Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 2.1 times more expensive than Seoul.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.5 times more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 5.4% less in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 39.5% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 2.3 times more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 4.2 times more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.3 times more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 12.4% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, restaurants, housing, entertainment and sports, transportation, and clothing in Chicago are more expensive than in Seoul. Notably, childcare, restaurants, and housing are significantly more expensive in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Seoul, you would:
pay 2.5 times more for restaurants
|
Seoul
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.88
₩11,174
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$6.09
₩8,635
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.59
₩2,251
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.84
₩1,193
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 5.4% less for groceries
|
Seoul
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.10
₩4,390
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.52
₩9,253
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$8.06
₩11,430
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
₩4,338
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.74
₩6,718
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$3.30
₩4,678
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.55
₩2,198
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.44
₩3,462
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.68
₩3,808
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.73
₩2,455
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.39
₩1,967
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 39.5% more for transportation
|
Seoul
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.59
₩6,508
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$44.40
₩62,983
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,023.07
₩38,329,246
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.02
₩11,378
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for housing
|
Seoul
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$22.27
₩31,593
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$883.18
₩1,252,692
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$490.54
₩695,776
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$133.35
₩189,146
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 4.2 times more for childcare
|
Seoul
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$385.48
₩546,762
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$20,782.92
₩29,478,281
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Seoul
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.58
₩5,079
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.60
₩5,109
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.22
₩4,571
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$53.73
₩76,209
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.74
₩15,238
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 12.4% more for clothing
|
Seoul
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$59.13
₩83,866
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$46.64
₩66,160
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$86.69
₩122,965
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$124.89
₩177,144
|
$146.00
|
|
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