Moving to South Korea from Thailand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Thailand to South Korea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Thailand to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 53.3% more expensive than Thailand overall. A THB2,500,000 salary in Thailand would need to be roughly ₩153,000,000 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°F vs 91°F in Bangkok, making it significantly cooler.
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 Thailand to South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
THB2,500,000 → ₩153,000,000
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 67.9% more
Groceries
pay 2.1 times more
Transportation
pay 5.1% more
Housing
pay 53.2% more
Childcare
pay 36.2% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 46.2% 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.
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 22% more than cities in Thailand.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Thailand to South Korea, based on official data.
Who's moving to South Korea?
Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.
- 803,011
- 177,274
-
3.159,264
Thailand
- 68,050
- 64,942
- 55,601
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Thailand to South Korea.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
South Korea generally does better on safety, though Thailand leads in feel safe walking at night.
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 Thailand leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Thailand generally does better on environment, though South Korea 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 Thailand 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
Thailand generally does better on employment & economy, though South Korea 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Korea performs significantly better than Thailand across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2011–2022), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2016–2019), The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand (2016), National Tax Service, South Korea (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bangkok | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bangkok | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) |
| Apr | 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) |
| May | 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) |
| Jul | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) |
| Sep | 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) |
| Oct | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) |
| Dec | 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) |
Data:
Thai Meteorological Department,
Korea Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Thailand 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.
Thailand passport holder visiting South Korea
Electronic Travel Authorisation
South Korea passport holder visiting Thailand
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 Thailand?
No — South Korea is on average about 53% more expensive than Thailand. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₩38,250,000 in South Korea on a THB2,500,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from South Korea?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Korea has 47.8 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 South Korea safe for expats?
South Korea generally does better on safety, though Thailand leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand. About 64% of people in South Korea feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Thailand?
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Thailand leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 5.4 in Thailand. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).
What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Thailand?
The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 91°F in Bangkok. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bangkok gets 59.0 in.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Thailand, the official language is Thai.
