Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohang and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohang and Seoul

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,333 in Pohang versus $1,742 in Seoul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,007 in Pohang versus $2,892 in Seoul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,680 in Pohang versus $4,043 in Seoul.

Living in Pohang costs roughly 23% less than in Seoul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pohang 0% above, Seoul 30% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.23 ₩8,018

$8.59 ₩13.2K

-39.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.25 ₩28.0K

$54.3 ₩83.2K

-66.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 ₩9,412

$6.30 ₩9,657

-2.54%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ₩4,565

$3.88 ₩5,952

-23.20%

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

$1.44 ₩2,208

$1.72 ₩2,643

-16.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₩787

$0.86 ₩1,311

-40.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,741

$3.60 ₩5,509

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₩5,546

$5.94 ₩9,098

-39.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ₩2,747

$2.22 ₩3,409

-19.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₩4,854

$3.45 ₩5,286

-8.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 ₩3,883

$3.13 ₩4,802

-19.17%

Eggs

$2.97 ₩4,547

$3.19 ₩4,884

-6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.60 ₩16.2K

$14.21 ₩21.8K

-25.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 ₩9,860

$10.99 ₩16.8K

-41.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.14 ₩41.6K

$34.74 ₩53.2K

-21.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 ₩3,331

$7.97 ₩12.2K

-72.77%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 ₩4,771

$3.46 ₩5,305

-10.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.47 ₩11.4K

$5.43 ₩8,321

37.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 ₩4,030

$6.69 ₩10.2K

-60.69%

Potato (1kg)

$4.89 ₩7,485

$3.80 ₩5,828

28.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₩4,494

$2.95 ₩4,514

-0.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₩3,093

$2.63 ₩4,023

-23.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,785

$1.27 ₩1,946

-8.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₩5,102

$3.23 ₩4,947

3.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.40 ₩12.9K

$19.49 ₩29.9K

-56.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₩2,280

$2.42 ₩3,709

-38.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩5,163

$3.25 ₩4,976

3.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 ₩1,691

$1.12 ₩1,710

-1.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 ₩73.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 ₩3,782

$3.56 ₩5,456

-30.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 ₩1,313

$0.54 ₩827

59.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.38 ₩25.1K

$8.72 ₩13.4K

87.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,864

$1.25 ₩1,910

-2.40%

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

$28.0K ₩42.8M

$28.3K ₩43.3M

-1.06%

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

$24.9K ₩38.2M

$25.3K ₩38.8M

-1.68%

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

$106 ₩162.2K

$161 ₩246.1K

-34.08%

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

$50.1 ₩76.8K

$34.38 ₩52.7K

45.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₩41.6K

$22.41 ₩34.3K

21.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.52 ₩45.2K

$57.0 ₩87.3K

-48.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.18 ₩11.0K

$23.23 ₩35.6K

-69.09%

Cinema Ticket

$10.98 ₩16.8K

$11.19 ₩17.1K

-1.88%

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

$491 ₩752.6K

$412 ₩631.5K

19.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ₩22.1M

$23.7K ₩36.2M

-39.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩159.3K

$58.7 ₩89.9K

77.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.82 ₩73.3K

$46.80 ₩71.7K

2.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 ₩133.5K

$78.3 ₩120.0K

11.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ₩168.5K

$114 ₩175.0K

-3.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 ₩682.9K

$957 ₩1.5M

-53.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 ₩654.6K

$604 ₩924.7K

-29.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,068 ₩1.6M

$2,580 ₩4.0M

-58.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 ₩1.2M

$1,308 ₩2.0M

-40.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K ₩27.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₩4.0M

$9,223 ₩14.1M

-71.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,229 ₩3.4M

$3,095 ₩4.7M

-27.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.14

1.93%

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

Last update for Pohang: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seoul: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $446 in Pohang and $957 in Seoul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays 39% 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: $18.00 in Pohang vs $54.0 in Seoul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 vs $500 per month, with Pohang cheaper across the board.

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

Pohang vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pohang wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Seoul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pohang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Seoul earns 39% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $446 in Pohang versus $957 in Seoul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $491 in Pohang versus $412 in Seoul. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Pohang – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $54.0 in Seoul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,333 in Pohang versus $1,742 in Seoul, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pohang but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Pohang 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, Pohang 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 Pohang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.