Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Andong Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Andong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,783 in Seoul versus $1,399 in Andong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,868 in Seoul versus $2,156 in Andong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,952 in Seoul versus $2,912 in Andong.

Living in Seoul is roughly 27% more expensive than in Andong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seoul 29% above, Andong 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$5.93 ₩7,953

65.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.1 ₩92.6K

$34.65 ₩46.5K

99.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 ₩10.2K

$6.52 ₩8,745

16.10%

Cappuccino

$4.04 ₩5,419

$3.60 ₩4,824

12.22%

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

$1.60 ₩2,151

$1.53 ₩2,046

4.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₩1,052

$0.59 ₩789

32.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,026

$3.56 ₩4,777

5.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 ₩8,190

$4.45 ₩5,963

37.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₩2,880

$2.26 ₩3,033

-4.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,176

$3.03 ₩4,063

2.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 ₩5,635

$2.26 ₩3,025

85.84%

Eggs

$3.41 ₩4,568

$3.22 ₩4,324

5.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 ₩23.5K

$15.84 ₩21.2K

10.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$7.76 ₩10.4K

26.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.26 ₩33.9K

$11.11 ₩14.9K

127.36%

Apples (1kg)

$7.80 ₩10.5K

$7.41 ₩9,934

5.26%

Banana (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,477

$3.27 ₩4,379

2.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,792

$7.47 ₩10.0K

-22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 ₩8,309

$6.97 ₩9,346

-11.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₩4,784

$3.39 ₩4,552

5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 ₩3,348

$2.41 ₩3,226

3.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 ₩3,745

$2.00 ₩2,686

39.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₩1,499

$1.34 ₩1,794

-16.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,373

$3.43 ₩4,598

-4.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 ₩24.5K

$18.77 ₩25.2K

-2.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₩3,219

$2.22 ₩2,974

8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₩4,217

$3.27 ₩4,384

-3.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,506

$1.08 ₩1,448

3.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.94 ₩61.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₩4,885

$2.99 ₩4,008

21.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₩843

$0.64 ₩865

-1.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₩12.0K

$18.42 ₩24.7K

-51.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₩2,023

$1.33 ₩1,786

13.53%

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

$29.8K ₩40.0M

$29.0K ₩38.9M

3.00%

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

$28.0K ₩37.6M

$35.2K ₩47.2M

-20.49%

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

$201 ₩268.9K

$206 ₩276.3K

-2.67%

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

$34.79 ₩46.7K

$44.04 ₩59.1K

-21.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.70 ₩26.4K

$20.46 ₩27.4K

-3.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 ₩76.4K

$57.1 ₩76.6K

-0.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.20 ₩21.7K

$11.75 ₩15.8K

37.87%

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩14.8K

$11.19 ₩15.0K

-1.34%

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

$1,915 ₩2.6M

$305 ₩408.9K

528.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K ₩30.5M

$18.0K ₩24.2M

26.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ₩76.1K

$64.7 ₩86.8K

-12.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 ₩43.7K

$62.5 ₩83.8K

-47.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 ₩92.9K

$75.2 ₩100.9K

-7.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 ₩108.5K

$99.9 ₩133.9K

-18.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

$488 ₩654.1K

82.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 ₩825.9K

$315 ₩422.0K

95.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,555 ₩3.4M

$1,256 ₩1.7M

103.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 ₩1.7M

$647 ₩867.0K

94.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.4K ₩38.1M

$6,868 ₩9.2M

313.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K ₩15.5M

$5,120 ₩6.9M

125.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,457 ₩4.6M

$1,862 ₩2.5M

85.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.1

-0.49%

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

Last update for Seoul: September 7, 2026

Last update for Andong: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $891 in Seoul and $488 in Andong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays 86% 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: $69.0 in Seoul vs $35.00 in Andong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $469 vs $410 per month, with Andong 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

Seoul vs Andong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Andong wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Seoul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Andong the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 86% higher in Seoul, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $891 in Seoul versus $488 in Andong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,915 in Seoul versus $305 in Andong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Andong – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $69.0 in Seoul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,399 in Andong versus $1,783 in Seoul, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Andong but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Andong 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, Seoul and Andong 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 Andong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.