Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seogwipo and Seoul

For one person, living is cheaper in Seogwipo: $1,435 a month against $1,829 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seogwipo, South Korea
Seoul, South Korea
Seogwipo
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,435
/mo nomad
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,829
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,435 in Seogwipo versus $1,829 in Seoul.

  • Seogwipo $1,435
  • Seoul $1,829

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,282 in Seogwipo versus $2,973 in Seoul.

  • Seogwipo $2,282
  • Seoul $2,973

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,129 in Seogwipo versus $4,116 in Seoul.

  • Seogwipo $3,129
  • Seoul $4,116

Living in Seogwipo costs roughly 22% less than in Seoul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seogwipo 6% above, Seoul 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seogwipo
Seoul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.30 ₩9,900
$8.87 ₩12.0K
-17.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.72 ₩51.2K
$69.4 ₩94.2K
-45.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.69 ₩9,078
$7.50 ₩10.2K
-10.80%
Cappuccino
$3.67 ₩4,980
$4.04 ₩5,485
-9.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₩2,091
$1.56 ₩2,113
-1.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₩997
$0.73 ₩995
1.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 ₩4,739
$3.66 ₩4,960
-4.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 ₩5,804
$5.88 ₩7,975
-27.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seogwipo
Seoul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ₩2,953
$2.08 ₩2,824
4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₩4,100
$3.01 ₩4,083
0.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.67 ₩3,628
$4.18 ₩5,677
-36.12%
Eggs
$2.32 ₩3,153
$3.63 ₩4,930
-36.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.23 ₩13.9K
$17.87 ₩24.2K
-42.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 ₩13.1K
$10.32 ₩14.0K
-6.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.92 ₩31.1K
$26.17 ₩35.5K
-12.42%
Apples (1kg)
$7.58 ₩10.3K
$7.42 ₩10.1K
2.16%
Banana (1kg)
$3.23 ₩4,386
$3.45 ₩4,684
-6.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.71 ₩7,754
$5.60 ₩7,594
1.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.76 ₩7,810
$6.29 ₩8,532
-8.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₩5,157
$3.60 ₩4,888
5.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 ₩3,286
$2.51 ₩3,401
-3.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.96 ₩4,023
$2.77 ₩3,763
6.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₩1,623
$1.14 ₩1,548
5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93 ₩3,977
$3.42 ₩4,644
-14.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.48 ₩18.3K
$18.60 ₩25.2K
-27.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 ₩3,239
$2.30 ₩3,128
3.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ₩4,984
$3.34 ₩4,535
9.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Seogwipo
Seoul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 ₩1,687
$1.12 ₩1,519
10.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.78 ₩63.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 ₩5,366
$3.60 ₩4,884
9.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₩775
$0.60 ₩816
-5.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.93 ₩12.1K
$8.87 ₩12.0K
0.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 ₩1,865
$1.49 ₩2,023
-8.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K ₩40.2M
$29.7K ₩40.3M
-0.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K ₩41.0M
$28.0K ₩38.0M
7.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seogwipo
Seoul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 ₩250.9K
$216 ₩292.9K
-14.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.67 ₩52.5K
$34.52 ₩46.8K
12.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.90 ₩25.6K
$20.34 ₩27.6K
-7.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seogwipo
Seoul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.13 ₩64.0K
$59.2 ₩80.3K
-20.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.06 ₩16.4K
$15.93 ₩21.6K
-24.29%
Cinema Ticket
$11.65 ₩15.8K
$11.01 ₩14.9K
5.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seogwipo
Seoul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$456 ₩618.9K
$1,962 ₩2.7M
-76.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K ₩29.2M
$26.3K ₩35.6M
-18.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seogwipo
Seoul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1 ₩72.0K
$62.3 ₩84.5K
-14.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 ₩88.3K
$33.82 ₩45.9K
92.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 ₩115.1K
$67.9 ₩92.1K
24.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.5 ₩124.2K
$82.9 ₩112.5K
10.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seogwipo
Seoul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$524 ₩711.6K
$918 ₩1.2M
-42.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$402 ₩546.1K
$654 ₩887.0K
-38.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ₩1.9M
$3,093 ₩4.2M
-54.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₩1.2M
$1,457 ₩2.0M
-38.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,846 ₩10.6M
$28.4K ₩38.5M
-72.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,101 ₩6.9M
$11.4K ₩15.4M
-55.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seogwipo
Seoul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,134 ₩1.5M
$3,496 ₩4.7M
-67.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.1
4.08
0.49%

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

Last update for Seogwipo: November 1, 2026

Last update for Seoul: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Seogwipo
$417
Seoul
$474 13.5% $56
Accommodation & Living
Seogwipo
$402
Seoul
$654 62.4% $251
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seogwipo
$242
Seoul
$271 11.6% $28
Eating Out
Seogwipo
$158
Seoul
$181 14.9% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Seogwipo
$133
Seoul
$111 16.1% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Seogwipo
$70
Seoul
$81 15.4% $11
Getting Around
Seogwipo
$12 *
Seoul
$58 391% $46

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $524 in Seogwipo and $918 in Seoul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays about 3.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $38 in Seogwipo vs $69 in Seoul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $474 per month, with Seogwipo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Seogwipo
🇰🇷 Seoul
🕒 Local time
09:15 9:15 AM
09:15 9:15 AM
Same time as Seogwipo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
155,641
9,509,458 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1,357 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.37 USD). 1 EUR = 1,523 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.56 EUR).

On the map
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  • Seogwipo Seoul 480 km
From you
  • Seogwipo
  • Seoul

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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
Seogwipo vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Seogwipo and in Seoul?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,435 in Seogwipo and $1,829 in Seoul, so Seogwipo is about 22% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 68% lower in Seogwipo. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Seogwipo and in Seoul?
Rent for a central apartment: $524 in Seogwipo versus $918 in Seoul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Seogwipo and Seoul?
Childcare runs $456 in Seogwipo versus $1,962 in Seoul. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Seogwipo – a meal for two runs $38 versus $69 in Seoul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Where should families live: Seogwipo or Seoul?
For families, Seogwipo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seoul, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Is Seogwipo or Seoul safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Seogwipo and Seoul are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Seogwipo and Seoul?
It comes down to priorities – Seogwipo wins on affordability, Seoul on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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