Cost of Living Comparison Between Iksan and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Iksan and Seoul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,371 per month in Iksan vs $1,742 in Seoul, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,179 per month in Iksan vs $2,892 in Seoul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,986 per month in Iksan vs $4,043 in Seoul, rent included.

Iksan is about 21% cheaper than Seoul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Iksan and Seoul sit above the global median – Iksan by 2%, Seoul by 30%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.08 ₩10.7K

$8.59 ₩13.0K

-17.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.23 ₩56.4K

$54.3 ₩82.2K

-31.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ₩8,370

$6.30 ₩9,550

-12.38%

Cappuccino

$3.82 ₩5,789

$3.88 ₩5,886

-1.55%

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

$1.53 ₩2,322

$1.72 ₩2,613

-11.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₩1,213

$0.86 ₩1,296

-6.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 ₩5,053

$3.60 ₩5,448

-7.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 ₩7,325

$5.94 ₩8,998

-18.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 ₩3,274

$2.22 ₩3,371

-2.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₩4,736

$3.45 ₩5,228

-9.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 ₩4,548

$3.13 ₩4,749

-4.15%

Eggs

$3.00 ₩4,552

$3.19 ₩4,830

-5.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 ₩16.1K

$14.21 ₩21.5K

-25.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.30 ₩12.6K

$10.99 ₩16.6K

-24.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.76 ₩42.1K

$34.74 ₩52.6K

-20.09%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 ₩11.7K

$7.97 ₩12.1K

-3.14%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 ₩4,792

$3.46 ₩5,247

-8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.50 ₩8,341

$5.43 ₩8,229

1.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.16 ₩7,822

$6.69 ₩10.1K

-22.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.97 ₩6,014

$3.80 ₩5,763

4.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ₩4,386

$2.95 ₩4,465

-2.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 ₩3,237

$2.63 ₩3,978

-18.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,746

$1.27 ₩1,924

-9.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩5,092

$3.23 ₩4,893

4.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.21 ₩24.6K

$19.49 ₩29.5K

-16.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,858

$2.42 ₩3,668

-21.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 ₩5,125

$3.25 ₩4,921

4.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,625

$1.12 ₩1,691

-4.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 ₩72.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 ₩5,476

$3.56 ₩5,396

1.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩862

$0.54 ₩818

5.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.58 ₩13.0K

$8.72 ₩13.2K

-1.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,857

$1.25 ₩1,889

-1.60%

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

$28.2K ₩42.8M

$28.3K ₩42.8M

-0.11%

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

$24.7K ₩37.5M

$25.3K ₩38.4M

-2.37%

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

$160 ₩243.0K

$161 ₩243.4K

-0.15%

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

$34.39 ₩52.1K

$34.38 ₩52.1K

0.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 ₩34.3K

$22.41 ₩34.0K

0.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.37 ₩73.3K

$57.0 ₩86.4K

-15.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 ₩35.2K

Cinema Ticket

$10.87 ₩16.5K

$11.19 ₩17.0K

-2.86%

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

$417 ₩632.5K

$412 ₩624.5K

1.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K ₩34.9M

$23.7K ₩35.8M

-2.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 ₩91.1K

$58.7 ₩88.9K

2.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.88 ₩71.0K

$46.80 ₩70.9K

0.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 ₩122.0K

$78.3 ₩118.6K

2.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩179.0K

$114 ₩173.0K

3.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 ₩691.8K

$957 ₩1.4M

-52.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 ₩567.5K

$604 ₩914.5K

-37.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 ₩1.6M

$2,580 ₩3.9M

-57.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 ₩1.1M

$1,308 ₩2.0M

-42.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K ₩16.4M

$18.2K ₩27.5M

-40.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,587 ₩8.5M

$9,223 ₩14.0M

-39.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,512 ₩2.3M

$3,095 ₩4.7M

-51.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

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

Last update for Iksan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Seoul: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $457 in Iksan versus $957 in Seoul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 105% higher in Seoul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Iksan versus $54.0 in Seoul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $428 vs $500 – making Iksan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Iksan vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 27% more than Iksan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,057 per month in Iksan and $2,613 in Seoul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iksan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Iksan and $54.0 in Seoul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Seoul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Iksan, where all-in costs run around $1,371, than in Seoul at $1,742. In Iksan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Iksan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Iksan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seoul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.