Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Karratha and Seoul

For one person, living is cheaper in Seoul: $1,804 a month against $2,473 in Karratha, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Karratha
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,473
/mo nomad
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,804
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Karratha 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 Karratha and in Seoul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,473 per month in Karratha vs $1,804 in Seoul, rent included.

  • Karratha $2,473
  • Seoul $1,804

A couple spends around $3,581 per month in Karratha vs $2,877 in Seoul, rent included.

  • Karratha $3,581
  • Seoul $2,877

A family of three spends $4,690 per month in Karratha vs $3,950 in Seoul, rent included.

  • Karratha $4,690
  • Seoul $3,950

Karratha costs about 37% more than Seoul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Karratha and Seoul sit above the global median – Karratha by 83%, Seoul by 33%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karratha
Seoul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 A$25.31
$9.10 ₩12.1K
93.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.6 A$119
$66.7 ₩88.6K
23.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.31 A$14.84
$7.49 ₩9,959
37.65%
Cappuccino
$3.88 A$5.59
$4.19 ₩5,569
-7.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 A$4.07
$1.55 ₩2,067
82.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 A$3.15
$0.79 ₩1,055
177.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.54 A$10.85
$3.64 ₩4,846
107.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.58 A$10.91
$6.14 ₩8,164
23.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karratha
Seoul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 A$2.19
$2.11 ₩2,811
-27.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 A$3.91
$3.05 ₩4,051
-10.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 A$3.25
$4.21 ₩5,599
-46.32%
Eggs
$4.83 A$6.94
$3.54 ₩4,709
36.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 A$13.56
$18.02 ₩24.0K
-47.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.43 A$13.56
$10.35 ₩13.8K
-8.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.89 A$21.42
$26.47 ₩35.2K
-43.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 A$5.72
$7.91 ₩10.5K
-49.81%
Banana (1kg)
$3.11 A$4.48
$3.44 ₩4,578
-9.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.29 A$4.74
$5.64 ₩7,493
-41.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.75 A$6.84
$6.41 ₩8,517
-25.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 A$4.04
$3.71 ₩4,938
-24.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 A$3.44
$2.52 ₩3,345
-5.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 A$3.35
$2.87 ₩3,816
-18.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 A$2.12
$1.16 ₩1,536
26.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$41.46 A$59.7
$3.37 ₩4,480
1130.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.65 A$19.64
$18.72 ₩24.9K
-27.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.76 A$6.84
$2.28 ₩3,036
108.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.35 A$7.70
$3.31 ₩4,397
61.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Karratha
Seoul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.89 A$4.16
$1.13 ₩1,497
155.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.2 A$118
$46.73 ₩62.1K
75.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.38 A$4.87
$3.52 ₩4,684
-3.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 A$2.27
$0.64 ₩849
146.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.46 A$56.8
$8.76 ₩11.7K
350.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 A$1.96
$1.45 ₩1,930
-6.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K A$38.8K
$29.7K ₩39.4M
-9.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K A$42.6K
$28.2K ₩37.5M
5.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karratha
Seoul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 A$290
$211 ₩280.4K
-4.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.87 A$40.10
$35.36 ₩47.0K
-21.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.4 A$79.7
$20.57 ₩27.4K
169.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karratha
Seoul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.7 A$81.6
$57.7 ₩76.7K
-1.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.66 A$25.42
$16.20 ₩21.5K
9.01%
Cinema Ticket
$14.78 A$21.27
$11.37 ₩15.1K
29.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karratha
Seoul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,176 A$3,131
$1,967 ₩2.6M
10.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.4K A$29.3K
$22.8K ₩30.3M
-10.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karratha
Seoul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6 A$112
$57.5 ₩76.4K
35.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.7 A$78.6
$33.08 ₩44.0K
65.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 A$155
$70.1 ₩93.2K
53.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 A$173
$84.3 ₩112.0K
42.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karratha
Seoul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 A$2,002
$878 ₩1.2M
58.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,176 A$1,692
$624 ₩829.7K
88.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,113 A$3,041
$2,513 ₩3.3M
-15.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,779 A$2,559
$1,287 ₩1.7M
38.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,861 A$8,434
$30.4K ₩40.4M
-80.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,940 A$7,109
$11.9K ₩15.8M
-58.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karratha
Seoul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,599 ₩4.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
4.08
43.14%

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

Last update for Karratha: October 17, 2026

Last update for Seoul: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Karratha
$1.2K
Seoul
$624 46.9% $552
Groceries & Markets
Karratha
$368
Seoul
$480 30.3% $111
Eating Out
Karratha
$291
Seoul
$185 36.3% $106
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karratha
$285
Seoul
$267 6.3% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Karratha
$162
Seoul
$110 32% $52
Getting Around
Karratha
$105
Seoul
$58 44.8% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Karratha
$86
Seoul
$80 6.7% $5.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,391 in Karratha versus $878 in Seoul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Karratha versus $67.0 in Seoul. Groceries tell a different story – $368 in Karratha vs $480 in Seoul – so Karratha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Karratha
🇰🇷 Seoul
🕒 Local time
05:08 5:08 AM
06:08 6:08 AM
1 h ahead of Karratha
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
17,013
9,509,458 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Karratha Seoul 6,570 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Karratha
  • 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
Karratha vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Karratha and in Seoul compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,473 in Karratha, $1,804 in Seoul – roughly 37% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Karratha compared to Seoul?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,710 per month in Karratha and $2,707 in Seoul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Karratha and Seoul?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Seoul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Karratha or Seoul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,473 in Karratha and $1,804 in Seoul. That's a gap of about 37%.
How do commuting costs compare in Karratha and in Seoul?
Public transport costs about 76% less in Seoul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Seoul, where all-in costs run around $1,804, than in Karratha at $2,473. In Seoul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Karratha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Karratha or Seoul?
Families tend to lean toward Seoul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Karratha or Seoul safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Karratha and Seoul?
If budget matters most, go with Seoul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karratha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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