Moving to South Korea from Vermont

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Vermont to South Korea? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Vermont to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 26.4% cheaper than Vermont. A $75,000 salary in Vermont would need to be roughly ₩85,817,626 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 Vermont and South Korea.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 ₩85,817,626

To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 53.5% less

Groceries

pay 14.7% more

Transportation

pay 11.5% less

Housing

pay 54.4% less

Childcare

pay 56.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 40.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1528.01 KRW (June 2026)

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 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 Vermont to South Korea.

Moved in 2023
23,710 ↑ 10% vs 2022

people moved from United States to South Korea · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to South Korea?

Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in South Korea compared to Vermont.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

VT
27.2%
KR
4.7%

South Korea performs significantly better than Vermont across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

VT
88.4%
KR
98.0%

South Korea performs significantly better than Vermont across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

VT
2.6%
KR
2.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

VT
$56,462
KR
$50,600

Vermont performs better than South Korea across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

VT
78.8 yrs
KR
83.0 yrs

South Korea performs significantly better than Vermont across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Montpelier Rain: 42.4 in/yr (1078 mm)
56° / 32°F

Avg. annual high / low

Seoul Rain: 55.8 in/yr (1418 mm)
63° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Montpelier Seoul
Jan–Mar 34°/8°F (1°/-13°C) 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/42°F (20°/5°C) 73°/56°F (23°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) 83°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/25°F (8°/-4°C) 54°/38°F (12°/4°C)
View all months
Month Montpelier Seoul
Jan 28°/3°F (-2.2°/-15.9°C) 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C)
Feb 33°/6°F (0.3°/-14.5°C) 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C)
Mar 42°/16°F (5.4°/-8.9°C) 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C)
Apr 55°/30°F (12.8°/-1.1°C) 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C)
May 69°/42°F (20.3°/5.5°C) 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C)
Jun 78°/53°F (25.5°/11.7°C) 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C)
Jul 83°/58°F (28.4°/14.2°C) 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C)
Aug 81°/55°F (27.4°/13.0°C) 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C)
Sep 73°/47°F (22.8°/8.2°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C)
Oct 59°/35°F (15.1°/1.4°C) 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C)
Nov 46°/26°F (7.6°/-3.4°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C)
Dec 32°/13°F (0.2°/-10.8°C) 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Korea Meteorological Administration Korea Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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 States passport

United States passport holder visiting South Korea

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter South Korea without a visa.
South Korea passport

South Korea passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
South Korea passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: 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 Vermont?

On average South Korea is about 25% less expensive than Vermont, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to South Korea?

Budget about ₩21,454,406 for 3 months in South Korea (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and 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 Vermont and South Korea are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Vermont?

South Korea performs significantly better than Vermont across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Vermont?

The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 56°F in Montpelier. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Montpelier gets 42.4 in.

What language do they speak in South Korea?

The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Vermont, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

KR
Population 625,741 51,844,834
Currency United States Dollar ($) South Korean Won (₩)
Languages English Korean
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +82
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112