Moving to South Korea from Belgium
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Belgium to South Korea — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Belgium to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 24.7% cheaper than Belgium overall. A €65,577 salary in Belgium would need to be roughly ₩82,712,541 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Belgium to South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
€65,577 → ₩82,712,541
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 62.4% less
Groceries
pay 49.1% more
Transportation
pay 33.5% less
Housing
pay 46.7% less
Childcare
pay 27.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 26.8% less
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?
Real numbers on people moving from Belgium to South Korea, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from Belgium to South Korea · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to South Korea?
Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.
- 803,011
- 177,274
- 159,264
- 68,050
- 64,942
- 55,601
Key Indicator Comparison
How Belgium and South Korea stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
South Korea generally does better on safety, though Belgium leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Belgium performs better than South Korea across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
South Korea generally does better on infrastructure, though Belgium leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though South Korea leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
South Korea generally does better on family life, though Belgium leads in education spending.
Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Brussels | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Brussels | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) |
| Apr | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) |
| May | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) |
| Jun | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) |
| Jul | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) |
| Oct | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) |
| Nov | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) |
| Dec | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) |
Data:
Institut Royal Météorologique,
Korea Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium 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.
Belgium passport holder visiting South Korea
Visa Free
South Korea passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa FreeData: 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 Belgium?
Generally yes: South Korea runs about 26% cheaper than Belgium on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a €65,577 comparable salary, that's around ₩20,678,135 in South Korea for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from South Korea?
With 45.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, South Korea can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Belgium and South Korea.
Is South Korea safe for expats?
South Korea generally does better on safety, though Belgium leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium. About 64% of people in South Korea feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Belgium?
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 63.9 in Belgium. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).
What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Belgium?
The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.
