Cost of living comparison
Japan is 6.0% cheaper than South Korea.
If you lived in Japan instead of South Korea, you would:
pay 6.8% less for restaurants
South Korea
|
Japan
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.44
₩8,836
|
$6.59
¥1,026
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.49
₩7,522
|
$4.91
¥766
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.39
₩1,905
|
$1.01
¥158
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
₩1,011
|
$0.80
¥124
|
|
pay 25.8% less for groceries
South Korea
|
Japan
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.87
₩3,934
|
$1.40
¥219
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.02
₩8,253
|
$5.54
¥863
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.79
₩10,684
|
$5.14
¥800
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
₩4,404
|
$1.99
¥310
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.83
₩3,881
|
$2.58
¥402
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.76
₩3,788
|
$1.93
¥300
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.39
₩1,905
|
$1.11
¥172
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.49
₩3,413
|
$1.76
¥275
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.03
₩2,784
|
$1.80
¥281
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.69
₩2,317
|
$1.11
¥173
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.10
₩1,507
|
$0.90
¥140
|
|
pay 42.9% more for transportation
South Korea
|
Japan
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.58
₩6,274
|
$4.17
¥650
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$48.21
₩66,107
|
$60.62
¥9,444
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,876.80
₩38,221,885
|
$21,439.97
¥3,339,811
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.80
₩12,065
|
$24.44
¥3,806
|
|
pay 14.7% more for housing
South Korea
|
Japan
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$20.28
₩27,801
|
$33.46
¥5,212
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$421.68
₩578,164
|
$480.50
¥74,850
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$330.55
₩453,223
|
$321.68
¥50,109
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$129.93
₩178,142
|
$107.01
¥16,669
|
|
pay 40.3% less for childcare
South Korea
|
Japan
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$386.50
₩529,932
|
$240.59
¥37,478
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,893.14
₩25,904,383
|
$10,805.94
¥1,683,295
|
|
pay 3.1% more for entertainment and sports
South Korea
|
Japan
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.93
₩4,011
|
$2.60
¥405
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.45
₩4,733
|
$2.74
¥427
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.33
₩4,571
|
$3.86
¥602
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$48.95
₩67,116
|
$55.52
¥8,649
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$9.82
₩13,470
|
$11.57
¥1,802
|
|
pay 29.6% less for clothing
South Korea
|
Japan
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$62.63
₩85,878
|
$38.65
¥6,021
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$43.35
₩59,433
|
$25.96
¥4,044
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.22
₩99,020
|
$52.99
¥8,255
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$98.82
₩135,486
|
$85.48
¥13,315
|
|
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