Cost of living comparison
Seoul is 19.4% cheaper than United States.
If you lived in Seoul instead of United States, you would:
pay 48.5% less for restaurants
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.02
|
$8.11
₩11,119
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.37
|
$5.90
₩8,086
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$1.53
₩2,091
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.98
|
$0.82
₩1,127
|
|
pay 29.3% more for groceries
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.43
|
$3.09
₩4,237
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.30
|
$6.06
₩8,305
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.93
|
$8.19
₩11,235
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.52
|
$3.27
₩4,487
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.12
|
$4.76
₩6,525
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$3.12
₩4,277
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.76
|
$1.57
₩2,156
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.03
|
$2.58
₩3,538
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.13
|
$2.72
₩3,723
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$1.91
₩2,616
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$1.42
₩1,940
|
|
pay 15.0% less for transportation
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$4.69
₩6,428
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$65.73
|
$45.15
₩61,910
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,580.82
|
$27,815.53
₩38,137,874
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.71
|
$9.44
₩12,938
|
|
pay 44.8% less for housing
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.34
|
$23.52
₩32,249
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,635.84
|
$873.53
₩1,197,694
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,397.18
|
$528.87
₩725,127
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.42
|
$140.47
₩192,598
|
|
pay 40.5% less for childcare
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,344.29
|
$381.75
₩523,417
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$23,001.10
|
$20,838.36
₩28,571,482
|
|
pay 27.3% less for entertainment and sports
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.73
|
$3.69
₩5,054
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.97
|
$3.88
₩5,315
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.54
|
$3.32
₩4,549
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$51.32
|
$52.67
₩72,210
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.21
|
$11.06
₩15,162
|
|
pay 10.8% more for clothing
United States
|
Seoul
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.12
|
$60.77
₩83,325
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.92
|
$44.72
₩61,311
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.55
|
$85.92
₩117,802
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$113.11
|
$127.28
₩174,509
|
|
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