Cost of Living Comparison Between China and South Korea Cost of Living Comparison Between China and South Korea

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 49.5% cheaper than South Korea without rent, and 48.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 48.5% cheaper than South Korea without rent, and 48.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
South Korea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$7.51 ₩10.2K
-62.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$43.23 ₩58.7K
-44.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$6.04 ₩8,190
-17.88%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$3.72 ₩5,041
-15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$1.56 ₩2,117
-71.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.76 ₩1,037
-61.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$3.75 ₩5,081
-74.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$4.79 ₩6,501
-55.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
South Korea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$2.24 ₩3,033
-17.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$3.16 ₩4,289
-46.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$3.09 ₩4,187
-69.26%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$2.97 ₩4,028
-47.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$13.76 ₩18.7K
-3.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$9.54 ₩12.9K
-65.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$29.97 ₩40.7K
-63.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$7.99 ₩10.8K
-77.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$3.44 ₩4,669
-63.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$6 ₩8,136
-75.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$6.09 ₩8,263
-80.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$3.68 ₩4,995
-79.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$2.84 ₩3,853
-69.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$2.49 ₩3,382
-75.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$1.17 ₩1,586
-50.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$3.23 ₩4,381
6.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$17.37 ₩23.6K
-34.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$2.14 ₩2,898
-60.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$2.86 ₩3,878
-41.26%
🚌 Getting Around
China
South Korea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$1.07 ₩1,451
-62.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$46.12 ₩62.6K
-54.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$3.34 ₩4,536
-59.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$0.56 ₩766
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$9 ₩12.2K
-24.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$1.23 ₩1,669
-8.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$28.1K ₩38.1M
-31.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$24.5K ₩33.3M
-31.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
South Korea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$168 ₩227.3K
-69.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$41.25 ₩56K
-76.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$21.59 ₩29.3K
-47.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
South Korea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$52.6 ₩71.4K
-24.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$19.79 ₩26.8K
-24.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$11.06 ₩15K
-43.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
South Korea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$385 ₩522.8K
8.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$22.9K ₩31.1M
-22.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
South Korea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$58.4 ₩79.2K
-21.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$48.81 ₩66.2K
-31.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$80.4 ₩109K
-10.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$106 ₩144K
-31.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
South Korea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$625 ₩848K
-28.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$409 ₩555.6K
-37.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$1,571 ₩2.1M
-41.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$966 ₩1.3M
-43.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$13.2K ₩17.9M
-53.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$7,999 ₩10.9M
-64.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
South Korea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$2,295 ₩3.1M
-58.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
4.2
-3.33%

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

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for South Korea: October 28, 2025

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