Cost of living in South Korea
Summary of cost of living in South Korea
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: ₩7,155,556
- Single person estimated monthly costs: ₩4,504,565 WARNING! These estimates are based on data that may have some inconsistencies at the moment. They already provide a decent estimate but they are not currently bullet-proof.
Change the currency:
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | ₩11,980 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | ₩6,615 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | ₩5,632 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | ₩2,759 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | ₩6,542 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | ₩7,203 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | ₩16,031 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | ₩8,264 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | ₩3,965 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | ₩3,108 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | ₩34,167 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | ₩3,437 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | ₩4,184 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | ₩4,454,430 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | ₩2,796,960 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | ₩253,895 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | ₩1,589,470 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | ₩779,612 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | ₩86,783 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | ₩32,020 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | ₩219,090 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | ₩89,516 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | ₩16,029 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | ₩14,433 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | ₩69,705 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | ₩54,258 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | ₩82,310 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | ₩127,854 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | ₩35,091,300 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | ₩1,965 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | ₩63,651 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | ₩8,245 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | ₩4,500 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | ₩76,762 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | ₩21,034 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | ₩10,694 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | ₩8,457 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | ₩5,308 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | ₩8,235 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | ₩12,817 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | ₩32,969 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | ₩29,287 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | ₩379,963 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | ₩89,730 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | ₩17,897 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | ₩6,563 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | ₩5,017 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | ₩795,597 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | ₩236 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | ₩116,074 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | ₩4,500 | ||
Moving to South Korea with your children?
International Schools in South Korea
Map of Cost of Living in South Korea
This map shows only the top cities in South Korea. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in South Korea
(top cities by data quality)
| Ranking | City | Price Index * |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Seoul | 132 |
| 2nd | Busan | 97 |
| 3rd | Daegu | 86 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Busan is 22% cheaper than in Seoul
- Cost of living in Seoul is 36% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Daegu is 18% more expensive than in Cape Town
- Cost of living in Busan is 49% more expensive than in Balikpapan
- Cost of living in Seoul is 54% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Seoul is 13% cheaper than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Seoul is 50% more expensive than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Seoul is 38% more expensive than in Shenzhen
- Cost of living in Seoul is 14% more expensive than in Taipei
- Cost of living in Seoul is 123% more expensive than in Mumbai
- Cost of living in Seoul is 181% more expensive than in Tashkent
- Cost of living in Seoul is 37% more expensive than in Monterrey
- Cost of living in Busan is 43% more expensive than in Maringá
- Cost of living in Daegu is 44% more expensive than in Irapuato
- Cost of living in Seoul is 32% more expensive than in Santiago
- Cost of living in Seoul is 10% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Seoul is 131% more expensive than in Yaroslavl'
- Cost of living in Seoul is 176% more expensive than in Cairo
- Cost of living in Daegu is 5% cheaper than in Santiago
- Cost of living in Seoul is 7% more expensive than in Shanghai
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Seoul costs ₩4,000,000 (2 days ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Seoul costs ₩7,000 (3 days ago)
- Cocktail drink in downtown club in Seoul costs ₩20,000 (3 days ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Seoul costs ₩50,000 (3 days ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Seoul costs ₩40,000 (3 days ago)
- Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city in Seoul costs ₩35,000 (3 days ago)
- Short visit to private doctor in Seoul costs ₩100,000 (3 days ago)
- One-way ticket in public transport in Seoul costs ₩1,250 (3 days ago)
- Public transport in Seoul costs ₩60,000 (3 days ago)
- Hourly rate for domestic cleaning help in Seoul costs ₩15,000 (3 days ago)