Cost of living comparison
Seoul is 7.6% more expensive than Tokyo.
- Restaurants
-
pay 23.2% more in Seoul
- Groceries
-
pay 31.1% more in Seoul
- Transportation
-
pay 16.9% less in Seoul
- Housing
-
pay 16.9% less in Seoul
- Childcare
-
pay 7.8% more in Seoul
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 7.0% less in Seoul
- Clothing
-
pay 31.6% more in Seoul
The cost of clothing, groceries, restaurants, and childcare in Seoul are more expensive than in Tokyo. Expenses including transportation, housing, and entertainment and sports are lower in Seoul.
If you lived in Seoul instead of Tokyo, you would:
pay 23.2% more for restaurants
|
Tokyo
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.51
¥927
|
$7.88
₩11,174
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.21
¥742
|
$6.09
₩8,635
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.12
¥159
|
$1.59
₩2,251
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.75
¥106
|
$0.84
₩1,193
|
|
pay 31.1% more for groceries
|
Tokyo
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.63
¥233
|
$3.10
₩4,390
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.01
¥999
|
$6.52
₩9,253
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.89
¥838
|
$8.06
₩11,430
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.09
¥297
|
$3.06
₩4,338
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.26
¥465
|
$4.74
₩6,718
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.38
¥339
|
$3.30
₩4,678
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.06
¥152
|
$1.55
₩2,198
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.65
¥377
|
$2.44
₩3,462
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.42
¥344
|
$2.68
₩3,808
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.29
¥184
|
$1.73
₩2,455
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.26
¥180
|
$1.39
₩1,967
|
|
pay 16.9% less for transportation
|
Tokyo
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.42
¥630
|
$4.59
₩6,508
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$58.62
¥8,347
|
$44.40
₩62,983
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$21,767.76
¥3,099,575
|
$27,023.07
₩38,329,246
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$27.88
¥3,970
|
$8.02
₩11,378
|
|
pay 16.9% less for housing
|
Tokyo
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$31.86
¥4,537
|
$22.27
₩31,593
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,120.28
¥159,520
|
$883.18
₩1,252,692
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$582.98
¥83,012
|
$490.54
₩695,776
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$134.03
¥19,085
|
$133.35
₩189,146
|
|
pay 7.8% more for childcare
|
Tokyo
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$533.29
¥75,937
|
$385.48
₩546,762
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$14,506.96
¥2,065,687
|
$20,782.92
₩29,478,281
|
|
pay 7.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Tokyo
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.26
¥464
|
$3.58
₩5,079
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.40
¥485
|
$3.60
₩5,109
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.91
¥556
|
$3.22
₩4,571
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$67.16
¥9,563
|
$53.73
₩76,209
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.38
¥1,762
|
$10.74
₩15,238
|
|
pay 31.6% more for clothing
|
Tokyo
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.60
¥7,490
|
$59.13
₩83,866
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$36.87
¥5,250
|
$46.64
₩66,160
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$63.41
¥9,030
|
$86.69
₩122,965
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$82.89
¥11,803
|
$124.89
₩177,144
|
|
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