Can’t decide whether to move to Singapore or South Korea? These two Asian countries are among the most developed in the world, so it’s not hard to see why many people who want to move to Asia stumble upon this dilemma. 

If you prefer a fast-paced life, small-city living, and tropical weather, Singapore is your best bet. If cultural activities, changing seasons, and colder weather are what you’re after, then South Korea might be a better choice for you. 

To give you a better idea of which country is better, here’s a Singapore vs. South Korea guide to help you make an informed decision. 

Cost of Living in Singapore vs. South Korea

Monthly living expenses include the cost of rent, utilities, childcare, and transportation. Living in Singapore is significantly more expensive if you’re living on your own.

The average cost of living expenses is based on people living in South Korea’s capital city, Seoul, and Singapore. Despite that, living in Singapore (inside and outside the city centre) is still significantly more expensive than living in South Korea’s capital city. 

To put it simply, a family would need an average of $7,000 per month to live in Seoul with the same standard of living you would enjoy in Singapore for $11,000 a month. 

Consumer prices without rent are still significantly lower in South Korea, but Singapore has lower grocery prices. Choosing to live between the two cities boils down to how much you can set apart for food, utilities, and childcare if you have a family. 

Real Estate Prices in Singapore vs. South Korea

It’s important to note that Singapore is smaller in land area than South Korea and its capital city, Seoul. Landed or detached housing is less available than in Seoul, with many options for families to purchase subsidised housing. 

In Seoul, however, high-rise condos tend to be more expensive than detached housing, as prices can go as high as $16,000 per square metre. If we’re looking at a unit that will fit a single family (about 130 square metres), that’s about $2,171,000 for a condo. 

Diversity and Demographics in Singapore vs. South Korea 

We should still heavily consider that Singapore is a small city-state with densely populated ethnic neighbourhoods. Seoul is a large capital city in East Asia where most countries are ethnically homogeneous. 

For a better view of South Korea’s and Singapore’s racial composition, refer to the table below with data collected from Index Mundi: 

South Korea also has a significantly higher population than Singapore. The population of its capital city alone, Seoul, (10 million) is relatively higher than Singapore’s whole population (6 million). 

Moreover, there is a larger percentage of females in South Korea than in Singapore. Margins are fairly close to each other, running between 45% and 52%. 

It’s important to note, however, that South Korea’s total yearly population growth rate has seen a rapid decline over the past five years. Before a slight growth in 2012, the country’s population growth started declining in 1990. 

Age-wise, Singapore’s population is slightly younger than South Korea’s, with a median age of 42.8 years old. Life expectancy for both countries is roughly the same, on the other hand. 

Career Opportunities in Singapore vs. South Korea

Objectively, Singapore takes the cake in terms of employment, but both countries offer favourable career opportunities for young professionals. 

The average annual salary of full-time professionals in Singapore is $69,396, while in South Korea, it’s $46,056. 

Professionals are likely to be paid more in Singapore, but it’s important to consider that monthly expenses are also relatively higher there compared to South Korea.  

Crime and Safety in Singapore vs. South Korea 

Despite that, it’s important to note that although both countries have low crime index rates, there are huge differences in their most common crimes committed. 

Human trafficking and digital sex crimes are two of the biggest and most widespread crimes in South Korea, with over 6,000 cases of digital sex crimes, over 1,800 cases of child sexual assault, and over 6,800 cases rape reported between 2019 and 2020. 

It’s clear that Singapore boasts one of the world’s lowest crime rates, with typical offences including acts like indecent behaviour, shoplifting, public disturbance, and invasion of privacy.

Lifestyle in Singapore vs. South Korea

To get a closer look at the type of lifestyle offered in both countries, we compare each of them in detail based on several factors, such as the weather, recreational activities, tourism, and healthcare.

Weather in Singapore vs. South Korea 

Singapore has a tropical climate where it’s hot and humid all year long, while South Korea has a humid continental climate where seasons change four times a year. 

If you enjoy sunny days and tropical climates, Singapore takes the cake, especially if you want to live close to an islander’s life. South Korea, on the other hand, has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. 

It’s important to note that South Korea is a peninsula, with regions and provinces experiencing various climates and weather conditions within a year. 

Tourism in Singapore vs. South Korea 

South Korea’s changing seasons offer drastic natural landscape shifts, ideal for attending seasonal celebrations. Festivals like sambok, samjinnal, and chuseok mark important dates. 

In Singapore, ethnic minorities celebrate traditional festivals like Deepavali and Eid al-Fitr, while the Lunar New Year is common in both countries.

As for places to visit, Singapore can easily be explored in a few days and boasts urban green spaces, parks, wildlife reserves, and coastal areas. 

South Korea’s tourist attractions include cultural sites, historical landmarks, heritage villages, and nightlife hotspots, with opportunities to wear traditional garments and visit centuries-old palaces.

Singapore offers sandy beaches, luxury accommodations, and vibrant nightlife, while South Korea emphasises cultural immersion, historical exploration, and culinary delights. 

Choose Singapore for tropical getaways and convenience, and South Korea for a slower-paced vacation with rich cultural experiences.

Healthcare in Singapore vs. South Korea

Healthcare services in Singapore and South Korea are among the best in Asia. Data from Numbeo shows that Singapore has a healthcare system index of 70.91 while South Korea has 82.67. 

The healthcare system index is an estimated valuation of a country’s overall quality of its healthcare system. 

Factors that contribute to the increase or decrease of estimations include services, accessibility to healthcare, infrastructure, and the resources available. 

The data from Numbeo shows that South Korea has a higher healthcare system index, owing to the country’s higher skill competency of its medical staff, cost, equipment, and responsiveness, to name a few.

Below are some of the factors that affect the overall healthcare index in both countries:  

Both Singapore and South Korea offer universal healthcare to their citizens through a funded system. In Singapore, universal healthcare is publicly funded by the government, while in South Korea, a large portion of it is funded privately. 

Healthcare costs in Singapore are shouldered by government subsidies, national healthcare insurance plans, and comprehensive savings schemes. Both Singaporean citizens and permanent residents can get subsidised healthcare. 

Meanwhile, in South Korea, citizens get financial aid through the National Health Insurance Service, a single-payer insurance system run by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. 

Medical expenses are also relatively cheaper in South Korea compared to Singapore. Medical costs in Singapore average between $1,200 to $4,500, while in South Korea, it’s at $945. 

Overall, South Korea’s healthcare system is slightly better than Singapore’s in terms of medical responsiveness, cost, report accuracy, and skill competency. 

If you plan on moving to South Korea, note that a portion of your salary will go into your healthcare plan provided by the NHI. It doesn’t come free, however, as medical services for foreigners often have a 20% makeup on fees on top of your monthly premiums. 

Singapore vs. South Korea: Which is better?

When it comes to choosing which of these two Asian countries to move to, your decision boils down to your lifestyle preferences, cost of living, and access to quality healthcare and services. 

In summary, considering all the points covered, here are our insights on which city is superior based on the aforementioned factors: