Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Seongnam Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Seongnam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Pangyo vs $1,649 in Seongnam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,272 per month in Pangyo vs $2,441 in Seongnam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,071 per month in Pangyo vs $3,232 in Seongnam, rent included.

Pangyo is about 11% cheaper than Seongnam, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Pangyo and Seongnam sit above the global median – Pangyo by 10%, Seongnam by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pangyo
Seongnam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.18 ₩10.9K
$5.81 ₩8,803
23.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.12 ₩54.7K
$41.97 ₩63.6K
-13.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ₩8,463
$4.30 ₩6,514
30.00%
Cappuccino
$3.95 ₩5,987
$3.83 ₩5,805
3.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₩2,301
$1.57 ₩2,381
-3.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₩1,264
$0.85 ₩1,291
-2.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.29 ₩4,987
$2.53 ₩3,841
30.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 ₩7,675
$3.77 ₩5,709
34.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pangyo
Seongnam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ₩3,256
$2.14 ₩3,236
0.47%
White Bread (500g)
$3.09 ₩4,676
$2.10 ₩3,179
47.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.10 ₩4,703
$3.14 ₩4,761
-1.27%
Eggs
$3.01 ₩4,564
$3.09 ₩4,676
-2.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 ₩16.1K
$9.41 ₩14.3K
12.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 ₩12.1K
$7.60 ₩11.5K
5.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.61 ₩41.8K
$33.71 ₩51.1K
-18.10%
Apples (1kg)
$8.00 ₩12.1K
$7.89 ₩12.0K
1.39%
Banana (1kg)
$3.24 ₩4,903
$3.51 ₩5,316
-7.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.46 ₩8,271
$5.63 ₩8,526
-3.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.15 ₩7,805
$6.46 ₩9,784
-20.28%
Potato (1kg)
$3.96 ₩6,006
$3.40 ₩5,155
16.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 ₩4,509
$2.94 ₩4,448
1.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 ₩3,239
$2.63 ₩3,990
-18.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₩1,744
$1.03 ₩1,558
11.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22 ₩4,876
$3.37 ₩5,110
-4.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.41 ₩24.9K
$16.79 ₩25.4K
-2.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 ₩2,866
$1.82 ₩2,758
3.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 ₩5,042
$1.81 ₩2,740
83.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Pangyo
Seongnam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₩1,694
$1.04 ₩1,578
7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.67 ₩72.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.61 ₩5,466
$3.46 ₩5,236
4.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ₩802
$0.54 ₩811
-1.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.73 ₩13.2K
$8.79 ₩13.3K
-0.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ₩1,780
$1.24 ₩1,875
-4.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ₩41.5M
$27.8K ₩42.1M
-1.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K ₩37.6M
$24.7K ₩37.4M
0.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pangyo
Seongnam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 ₩245.9K
$162 ₩244.8K
0.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.40 ₩53.6K
$34.98 ₩53.0K
1.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.84 ₩33.1K
$21.83 ₩33.1K
0.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pangyo
Seongnam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.97 ₩71.2K
$47.85 ₩72.5K
-1.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.70 ₩51.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.97 ₩16.6K
$11.19 ₩17.0K
-1.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pangyo
Seongnam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$419 ₩634.3K
$411 ₩622.7K
1.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K ₩35.6M
$23.5K ₩35.5M
0.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pangyo
Seongnam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 ₩88.0K
$58.3 ₩88.4K
-0.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.49 ₩73.5K
$46.71 ₩70.8K
3.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 ₩119.2K
$80.5 ₩122.0K
-2.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₩173.2K
$119 ₩179.6K
-3.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pangyo
Seongnam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₩691.2K
$448 ₩679.3K
1.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 ₩577.4K
$665 ₩1.0M
-42.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,045 ₩1.6M
$1,066 ₩1.6M
-1.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$771 ₩1.2M
$1,010 ₩1.5M
-23.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,529 ₩14.4M
$13.8K ₩20.9M
-30.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,255 ₩8.0M
$5,876 ₩8.9M
-10.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pangyo
Seongnam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,598 ₩7.0M
$4,338 ₩6.6M
6.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
4.14
-

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

Last update for Pangyo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seongnam: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Pangyo versus $448 in Seongnam. 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 6% higher in Pangyo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Pangyo versus $42.00 in Seongnam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $428 vs $435 – making Pangyo 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
Pangyo vs Seongnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seongnam cheaper than Pangyo?
Yes – Seongnam is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,209 per month in Pangyo and $2,474 in Seongnam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pangyo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Pangyo vs Seongnam?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,472 in Pangyo and $1,649 in Seongnam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $419 per month in Pangyo and $411 in Seongnam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Pangyo or Seongnam?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pangyo, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Seongnam at $1,649. In Pangyo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seongnam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pangyo or Seongnam more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pangyo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Pangyo or Seongnam?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Pangyo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seongnam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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