Cost of living comparison
Seoul is 13.5% more expensive than South Korea overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 14.5% more in Seoul
- Groceries
-
pay 9.8% more in Seoul
- Transportation
-
pay 0.2% more in Seoul
- Housing
-
pay 50.5% more in Seoul
- Childcare
-
pay 3.1% less in Seoul
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 9.2% more in Seoul
- Clothing
-
pay 13.6% more in Seoul
The cost of housing, restaurants, clothing, groceries, entertainment and sports, and transportation in Seoul are more expensive than in South Korea.
If you lived in Seoul instead of South Korea, you would:
pay 14.5% more for restaurants
|
South Korea
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.16
₩8,618
|
$7.88
₩11,023
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.24
₩7,330
|
$6.09
₩8,517
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.47
₩2,060
|
$1.59
₩2,220
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.79
₩1,108
|
$0.84
₩1,176
|
|
pay 9.8% more for groceries
|
South Korea
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.08
₩4,304
|
$3.10
₩4,331
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.40
₩7,561
|
$6.52
₩9,128
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.46
₩10,435
|
$8.06
₩11,275
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.76
₩3,858
|
$3.06
₩4,279
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.32
₩4,646
|
$4.74
₩6,627
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$3.17
₩4,432
|
$3.30
₩4,614
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.49
₩2,083
|
$1.55
₩2,168
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.53
₩3,542
|
$2.44
₩3,415
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.41
₩3,378
|
$2.68
₩3,756
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.82
₩2,553
|
$1.73
₩2,421
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.21
₩1,693
|
$1.39
₩1,940
|
|
pay 0.2% more for transportation
|
South Korea
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.39
₩6,146
|
$4.59
₩6,419
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$45.32
₩63,403
|
$44.40
₩62,127
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,023.07
₩37,808,512
|
$27,023.07
₩37,808,512
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.17
₩11,433
|
$8.02
₩11,223
|
|
pay 50.5% more for housing
|
South Korea
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$17.65
₩24,700
|
$22.27
₩31,164
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$426.93
₩597,329
|
$883.18
₩1,235,674
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$328.41
₩459,489
|
$490.54
₩686,323
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$111.42
₩155,893
|
$133.35
₩186,577
|
|
pay 3.1% less for childcare
|
South Korea
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$373.40
₩522,432
|
$385.48
₩539,334
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,907.58
₩32,050,447
|
$20,782.92
₩29,077,795
|
|
pay 9.2% more for entertainment and sports
|
South Korea
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.09
₩4,329
|
$3.58
₩5,010
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.39
₩4,742
|
$3.60
₩5,040
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.21
₩4,497
|
$3.22
₩4,509
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$45.71
₩63,956
|
$53.73
₩75,173
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.10
₩14,129
|
$10.74
₩15,031
|
|
pay 13.6% more for clothing
|
South Korea
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$60.70
₩84,933
|
$59.13
₩82,727
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.52
₩62,292
|
$46.64
₩65,261
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.99
₩102,125
|
$86.69
₩121,294
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$93.73
₩131,139
|
$124.89
₩174,737
|
|
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