Moving to South Korea from Taiwan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Taiwan to South Korea? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Taiwan to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 17.5% more expensive than Taiwan overall. A NT$2,357,010 salary in Taiwan would need to be roughly ₩117,630,012 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Taiwan and South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
NT$2,357,010 → ₩117,630,012
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 29.8% more
Groceries
pay 30.3% more
Transportation
pay 4.9% more
Housing
pay 43.9% more
Childcare
pay 18.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 16.2% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Taiwan to South Korea.
people moved from Taiwan 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
The numbers behind daily life in South Korea compared to Taiwan.
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
South Korea performs significantly better than Taiwan across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Korea generally does better on family life, though Taiwan leads in literacy rate.
Data: Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, R.O.C., The World Factbook
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Taiwan 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.
Taiwan passport holder visiting South Korea
Visa Free
South Korea passport holder visiting Taiwan
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 Taiwan?
On average South Korea is around 4% pricier than Taiwan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
Budget about ₩29,407,503 for 3 months in South Korea (based on a NT$2,357,010 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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 Taiwan and South Korea are what actually decide it long-term.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Taiwan, the official language is Chinese.
