Moving to South Korea from Bangladesh

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Bangladesh to South Korea? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Bangladesh to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 5.0 times more expensive than Bangladesh overall. A BDT9,207,064 salary in Bangladesh would need to be roughly ₩248,808,716 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°F vs 87°F in Dhaka, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Bangladesh and South Korea.

What does your salary buy?

BDT9,207,064 ₩248,808,716

To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.9 times more

Groceries

pay 4.9 times more

Transportation

pay 2.2 times more

Housing

pay 5.1 times more

Childcare

pay 14.0 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.2 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BDT = 12.28 KRW (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Bangladesh to South Korea.

Moved in 2023
6,622 ↓ 9% vs 2022

people moved from Bangladesh to South Korea · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to South Korea?

Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in South Korea compared to Bangladesh.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BD
2.3
KR
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BD
18.6
KR
6.9

South Korea performs significantly better than Bangladesh across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BD
$198
KR
$5,081
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

BD
6.7
KR
25.2

Bangladesh generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BD
66.0
KR
19.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BD
0.7t
KR
11.4t

Bangladesh generally does better on environment, though South Korea leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BD
7.1
KR
45.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BD
5.7%
KR
85.2%

South Korea generally does better on infrastructure, though Bangladesh leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BD
5.1%
KR
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BD
$8,200
KR
$50,600

South Korea generally does better on employment & economy, though Bangladesh leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BD
74.7 yrs
KR
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BD
30.4
KR
2.9

South Korea performs significantly better than Bangladesh across all family life metrics.

Data: National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Dhaka Rain: 84.8 in/yr (2154 mm)
87° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Seoul Rain: 55.8 in/yr (1418 mm)
63° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dhaka Seoul
Jan–Mar 84°/61°F (29°/16°C) 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/76°F (33°/25°C) 73°/56°F (23°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/79°F (32°/26°C) 83°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/67°F (29°/19°C) 54°/38°F (12°/4°C)
View all months
Month Dhaka Seoul
Jan 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.7°C) 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C)
Feb 83°/60°F (28.1°/15.5°C) 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C)
Mar 90°/69°F (32.4°/20.3°C) 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C)
Apr 93°/74°F (33.8°/23.6°C) 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C)
May 91°/76°F (32.9°/24.5°C) 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C)
Jun 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.1°C) 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C)
Jul 89°/79°F (31.4°/26.2°C) 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C)
Aug 89°/79°F (31.6°/26.3°C) 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C)
Sep 89°/79°F (31.8°/25.9°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C)
Oct 89°/75°F (31.6°/23.8°C) 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C)
Nov 85°/67°F (29.6°/19.2°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C)
Dec 80°/58°F (26.4°/14.3°C) 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C)

Data: Korea Meteorological Administration Korea Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bangladesh and South Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in South Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Korea's immigration authority.

Bangladesh passport

Bangladesh passport holder visiting South Korea

Visa Required
Bangladesh passport holders need a visa to enter South Korea.
South Korea passport

South Korea passport holder visiting Bangladesh

Visa on Arrival
South Korea passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Bangladesh.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in South Korea than Bangladesh?

On average South Korea is around 120% pricier than Bangladesh, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to South Korea?

Budget about ₩62,202,179 for 3 months in South Korea (based on a BDT9,207,064 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from South Korea?

Connectivity is usually fine (South Korea: 45.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Korea offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is South Korea safe for expats?

South Korea performs significantly better than Bangladesh across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Bangladesh.

How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Bangladesh?

Bangladesh generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 6.7 in Bangladesh. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bangladesh: 52).

What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Bangladesh?

The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 87°F in Dhaka. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Dhaka gets 84.8 in.

What language do they speak in South Korea?

The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Bangladesh, the official language is Bengali.

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At a Glance

BD KR
Population 165,650,475 51,844,834
Currency Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) South Korean Won (₩)
Languages Bengali Korean
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +880 +82
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112