Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jieyang and Seoul

For one person, living is cheaper in Jieyang: $676 a month against $1,794 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Jieyang
🇨🇳 China
$676
/mo nomad
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,794
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jieyang and in Seoul

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jieyang and in Seoul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $676 in Jieyang versus $1,794 in Seoul.

  • Jieyang $676
  • Seoul $1,794

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,075 in Jieyang versus $2,863 in Seoul.

  • Jieyang $1,075
  • Seoul $2,863

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,475 in Jieyang versus $3,931 in Seoul.

  • Jieyang $1,475
  • Seoul $3,931

Living in Jieyang costs roughly 62% less than in Seoul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Jieyang is 50% below, Seoul is 33% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jieyang
Seoul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14 ¥14.34
$8.80 ₩11.8K
-75.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.92 ¥86.4
$68.4 ₩91.6K
-81.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.85 ¥25.75
$7.54 ₩10.1K
-48.94%
Cappuccino
$2.43 ¥16.25
$4.23 ₩5,664
-42.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.10
$1.63 ₩2,182
-71.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ¥2.34
$0.74 ₩992
-52.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.94 ¥6.31
$3.64 ₩4,878
-74.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ¥12.11
$6.15 ₩8,233
-70.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jieyang
Seoul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 ¥10.12
$2.01 ₩2,698
-24.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 ¥15.91
$3.13 ₩4,194
-23.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ¥6.62
$4.32 ₩5,785
-77.08%
Eggs
$0.88 ¥5.90
$3.61 ₩4,828
-75.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.08 ¥80.8
$17.83 ₩23.9K
-32.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.45 ¥16.37
$10.45 ₩14.0K
-76.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.54 ¥77.2
$25.80 ₩34.6K
-55.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 ¥13.60
$7.66 ₩10.3K
-73.50%
Banana (1kg)
$0.67 ¥4.49
$3.38 ₩4,531
-80.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.44
$5.81 ₩7,778
-83.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ¥13.32
$6.41 ₩8,580
-68.95%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 ¥6.61
$3.75 ₩5,018
-73.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.11
$2.54 ₩3,400
-28.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 ¥2.88
$2.84 ₩3,809
-84.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.61
$1.11 ₩1,483
-51.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ¥19.71
$3.35 ₩4,487
-11.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.03 ¥73.8
$18.49 ₩24.8K
-40.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥5.34
$2.40 ₩3,208
-66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 ¥11.35
$3.37 ₩4,512
-49.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Jieyang
Seoul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.94
$1.14 ₩1,531
-74.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.09 ¥108
$46.11 ₩61.7K
-65.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 ¥5.79
$3.49 ₩4,677
-75.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.14 ¥0.96
$0.63 ₩846
-77.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.97 ¥46.59
$8.86 ₩11.9K
-21.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 ¥6.24
$1.51 ₩2,020
-38.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.7K ¥84.9K
$29.3K ₩39.2M
-56.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.3K ¥75.7K
$28.2K ₩37.8M
-59.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jieyang
Seoul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.06 ¥288
$218 ₩291.3K
-80.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.45 ¥56.5
$35.15 ₩47.1K
-75.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.23 ¥75.1
$21.29 ₩28.5K
-47.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jieyang
Seoul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ¥281
$58.1 ₩77.8K
-27.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.26 ¥95.4
$16.10 ₩21.6K
-11.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.05 ¥40.48
$11.31 ₩15.1K
-46.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jieyang
Seoul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 ¥3,353
$1,948 ₩2.6M
-74.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K ¥161.8K
$22.9K ₩30.6M
5.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jieyang
Seoul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.08 ¥141
$57.0 ₩76.4K
-63.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.05 ¥194
$33.39 ₩44.7K
-13.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.0 ¥401
$71.5 ₩95.7K
-16.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.2 ¥576
$82.5 ₩110.5K
4.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jieyang
Seoul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$300 ¥2,004
$901 ₩1.2M
-66.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 ¥1,205
$612 ₩819.3K
-70.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ¥4,141
$2,526 ₩3.4M
-75.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 ¥2,557
$1,266 ₩1.7M
-69.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,517 ¥23.5K
$29.4K ₩39.4M
-88.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,943 ¥13.0K
$11.9K ₩15.9M
-83.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jieyang
Seoul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,095 ¥7,326
$3,650 ₩4.9M
-69.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.46
4.08
-15.20%

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

Last update for Jieyang: October 11, 2026

Last update for Seoul: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Jieyang
$202
Seoul
$477 136% $275
Accommodation & Living
Jieyang
$180
Seoul
$612 240% $432
Clothing & Footwear
Jieyang
$88
Seoul
$110 24.5% $22
Eating Out
Jieyang
$69
Seoul
$184 165% $114
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jieyang
$63
Seoul
$274 337% $211
Sport & Entertainment
Jieyang
$54
Seoul
$81 48.9% $27
Getting Around
Jieyang
$19
Seoul
$57 205% $39

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $300 in Jieyang and $901 in Seoul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays 233% 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: $13.00 in Jieyang vs $68.0 in Seoul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $477 per month, with Jieyang cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Jieyang
🇰🇷 Seoul
🕒 Local time
16:52 4:52 PM
17:52 5:52 PM
1 h ahead of Jieyang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,877,025
9,509,458 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1,339 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 1,500 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Jieyang Seoul 1,860 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Jieyang
  • Seoul

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Jieyang vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jieyang or Seoul?
Jieyang wins on cost – living expenses run 166% lower than in Seoul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jieyang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Jieyang or in Seoul?
On paper, salaries run 233% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Jieyang compared to Seoul?
Rent for a central apartment: $300 in Jieyang versus $901 in Seoul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Jieyang compared to Seoul?
All in, you'll spend $676 per month in Jieyang versus $1,794 in Seoul – a 166% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Jieyang compared to Seoul?
A monthly transit pass in Jieyang runs roughly 187% less than in Seoul. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Jieyang or in Seoul?
At $676 in Jieyang versus $1,794 in Seoul, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jieyang but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Jieyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Jieyang or Seoul?
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.
How safe is Jieyang compared to Seoul?
Safety-wise, Jieyang 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Jieyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 166% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Jieyang vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?