Moving to Minnesota from South Korea
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Korea to Minnesota? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Korea to Minnesota, you would find that Minnesota is 73.1% more expensive than South Korea overall. A ₩111,594,750 salary in South Korea would need to be roughly $93,428 in Minnesota to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English.
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 South Korea and Minnesota.
What does your salary buy?
₩111,594,750 → $93,428
To maintain the same standard of living in Minnesota
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.2 times more
Groceries
pay 1.9% less
Transportation
pay 33.1% more
Housing
pay 2.4 times more
Childcare
pay 2.4 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 80.2% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Minnesota
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from South Korea to Minnesota.
people moved from South Korea to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
11.1,038,778
South Korea
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Minnesota compared to South Korea.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
South Korea performs better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
South Korea performs 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 better than Minnesota across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Seoul | Saint Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) | 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) | 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) | 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Seoul | Saint Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) | 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) |
| Feb | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) | 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) |
| Mar | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) | 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) |
| Apr | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) | 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) |
| May | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) | 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) |
| Jun | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Jul | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) | 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) |
| Aug | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) | 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) |
| Sep | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) | 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) |
| Oct | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) | 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) |
| Nov | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) | 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) |
| Dec | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) | 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) |
Data:
Korea Meteorological Administration,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Korea and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
South Korea passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States 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 Minnesota than South Korea?
On average Minnesota is around 25% pricier than South Korea, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Minnesota?
Budget about $23,357 for 3 months in Minnesota (based on a ₩111,594,750 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Minnesota?
From major Minnesota cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in South Korea and Minnesota are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Minnesota compared to South Korea?
South Korea performs better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Minnesota compared to South Korea?
The average high temperature in Saint Paul is 56°F, compared to 63°F in Seoul. Saint Paul receives around 28.5 in of rainfall per year, while Seoul gets 55.8 in.
What language do they speak in Minnesota?
The official language in Minnesota is English. In South Korea, the official language is Korean.
