Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Macquarie and Seoul

For one person, living is cheaper in Seoul: $1,794 a month against $2,450 in Port Macquarie, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Port Macquarie
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,450
/mo nomad
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,794
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,450 per month in Port Macquarie vs $1,794 in Seoul, rent included.

  • Port Macquarie $2,450
  • Seoul $1,794

A couple spends around $3,487 per month in Port Macquarie vs $2,863 in Seoul, rent included.

  • Port Macquarie $3,487
  • Seoul $2,863

A family of three spends $4,525 per month in Port Macquarie vs $3,931 in Seoul, rent included.

  • Port Macquarie $4,525
  • Seoul $3,931

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

Both Port Macquarie and Seoul sit above the global median – Port Macquarie by 81%, Seoul by 33%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Macquarie
Seoul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.73 A$25.39
$8.80 ₩11.8K
101.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.3 A$125
$68.4 ₩91.7K
27.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.34 A$14.82
$7.54 ₩10.1K
37.14%
Cappuccino
$3.90 A$5.59
$4.23 ₩5,672
-7.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 A$3.57
$1.63 ₩2,186
52.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 A$2.39
$0.74 ₩993
125.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.19 A$8.87
$3.64 ₩4,885
70.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.38 A$9.13
$6.15 ₩8,245
3.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Macquarie
Seoul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 A$2.91
$2.01 ₩2,702
1.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.93 A$4.20
$3.13 ₩4,200
-6.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 A$3.93
$4.32 ₩5,793
-36.57%
Eggs
$5.29 A$7.58
$3.61 ₩4,835
46.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.12 A$7.34
$17.83 ₩23.9K
-71.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 A$15.15
$10.45 ₩14.0K
1.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 A$17.12
$25.80 ₩34.6K
-53.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 A$4.50
$7.66 ₩10.3K
-59.01%
Banana (1kg)
$4.31 A$6.17
$3.38 ₩4,537
27.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.40 A$3.43
$5.81 ₩7,789
-58.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.95 A$7.09
$6.41 ₩8,592
-22.78%
Potato (1kg)
$2.39 A$3.42
$3.75 ₩5,025
-36.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 A$3.42
$2.54 ₩3,404
-5.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.60 A$2.29
$2.84 ₩3,815
-43.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 A$2.15
$1.11 ₩1,485
35.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$42.49 A$60.9
$3.35 ₩4,493
1168.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.41 A$14.91
$18.49 ₩24.8K
-43.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.13 A$5.92
$2.40 ₩3,213
72.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 A$7.39
$3.37 ₩4,518
53.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Macquarie
Seoul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.89 A$4.14
$1.14 ₩1,534
153.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.7 A$116
$46.11 ₩61.8K
75.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.66 A$5.24
$3.49 ₩4,683
4.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 A$2.28
$0.63 ₩847
152.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.84 A$61.4
$8.86 ₩11.9K
383.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 A$1.87
$1.51 ₩2,023
-13.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K A$37.5K
$29.3K ₩39.3M
-10.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K A$31.5K
$28.2K ₩37.8M
-22.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Macquarie
Seoul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 A$284
$218 ₩291.7K
-8.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.80 A$44.13
$35.15 ₩47.1K
-12.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.3 A$87.9
$21.29 ₩28.5K
188.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Macquarie
Seoul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 A$73.7
$58.1 ₩77.9K
-11.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.54 A$13.67
$16.10 ₩21.6K
-40.75%
Cinema Ticket
$10.92 A$15.64
$11.31 ₩15.2K
-3.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Macquarie
Seoul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,823 A$2,612
$1,948 ₩2.6M
-6.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.6K A$26.6K
$22.9K ₩30.7M
-18.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Macquarie
Seoul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 A$101
$57.0 ₩76.5K
23.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 A$78.6
$33.39 ₩44.8K
64.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 A$149
$71.5 ₩95.9K
45.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 A$153
$82.5 ₩110.7K
29.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Macquarie
Seoul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,408 A$2,016
$901 ₩1.2M
56.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 A$1,721
$612 ₩820.4K
96.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,133 A$3,055
$2,526 ₩3.4M
-15.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,693 A$2,426
$1,266 ₩1.7M
33.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,785 A$8,287
$29.4K ₩39.5M
-80.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,938 A$7,074
$11.9K ₩16.0M
-58.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Macquarie
Seoul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,769 A$3,966
$3,650 ₩4.9M
-24.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.08
30.64%

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

Last update for Port Macquarie: October 13, 2026

Last update for Seoul: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Port Macquarie
$1.2K
Seoul
$612 49.1% $589
Groceries & Markets
Port Macquarie
$350
Seoul
$477 36.3% $127
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Macquarie
$290
Seoul
$274 5.6% $16
Eating Out
Port Macquarie
$280
Seoul
$184 34.4% $96
Clothing & Footwear
Port Macquarie
$151
Seoul
$110 27.3% $41
Getting Around
Port Macquarie
$104
Seoul
$57 44.8% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Port Macquarie
$73
Seoul
$81 10% $7.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,408 in Port Macquarie versus $901 in Seoul. 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 32% higher in Seoul, 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 $87.0 in Port Macquarie versus $68.0 in Seoul. Groceries tell a different story – $350 in Port Macquarie vs $477 in Seoul – so Port Macquarie wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Port Macquarie
🇰🇷 Seoul
🕒 Local time
09:19 9:19 AM
07:19 7:19 AM
2 h behind Port Macquarie
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
47,793
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 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.698 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 EUR).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1,341 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,501 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Port Macquarie Seoul 8,130 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Port Macquarie
  • 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
Port Macquarie vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Port Macquarie and in Seoul compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,450 in Port Macquarie, $1,794 in Seoul – roughly 37% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Port Macquarie compared to Seoul?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,675 per month in Port Macquarie and $2,692 in Seoul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Port Macquarie 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 has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Port Macquarie and $68.0 in Seoul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Port Macquarie or Seoul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,450 in Port Macquarie and $1,794 in Seoul. That's a gap of about 37%.
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 $1,794, than in Port Macquarie at $2,450. In Seoul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Macquarie it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Port Macquarie 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 Port Macquarie 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 Port Macquarie and Seoul?
If budget matters most, go with Seoul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Macquarie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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