Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Seoul

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,175 in Changwon versus $1,783 in Seoul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,792 in Changwon versus $2,868 in Seoul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,409 in Changwon versus $3,952 in Seoul.

Living in Changwon costs roughly 34% less than in Seoul, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Changwon is 15% below, Seoul is 29% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 ₩9,808

$9.84 ₩13.2K

-25.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.35 ₩36.7K

$69.1 ₩92.6K

-60.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 ₩7,169

$7.57 ₩10.2K

-29.33%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ₩4,831

$4.04 ₩5,419

-10.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₩2,423

$1.60 ₩2,151

13.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₩1,256

$0.78 ₩1,052

20.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₩3,902

$3.75 ₩5,026

-22.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ₩5,847

$6.11 ₩8,190

-28.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₩3,091

$2.15 ₩2,880

7.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₩4,191

$3.11 ₩4,176

0.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 ₩4,228

$4.20 ₩5,635

-25.00%

Eggs

$2.60 ₩3,489

$3.41 ₩4,568

-23.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 ₩14.8K

$17.49 ₩23.5K

-36.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₩14.1K

$9.84 ₩13.2K

6.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.67 ₩33.1K

$25.26 ₩33.9K

-2.34%

Apples (1kg)

$11.29 ₩15.1K

$7.80 ₩10.5K

44.74%

Banana (1kg)

$3.67 ₩4,926

$3.34 ₩4,477

9.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.83 ₩10.5K

$5.81 ₩7,792

34.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,897

$6.20 ₩8,309

-5.00%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,898

$3.57 ₩4,784

64.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 ₩4,390

$2.50 ₩3,348

30.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 ₩3,818

$2.79 ₩3,745

2.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,788

$1.12 ₩1,499

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₩4,560

$3.26 ₩4,373

4.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.84 ₩25.3K

$18.26 ₩24.5K

3.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₩3,141

$2.40 ₩3,219

-2.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 ₩4,688

$3.14 ₩4,217

11.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,506

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.94 ₩61.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 ₩3,920

$3.64 ₩4,885

-19.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₩1,023

$0.63 ₩843

20.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.94 ₩22.7K

$8.96 ₩12.0K

89.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,771

$1.51 ₩2,023

-12.58%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$29.8K ₩40.0M

-1.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.5K ₩44.9M

$28.0K ₩37.6M

19.64%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$198 ₩265.3K

$201 ₩268.9K

-1.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.58 ₩47.7K

$34.79 ₩46.7K

2.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.96 ₩36.2K

$19.70 ₩26.4K

36.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ₩70.3K

$56.9 ₩76.4K

-7.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.20 ₩21.7K

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 ₩14.8K

$11.04 ₩14.8K

-0.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$630 ₩844.5K

$1,915 ₩2.6M

-67.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$22.7K ₩30.5M

-3.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩141.6K

$56.7 ₩76.1K

86.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.4 ₩87.7K

$32.56 ₩43.7K

100.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 ₩124.7K

$69.3 ₩92.9K

34.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 ₩168.9K

$80.9 ₩108.5K

55.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 ₩825.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,555 ₩3.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 ₩1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.4K ₩38.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K ₩15.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,661 ₩2.2M

$3,457 ₩4.6M

-51.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.08

3.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Changwon: September 6, 2026

Last update for Seoul: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Seoul pays 108% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $27.00 in Changwon vs $69.0 in Seoul. Groceries flip the comparison at $484 vs $469, with Seoul cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Changwon vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changwon and Seoul differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($1,175 vs $1,783 including rent). Changwon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 108% lower in Seoul. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Seoul pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,175 per month in Changwon versus $1,783 in Seoul – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,175 in Changwon versus $1,783 in Seoul, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Changwon but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Changwon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Changwon and Seoul are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Changwon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.