Cost of living comparison
Seoul is 2.7% more expensive than San Jose.
- Restaurants
-
pay 31.9% less in Seoul
- Groceries
-
pay 45.6% more in Seoul
- Transportation
-
pay 19.0% less in Seoul
- Housing
-
pay 19.5% more in Seoul
- Childcare
-
pay 20.6% more in Seoul
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.0% less in Seoul
- Clothing
-
pay 13.1% less in Seoul
The cost of groceries, childcare, and housing in Seoul are more expensive than in San Jose. Expenses including restaurants, transportation, clothing, and entertainment and sports are lower in Seoul.
If you lived in Seoul instead of San Jose, you would:
pay 31.9% less for restaurants
|
San Jose
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$10.83
CRC5,411.93
|
$7.88
₩11,584
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.72
CRC4,855.71
|
$6.09
₩8,951
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.99
CRC996.28
|
$1.59
₩2,333
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.46
CRC730.05
|
$0.84
₩1,236
|
|
pay 45.6% more for groceries
|
San Jose
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.60
CRC1,297.53
|
$3.10
₩4,551
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.26
CRC2,131.12
|
$6.52
₩9,593
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.23
CRC3,614.14
|
$8.06
₩11,849
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.26
CRC1,630.29
|
$3.06
₩4,497
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.41
CRC2,202.02
|
$4.74
₩6,964
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.95
CRC974.72
|
$3.30
₩4,849
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.63
CRC314.94
|
$1.55
₩2,278
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.59
CRC795.04
|
$2.44
₩3,589
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.35
CRC673.65
|
$2.68
₩3,948
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.30
CRC649.37
|
$1.73
₩2,545
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.19
CRC595.13
|
$1.39
₩2,039
|
|
pay 19.0% less for transportation
|
San Jose
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.49
CRC2,742.30
|
$4.59
₩6,746
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$38.02
CRC19,000.61
|
$44.40
₩65,293
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,925.49
CRC18,451,701.73
|
$27,023.07
₩39,734,716
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.94
CRC7,965.79
|
$8.02
₩11,795
|
|
pay 19.5% more for housing
|
San Jose
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.59
CRC26,781.29
|
$22.27
₩32,752
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$742.08
CRC370,817.73
|
$883.18
₩1,298,627
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$463.60
CRC231,662.02
|
$490.54
₩721,289
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$63.06
CRC31,508.95
|
$133.35
₩196,082
|
|
pay 20.6% more for childcare
|
San Jose
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$521.49
CRC260,589.82
|
$385.48
₩566,811
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$12,425.72
CRC6,209,142.52
|
$20,782.92
₩30,559,201
|
|
pay 3.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
San Jose
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.92
CRC1,456.71
|
$3.58
₩5,266
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.69
CRC1,844.55
|
$3.60
₩5,296
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$5.05
CRC2,524.97
|
$3.22
₩4,739
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.70
CRC29,832.68
|
$53.73
₩79,003
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$9.72
CRC4,855.71
|
$10.74
₩15,797
|
|
pay 13.1% less for clothing
|
San Jose
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$73.59
CRC36,771.08
|
$59.13
₩86,941
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.81
CRC25,391.00
|
$46.64
₩68,586
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$125.98
CRC62,954.11
|
$86.69
₩127,474
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$117.31
CRC58,621.78
|
$124.89
₩183,639
|
|
Change currency:
Compare countries by overall cost of living
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Seoul or San Jose. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.