South Korea vs. China Cost of Living Summary

South Korea is 75.9% more expensive than China overall.

Restaurants
pay 2.2 times more in South Korea
Groceries
pay 2.9 times more in South Korea
Transportation
pay 62.0% more in South Korea
Housing
pay 79.0% more in South Korea
Childcare
pay 3.2% more in South Korea
Entertainment and Sports
pay 54.9% more in South Korea
Clothing
pay 22.8% more in South Korea

The cost of groceries, restaurants, housing, transportation, entertainment and sports, and clothing in South Korea are more expensive than in China. Notably, groceries, restaurants, and housing are significantly more expensive in South Korea.

South Korea vs. China Cost Breakdown

If you lived in South Korea instead of China, you would:

pay 2.2 times more for restaurants

 
China
South Korea
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $2.85
CN¥20.80
$6.16
₩8,964
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.07
CN¥36.92
$5.24
₩7,624
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.49
CN¥3.57
$1.47
₩2,142

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pay 2.9 times more for groceries

 
China
South Korea
Bread
1 loaf
$1.59
CN¥11.60
$3.08
₩4,477
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.85
CN¥42.63
$5.40
₩7,865
Milk (1 gallon) $6.86
CN¥49.99
$7.46
₩10,854

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pay 62.0% more for transportation

 
China
South Korea
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.44
CN¥32.39
$4.39
₩6,392
Monthly public transit pass $22.47
CN¥163.76
$45.32
₩65,947
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $19,071.53
CN¥138,989.52
$27,023.07
₩39,325,801

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pay 79.0% more for housing

 
China
South Korea
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$11.70
CN¥85.23
$17.65
₩25,692
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $328.33
CN¥2,392.81
$426.93
₩621,300
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $205.78
CN¥1,499.68
$328.41
₩477,929

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pay 3.2% more for childcare

 
China
South Korea
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $459.70
CN¥3,350.19
$373.40
₩543,398
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $18,318.08
CN¥133,498.50
$22,907.58
₩33,336,660

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pay 54.9% more for entertainment and sports

 
China
South Korea
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.09
CN¥7.95
$3.09
₩4,503
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.07
CN¥22.35
$3.39
₩4,932
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.23
CN¥23.56
$3.21
₩4,677

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pay 22.8% more for clothing

 
China
South Korea
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$48.23
CN¥351.45
$60.70
₩88,341
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$31.67
CN¥230.81
$44.52
₩64,792
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$72.53
CN¥528.56
$72.99
₩106,223

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: February 2025
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