Moving to South Korea from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Considering a move from United Kingdom to South Korea? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United Kingdom to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 25.4% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,766 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly ₩79,357,259 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.
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 United Kingdom and South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
£55,766 → ₩79,357,259
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 49.6% less
Groceries
pay 65.0% more
Transportation
pay 45.2% less
Housing
pay 55.2% less
Childcare
pay 48.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 36.3% 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.
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 28% less than cities in United Kingdom.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to South Korea
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 United Kingdom to South Korea.
people moved from United Kingdom 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
- · · ·
-
18.5,848
United Kingdom
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Korea compared to United Kingdom.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though South Korea leads in homicide rate.
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 United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom performs better than South Korea across all environment metrics.
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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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
South Korea generally does better on family life, though United Kingdom leads in education spending.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, 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 | London | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) |
Met Office
Korea Meteorological AdministrationVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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 Kingdom passport holder visiting South Korea
Visa Free
South Korea passport holder visiting United Kingdom
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 United Kingdom?
On average South Korea is about 29% less expensive than United Kingdom, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
Budget about ₩19,839,315 for 3 months in South Korea (based on a £55,766 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from South Korea?
Connectivity is usually fine (South Korea: 45.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Korea offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is South Korea safe for expats?
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though South Korea leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in South Korea compared to United Kingdom?
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in South Korea compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 60°F in London. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
