Moving to Australia from South Korea
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Korea to Australia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Korea to Australia, you would find that Australia is 87.1% more expensive than South Korea overall. A ₩112,436,250 salary in South Korea would need to be roughly A$141,245 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from South Korea to Australia.
What does your salary buy?
₩112,436,250 → A$141,245
To maintain the same standard of living in Australia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.2 times more
Groceries
pay 17.2% less
Transportation
pay 50.8% more
Housing
pay 2.2 times more
Childcare
pay 2.4 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.9 times more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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 Australia cost about 33% more than cities in South Korea.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from South Korea to Australia, based on official data.
people moved from South Korea to Australia · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to Australia?
Top countries of origin for Australia's foreign-born residents.
- 1,285,149
- 653,232
- 611,266
- 579,264
- 286,303
- 269,812
- · · ·
-
12.123,396
South Korea
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Korea to Australia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
South Korea generally does better on safety, though Australia 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 Australia 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
South Korea generally does better on environment, though Australia leads in air pollution deaths.
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 Australia 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
South Korea generally does better on employment & economy, though Australia leads in gdp per capita.
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
Australia generally does better on family life, though South Korea leads in infant mortality.
Data: National Tax Service, South Korea, 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 | Seoul | Canberra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) | 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) | 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) | 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Seoul | Canberra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) | 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) |
| Feb | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) | 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) | 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) |
| Apr | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) | 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) |
| May | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) | 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) |
| Jun | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) | 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) |
| Jul | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) | 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) |
| Aug | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) | 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) |
| Sep | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) | 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) |
| Oct | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) | 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) |
| Nov | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) | 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) |
| Dec | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) | 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) |
Data:
Korea Meteorological Administration,
Bureau of Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Korea and Australia. To live, work, or study long-term in Australia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Australia's immigration authority.
South Korea passport holder visiting Australia
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Australia passport holder visiting South Korea
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 Australia than South Korea?
No — Australia is on average about 31% more expensive than South Korea. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Australia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly A$35,311 in Australia on a ₩112,436,250 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Australia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Australia has 35.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Australia safe for expats?
South Korea generally does better on safety, though Australia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Australia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in South Korea.
How is healthcare in Australia compared to South Korea?
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 39.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Australia, compared to 25.2 in South Korea. Australia scores 87 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Korea: 89).
What's the weather like in Australia compared to South Korea?
The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 63°F in Seoul. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Seoul gets 55.8 in.
What language do they speak in Australia?
The official language in Australia is English. In South Korea, the official language is Korean.
