Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilsan and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilsan and Seoul

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,515 in Ilsan versus $1,742 in Seoul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,438 in Ilsan versus $2,892 in Seoul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Ilsan versus $4,043 in Seoul.

Living in Ilsan costs roughly 13% less than in Seoul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ilsan 13% above, Seoul 30% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.44 ₩11.3K

$8.59 ₩13.0K

-13.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.8 ₩84.5K

$54.3 ₩82.2K

2.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 ₩9,731

$6.30 ₩9,550

1.90%

Cappuccino

$3.82 ₩5,785

$3.88 ₩5,886

-1.55%

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

$1.68 ₩2,544

$1.72 ₩2,613

-2.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₩1,149

$0.86 ₩1,296

-11.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 ₩5,668

$3.60 ₩5,448

3.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 ₩8,873

$5.94 ₩8,998

-1.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₩3,244

$2.22 ₩3,371

-3.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 ₩5,015

$3.45 ₩5,228

-4.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 ₩4,724

$3.13 ₩4,749

-0.32%

Eggs

$3.21 ₩4,870

$3.19 ₩4,830

0.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 ₩22.0K

$14.21 ₩21.5K

2.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.00 ₩16.7K

$10.99 ₩16.6K

0.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.89 ₩51.4K

$34.74 ₩52.6K

-2.45%

Apples (1kg)

$7.76 ₩11.8K

$7.97 ₩12.1K

-2.63%

Banana (1kg)

$3.57 ₩5,405

$3.46 ₩5,247

3.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.49 ₩8,311

$5.43 ₩8,229

1.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.43 ₩9,741

$6.69 ₩10.1K

-3.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.97 ₩6,013

$3.80 ₩5,763

4.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₩4,329

$2.95 ₩4,465

-3.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 ₩3,923

$2.63 ₩3,978

-1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,815

$1.27 ₩1,924

-5.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₩4,950

$3.23 ₩4,893

1.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.48 ₩25.0K

$19.49 ₩29.5K

-15.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₩3,594

$2.42 ₩3,668

-2.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 ₩5,031

$3.25 ₩4,921

2.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,624

$1.12 ₩1,691

-4.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.43 ₩73.4K

$47.88 ₩72.6K

1.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₩3,710

$3.56 ₩5,396

-31.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₩814

$0.54 ₩818

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.07 ₩13.7K

$8.72 ₩13.2K

4.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₩1,713

$1.25 ₩1,889

-9.60%

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

$28.1K ₩42.5M

$28.3K ₩42.8M

-0.71%

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

$24.7K ₩37.4M

$25.3K ₩38.4M

-2.51%

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

$162 ₩246.1K

$161 ₩243.4K

1.13%

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

$34.91 ₩52.9K

$34.38 ₩52.1K

1.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.01 ₩33.3K

$22.41 ₩34.0K

-1.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.11 ₩72.9K

$57.0 ₩86.4K

-15.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 ₩35.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩17.0K

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

$409 ₩620.4K

$412 ₩624.5K

-0.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K ₩35.1M

$23.7K ₩35.8M

-2.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ₩88.8K

$58.7 ₩88.9K

-0.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.37 ₩71.8K

$46.80 ₩70.9K

1.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 ₩121.0K

$78.3 ₩118.6K

2.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ₩173.7K

$114 ₩173.0K

0.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 ₩681.5K

$957 ₩1.4M

-52.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 ₩571.8K

$604 ₩914.5K

-37.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 ₩1.6M

$2,580 ₩3.9M

-59.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$764 ₩1.2M

$1,308 ₩2.0M

-41.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,975 ₩15.1M

$18.2K ₩27.5M

-45.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,957 ₩7.5M

$9,223 ₩14.0M

-46.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,121 ₩4.7M

$3,095 ₩4.7M

0.87%

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 Ilsan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Seoul: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $450 in Ilsan and $957 in Seoul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilsan pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $56.0 in Ilsan vs $54.0 in Seoul. Groceries flip the comparison at $488 vs $500, with Ilsan 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

Ilsan vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ilsan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ilsan pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $450 in Ilsan versus $957 in Seoul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,515 per month in Ilsan versus $1,742 in Seoul – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ilsan runs roughly 1% less than in Seoul. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,515 in Ilsan versus $1,742 in Seoul, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ilsan but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Ilsan 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, Ilsan 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 Ilsan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.