Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Seoul

😐 Solo nomad: Des Moines, IA is 3.4% more expensive than Seoul without rent, and 17.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 0.5% more expensive than Seoul without rent, and 2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 $15.97

$9 ₩13.2K

77.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.6 $78.6

$54.4 ₩80.1K

44.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$6.18 ₩9,088

91.91%

Cappuccino

$4.79 $4.79

$3.95 ₩5,812

21.27%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$1.67 ₩2,462

41.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.81 ₩1,188

139.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.1 $5.1

$3.63 ₩5,337

40.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 $6.89

$6.04 ₩8,881

14.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$2.26 ₩3,321

-59.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.44 ₩5,059

-25.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.13 ₩4,608

-29.07%

Eggs

$3.51 $3.51

$3.21 ₩4,718

9.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.55 $12.55

$14.12 ₩20.8K

-11.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.49 $10.49

$10.92 ₩16.1K

-3.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.1 $13.1

$34.36 ₩50.6K

-61.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$7.92 ₩11.7K

-44.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.5 $1.5

$3.59 ₩5,279

-58.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$5.51 ₩8,101

-33.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$6.69 ₩9,847

-47.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$4 ₩5,880

-58.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.97 ₩4,367

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.59 ₩3,807

-13.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.31 ₩1,929

-13.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.07 $7.07

$3.26 ₩4,791

116.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 $13.81

$19.99 ₩29.4K

-30.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.47 ₩3,632

-28.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 $4.02

$3.22 ₩4,738

24.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.12 ₩1,646

52.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.3 $58.3

$46.65 ₩68.6K

24.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.49 ₩5,137

-41.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.57 ₩844

121.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.95 $19.95

$8.84 ₩13K

125.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.23 ₩1,815

-38.21%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.3K ₩40.1M

-5.61%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$25.1K ₩37M

-1.00%

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

$142 $142

$163 ₩239.3K

-12.43%

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

$52.1 $52.1

$35.23 ₩51.8K

47.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 $54.5

$22.59 ₩33.2K

141.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.5 $65.5

$57.7 ₩84.9K

13.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.02 $20.02

$23.49 ₩34.6K

-14.77%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$10.92 ₩16.1K

34.98%

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

$1,364 $1,364

$407 ₩598.8K

235.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12K $12K

$23.5K ₩34.5M

-48.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$58.8 ₩86.5K

-10.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.5 $41.5

$47.15 ₩69.4K

-11.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 $71.5

$79.5 ₩116.9K

-9.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$118 ₩172.9K

5.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,219 $1,219

$941 ₩1.4M

29.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$906 $906

$597 ₩877.9K

51.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,730 $1,730

$2,598 ₩3.8M

-33.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,467 $1,467

$1,338 ₩2M

9.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,294 $2,294

$21.9K ₩32.3M

-89.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,275 $2,275

$11.7K ₩17.2M

-80.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,582 $3,582

$3,211 ₩4.7M

11.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

4.14

57.00%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: December 1, 2025

Last update for Seoul: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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