September 2026 • By Info Boxx Research • 3 min read
The spread from cheapest to priciest tracked centre is $2718 a month — a year of the gap funds a year of rent at the bottom.
Surabaya (Indonesia) sits at the bottom near $284 for a centre 1-bed; Singapore tops the table near $3002. Same planet, different housing economies — local wages, tourist pressure and supply explain nearly all of it.
Twelve months of the spread covers twelve months of rent in the cheapest market, with change. Geo-arbitrage math that simple is why remote workers run this comparison first and pick visas second.
Cheap rent with no visa path or no internet is not an option — it's a daydream. Pair this ranking with the visa boxes and the salary calculator before shortlisting.
| End | Centre 1-bed |
| Cheapest: Surabaya | $284 |
| Priciest: Singapore | $3002 |
Sources: Info Boxx 106-city rent dataset, Sep 2026. Figures move — verify before deciding.