Cost of living comparison
Seoul is 20.6% cheaper than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 48.2% less in Seoul
- Groceries
-
pay 26.7% more in Seoul
- Transportation
-
pay 18.6% less in Seoul
- Housing
-
pay 47.3% less in Seoul
- Childcare
-
pay 39.1% less in Seoul
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 29.4% less in Seoul
- Clothing
-
pay 11.5% more in Seoul
The cost of groceries and clothing in Seoul are more expensive than in United States. Expenses including restaurants, housing, childcare, entertainment and sports, and transportation are lower in Seoul.
If you lived in Seoul instead of United States, you would:
pay 48.2% less for restaurants
|
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.59
|
$7.88
₩11,584
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.47
|
$6.09
₩8,951
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.50
|
$1.59
₩2,333
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.96
|
$0.84
₩1,236
|
|
pay 26.7% more for groceries
|
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.49
|
$3.10
₩4,551
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.33
|
$6.52
₩9,593
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.91
|
$8.06
₩11,849
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.56
|
$3.06
₩4,497
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.16
|
$4.74
₩6,964
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$3.30
₩4,849
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
|
$1.55
₩2,278
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$2.44
₩3,589
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$2.68
₩3,948
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.34
|
$1.73
₩2,545
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$1.39
₩2,039
|
|
pay 18.6% less for transportation
|
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$4.59
₩6,746
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.15
|
$44.40
₩65,293
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,583.67
|
$27,023.07
₩39,734,716
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.81
|
$8.02
₩11,795
|
|
pay 47.3% less for housing
|
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.50
|
$22.27
₩32,752
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,655.99
|
$883.18
₩1,298,627
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,423.40
|
$490.54
₩721,289
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.34
|
$133.35
₩196,082
|
|
pay 39.1% less for childcare
|
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,351.84
|
$385.48
₩566,811
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,265.44
|
$20,782.92
₩30,559,201
|
|
pay 29.4% less for entertainment and sports
|
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.78
|
$3.58
₩5,266
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$3.60
₩5,296
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.68
|
$3.22
₩4,739
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$50.84
|
$53.73
₩79,003
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$10.74
₩15,797
|
|
pay 11.5% more for clothing
|
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.38
|
$59.13
₩86,941
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.66
|
$46.64
₩68,586
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.52
|
$86.69
₩127,474
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.08
|
$124.89
₩183,639
|
|
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