Cost of living comparison
United States is 83.5% more expensive than South Korea.
If you lived in United States instead of South Korea, you would:
pay 2.3 times more for restaurants
South Korea
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.44
₩8,950
|
$18.02
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.49
₩7,619
|
$10.37
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.39
₩1,930
|
$2.44
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
₩1,024
|
$1.98
|
|
pay 0.5% less for groceries
South Korea
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.87
₩3,984
|
$3.43
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.02
₩8,358
|
$6.30
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.79
₩10,820
|
$3.93
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
₩4,460
|
$3.52
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.83
₩3,931
|
$5.12
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.76
₩3,837
|
$2.31
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.39
₩1,930
|
$0.76
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.49
₩3,457
|
$2.03
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.03
₩2,819
|
$2.13
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.69
₩2,346
|
$1.32
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.10
₩1,526
|
$1.38
|
|
pay 32.4% more for transportation
South Korea
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.58
₩6,355
|
$3.61
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$48.21
₩66,953
|
$65.73
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,876.80
₩38,711,402
|
$31,580.82
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.80
₩12,219
|
$17.71
|
|
pay 3.1 times more for housing
South Korea
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$20.28
₩28,157
|
$67.34
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$421.68
₩585,569
|
$1,635.84
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$330.55
₩459,028
|
$1,397.18
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$129.93
₩180,424
|
$148.42
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for childcare
South Korea
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$386.50
₩536,719
|
$1,344.29
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,893.14
₩26,236,147
|
$23,001.10
|
|
pay 73.1% more for entertainment and sports
South Korea
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.93
₩4,062
|
$5.73
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.45
₩4,794
|
$4.97
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.33
₩4,629
|
$9.54
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$48.95
₩67,975
|
$51.32
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$9.82
₩13,643
|
$13.21
|
|
pay 1.9% more for clothing
South Korea
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$62.63
₩86,978
|
$50.12
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$43.35
₩60,194
|
$40.92
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.22
₩100,288
|
$85.55
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$98.82
₩137,222
|
$113.11
|
|
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