Moving to South Korea from Louisiana

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Louisiana to South Korea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Louisiana to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 26.2% cheaper than Louisiana. A $75,000 salary in Louisiana would need to be roughly ₩73,800,000 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°F vs 77°F in New Orleans, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is South Korea cheaper than Louisiana?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 54.1% less

Groceries

pay 27.0% more

Transportation

pay 1.0% less

Housing

pay 51.7% less

Childcare

pay 17.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 18.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1333.42 KRW (November 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.

What salary do you need in South Korea?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → ₩73,800,000

To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in South Korea cost about 25% less than cities in Louisiana.

Louisiana

Lafayette 63%

South Korea

Seoul ★ 50%
Daejeon 45%
Incheon 44%
Suwon 43%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Louisiana to South Korea, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
23,710 ↑ 10% vs 2022

people moved from United States 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Louisiana to South Korea.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

LA
40.6%
KR
8.4%

South Korea performs significantly better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

LA
84.9%
KR
97.9%

South Korea performs significantly better than Louisiana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

LA
3.9%
KR
2.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

LA
$55,662
KR
$36,227

South Korea generally does better on employment & economy, though Louisiana leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

LA
73.1 yrs
KR
83.6 yrs

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

Weather in South Korea vs Louisiana

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

New Orleans Rain: 56.8 in/yr (1442 mm)
77° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months New Orleans Seoul
Jan–Mar 65°/51°F (18°/10°C) 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/70°F (29°/21°C) 73°/56°F (23°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/77°F (32°/25°C) 83°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/57°F (21°/14°C) 54°/38°F (12°/4°C)
View all months
Month New Orleans Seoul
Jan 60°/46°F (15.6°/8.0°C) 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C)
Feb 64°/50°F (17.9°/9.9°C) 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C)
Mar 71°/56°F (21.4°/13.3°C) 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C)
Apr 77°/63°F (25.2°/17.1°C) 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C)
May 85°/71°F (29.2°/21.5°C) 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C)
Jun 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.4°C) 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C)
Jul 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.5°C) 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C)
Aug 91°/78°F (32.7°/25.7°C) 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C)
Sep 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.7°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C)
Oct 79°/66°F (25.9°/18.9°C) 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C)
Nov 71°/57°F (21.5°/13.7°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C)
Dec 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.3°C) 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Korea Meteorological Administration Korea Meteorological Administration

Can you move from Louisiana to South Korea?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting South Korea

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter South Korea without a visa.
South Korea passport

South Korea passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
South Korea passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

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 Louisiana?

Yes — South Korea is on average about 26% cheaper than Louisiana. City-level variation can be significant.

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

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₩18,450,000 in South Korea on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from South Korea?

Usually fine from major cities in South Korea. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Louisiana?

South Korea performs significantly better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 77°F in New Orleans. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while New Orleans gets 56.8 in.

What language do they speak in South Korea?

The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Louisiana, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

KR
Population 4,618,189 51,684,564
Currency United States Dollar ($) South Korean Won (₩)
Languages English Korean
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +82
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112