Cost of living in Seoul
compared to
#243
City Cost of Living Rank
Index: 48 (New York City = 100)
Cost of living in Seoul vs. South Korea overall average
Seoul is 10.8% more expensive than South Korea overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 11.8% more in Seoul
- Groceries
-
pay 8.5% more in Seoul
- Transportation
-
pay 4.8% more in Seoul
- Housing
-
pay 34.1% more in Seoul
- Childcare
-
pay 19.5% more in Seoul
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 8.8% more in Seoul
- Clothing
-
pay 12.1% less in Seoul
The cost of housing, childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, groceries, and transportation in Seoul are more expensive than in South Korea.
Seoul Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.49
₩12,429
|
$6.37
$6.37
$12.74
$12.74
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$6.30
₩9,218
|
$5.66
$5.66
$7.08
$7.08
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.64
₩2,399
|
$1.42
$1.42
$2.48
$2.48
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.78
₩1,143
|
$0.71
$0.71
$1.42
$1.42
|
Seoul - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.24
₩4,740
|
$1.84
$1.84
$7.08
$7.08
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.79
₩9,943
|
$3.57
$3.57
$17.69
$17.69
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.85
₩11,487
|
$5.36
$5.36
$10.71
$10.71
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.93
₩4,291
|
$1.70
$1.70
$5.09
$5.09
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.67
₩6,833
|
$1.93
$1.93
$6.42
$6.42
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$3.45
₩5,043
|
$2.25
$2.25
$5.78
$5.78
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.52
₩2,231
|
$0.96
$0.96
$2.63
$2.63
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.35
₩3,442
|
$1.12
$1.12
$4.81
$4.81
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.77
₩4,058
|
$1.12
$1.12
$4.17
$4.17
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.62
₩2,370
|
$0.64
$0.64
$2.17
$2.17
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.30
₩1,899
|
$0.64
$0.64
$2.24
$2.24
|
Seoul - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.43
₩6,485
|
$4.29
$4.29
$4.82
$4.82
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$45.99
₩67,322
|
$42.45
$42.45
$63.68
$63.68
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$25,072.36
₩36,700,923
|
$23,844.75
$24K
$28,302.37
$28K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$10.50
₩15,370
|
$7.36
$7.36
$18.40
$18.40
|
Seoul - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$20.56
₩30,090
|
$14.15
$14.15
$28.30
$28.30
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$925.55
₩1,354,827
|
$707.56
$707.56
$1,768.90
$2K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$559.33
₩818,747
|
$353.78
$353.78
$849.07
$849.07
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$118.88
₩174,019
|
$68.14
$68.14
$178.55
$178.55
|
Seoul - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$360.15
₩527,184
|
$198.12
$198.12
$595.29
$595.29
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$21,667.04
₩31,716,208
|
$14,151.18
$14K
$29,717.49
$30K
|
Seoul - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.54
₩5,179
|
$2.12
$2.12
$5.66
$5.66
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.70
₩5,413
|
$2.48
$2.48
$4.81
$4.81
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.18
₩4,661
|
$3.18
$3.18
$4.95
$4.95
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$56.34
₩82,464
|
$28.30
$28.30
$141.51
$141.51
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.61
₩15,536
|
$9.20
$9.20
$12.74
$12.74
|
Seoul - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$49.77
₩72,846
|
$35.38
$35.38
$70.76
$70.76
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.49
₩57,806
|
$31.84
$31.84
$63.68
$63.68
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$74.94
₩109,701
|
$56.60
$56.60
$113.21
$113.21
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$99.06
₩145,002
|
$63.68
$63.68
$176.89
$176.89
|
Seoul - Cost of clothing
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