Moving to South Korea from Minnesota
What to Expect
Considering a move from Minnesota to South Korea? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Minnesota to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 25.5% cheaper than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota would need to be roughly ₩89,583,802 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Minnesota and South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ₩89,583,802
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 53.5% less
Groceries
pay 17.5% more
Transportation
pay 14.7% less
Housing
pay 49.6% less
Childcare
pay 51.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 36.1% 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?
What the data shows about people moving from Minnesota to South Korea.
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.
- 803,011
- 177,274
- 159,264
-
4.68,050
United States
- 64,942
- 55,601
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Korea compared to Minnesota.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
South Korea performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
South Korea performs significantly better than Minnesota across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Minnesota generally does better on employment & economy, though South Korea leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
South Korea performs significantly better than Minnesota across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Saint Paul | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Saint Paul | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) |
| Apr | 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) |
| May | 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) |
| Jun | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) |
| Jul | 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) |
| Sep | 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) |
| Oct | 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) |
| Nov | 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) |
| Dec | 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Korea Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 holder visiting South Korea
Visa Free
South Korea passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Minnesota?
On average South Korea is about 20% less expensive than Minnesota, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
Budget about ₩22,395,950 for 3 months in South Korea (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from South Korea?
From major South Korea cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Minnesota and South Korea are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Minnesota?
South Korea performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Minnesota?
The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 56°F in Saint Paul. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Saint Paul gets 28.5 in.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Minnesota, the official language is English.
