Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeonggi and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeonggi and Seoul

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,081 in Gyeonggi versus $1,783 in Seoul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,058 in Gyeonggi versus $2,868 in Seoul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,035 in Gyeonggi versus $3,952 in Seoul.

Living in Gyeonggi costs roughly 39% less than in Seoul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Gyeonggi is 22% below, Seoul is 29% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 ₩9,854

$9.84 ₩13.2K

-25.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 ₩79.6K

$69.1 ₩92.6K

-14.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.25 ₩8,386

$7.57 ₩10.2K

-17.44%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,197

$4.04 ₩5,419

-3.96%

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

$1.16 ₩1,561

$1.60 ₩2,151

-27.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₩888

$0.78 ₩1,052

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.30 ₩4,421

$3.75 ₩5,026

-12.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₩4,023

$6.11 ₩8,190

-50.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₩2,447

$2.15 ₩2,880

-15.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,176

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 ₩5,635

Eggs

$3.41 ₩4,568

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 ₩23.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 ₩13.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.26 ₩33.9K

Apples (1kg)

$10.97 ₩14.7K

$7.80 ₩10.5K

40.64%

Banana (1kg)

$3.70 ₩4,961

$3.34 ₩4,477

10.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.59 ₩10.2K

$5.81 ₩7,792

30.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 ₩8,309

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₩4,784

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 ₩3,348

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 ₩3,745

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₩1,499

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,373

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 ₩24.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₩3,219

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₩4,217

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,506

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.94 ₩61.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 ₩4,290

$3.64 ₩4,885

-12.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₩824

$0.63 ₩843

-3.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₩12.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₩1,882

$1.51 ₩2,023

-7.28%

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

$29.8K ₩40.0M

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

$28.0K ₩37.6M

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

$185 ₩247.9K

$201 ₩268.9K

-7.79%

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

$40.64 ₩54.5K

$34.79 ₩46.7K

16.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.33 ₩28.6K

$19.70 ₩26.4K

8.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₩73.4K

$56.9 ₩76.4K

-3.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.20 ₩21.7K

Cinema Ticket

$10.15 ₩13.6K

$11.04 ₩14.8K

-8.06%

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

$1,915 ₩2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K ₩30.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₩78.8K

$56.7 ₩76.1K

3.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.38 ₩55.5K

$32.56 ₩43.7K

27.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 ₩116.2K

$69.3 ₩92.9K

25.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 ₩108.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 ₩707.1K

$891 ₩1.2M

-40.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 ₩492.0K

$616 ₩825.9K

-40.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,116 ₩2.8M

$2,555 ₩3.4M

-17.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 ₩2.0M

$1,260 ₩1.7M

21.26%

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)

$2,201 ₩3.0M

$3,457 ₩4.6M

-36.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

4.08

-14.22%

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

Last update for Gyeonggi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Seoul: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $527 in Gyeonggi and $891 in Seoul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays 57% 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: $59.0 in Gyeonggi vs $69.0 in Seoul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $126 vs $469 per month, with Gyeonggi cheaper across the board.

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

Gyeonggi vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gyeonggi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 57% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $527 in Gyeonggi versus $891 in Seoul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 273% higher in Seoul. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Gyeonggi – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $69.0 in Seoul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,081 in Gyeonggi versus $1,783 in Seoul, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gyeonggi but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Gyeonggi 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, Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.