Cost of living comparison
Seoul is 37.2% cheaper than Washington.
- Restaurants
-
pay 55.7% less in Seoul
- Groceries
-
pay 9.3% more in Seoul
- Transportation
-
pay 26.5% less in Seoul
- Housing
-
pay 54.3% less in Seoul
- Childcare
-
pay 64.3% less in Seoul
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 50.0% less in Seoul
- Clothing
-
pay 19.0% less in Seoul
Expenses including childcare, restaurants, housing, entertainment and sports, transportation, and clothing are lower in Seoul.
If you lived in Seoul instead of Washington, you would:
pay 55.7% less for restaurants
|
Washington
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$7.88
₩11,432
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$6.09
₩8,834
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.78
|
$1.59
₩2,302
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.22
|
$0.84
₩1,220
|
|
pay 9.3% more for groceries
|
Washington
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.34
|
$3.10
₩4,491
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.84
|
$6.52
₩9,467
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.14
|
$8.06
₩11,693
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.91
|
$3.06
₩4,438
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.73
|
$4.74
₩6,873
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.70
|
$3.30
₩4,785
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.85
|
$1.55
₩2,248
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.46
|
$2.44
₩3,542
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.59
|
$2.68
₩3,896
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.55
|
$1.73
₩2,511
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.61
|
$1.39
₩2,012
|
|
pay 26.5% less for transportation
|
Washington
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.66
|
$4.59
₩6,658
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$44.40
₩64,433
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,699.74
|
$27,023.07
₩39,211,820
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$23.88
|
$8.02
₩11,640
|
|
pay 54.3% less for housing
|
Washington
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.46
|
$22.27
₩32,321
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,582.95
|
$883.18
₩1,281,537
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,028.70
|
$490.54
₩711,797
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$146.65
|
$133.35
₩193,502
|
|
pay 64.3% less for childcare
|
Washington
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,273.25
|
$385.48
₩559,352
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$38,250.00
|
$20,782.92
₩30,157,052
|
|
pay 50.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Washington
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$3.58
₩5,196
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.55
|
$3.60
₩5,227
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.75
|
$3.22
₩4,677
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$106.36
|
$53.73
₩77,963
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$17.18
|
$10.74
₩15,589
|
|
pay 19.0% less for clothing
|
Washington
|
Seoul
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$74.13
|
$59.13
₩85,797
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.77
|
$46.64
₩67,683
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$105.47
|
$86.69
₩125,796
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$178.48
|
$124.89
₩181,222
|
|
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