30.7%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Singapore.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.