Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Bendigo

For one person, living is cheaper in Seoul: $1,848 a month against $2,008 in Bendigo, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seoul, South Korea
Bendigo, Australia
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,848
/mo nomad
Bendigo
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,008
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seoul and in Bendigo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seoul and in Bendigo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,848 per month in Seoul vs $2,008 in Bendigo, rent included.

  • Seoul $1,848
  • Bendigo $2,008

A couple spends around $2,986 per month in Seoul vs $2,978 in Bendigo, rent included.

  • Seoul $2,986
  • Bendigo $2,978

A family of three spends $4,125 per month in Seoul vs $3,948 in Bendigo, rent included.

  • Seoul $4,125
  • Bendigo $3,948

Seoul is about 8% cheaper than Bendigo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Seoul and Bendigo sit above the global median – Seoul by 36%, Bendigo by 48%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Bendigo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 ₩12.1K
$17.37 A$24.60
-47.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.3 ₩91.6K
$77.1 A$109
-11.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.35 ₩9,851
$12.40 A$17.57
-40.73%
Cappuccino
$4.12 ₩5,520
$4.08 A$5.78
0.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₩2,203
$3.10 A$4.39
-47.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₩1,081
$2.58 A$3.66
-68.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.71 ₩4,971
$9.97 A$14.12
-62.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13 ₩8,221
$8.66 A$12.27
-29.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Bendigo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 ₩2,737
$1.36 A$1.92
50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.21 ₩4,303
$2.92 A$4.13
9.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.39 ₩5,881
$2.57 A$3.64
70.82%
Eggs
$3.59 ₩4,814
$4.73 A$6.71
-24.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.23 ₩24.4K
$10.70 A$15.15
70.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.51 ₩14.1K
$10.04 A$14.23
4.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.89 ₩36.0K
$10.55 A$14.95
154.88%
Apples (1kg)
$7.86 ₩10.5K
$3.56 A$5.04
120.79%
Banana (1kg)
$3.53 ₩4,730
$3.05 A$4.31
15.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.70 ₩7,646
$3.24 A$4.59
75.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.18 ₩8,281
$4.80 A$6.79
28.75%
Potato (1kg)
$3.76 ₩5,044
$2.88 A$4.08
30.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.51 ₩3,367
$2.47 A$3.50
1.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.82 ₩3,773
$2.46 A$3.49
14.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₩1,487
$1.63 A$2.31
-31.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.30 ₩4,424
$44.51 A$63.1
-92.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.64 ₩25.0K
$10.38 A$14.70
79.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 ₩3,242
$5.46 A$7.73
-55.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 ₩4,501
$5.36 A$7.59
-37.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Bendigo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₩1,597
$3.45 A$4.88
-65.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.13 ₩61.8K
$56.9 A$80.6
-18.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 ₩4,761
$4.12 A$5.84
-13.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₩809
$1.41 A$2.00
-57.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.08 ₩12.2K
$13.84 A$19.61
-34.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ₩1,927
$1.27 A$1.80
13.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K ₩40.6M
$27.6K A$39.1K
9.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K ₩38.7M
$19.7K A$27.9K
46.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Bendigo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 ₩284.9K
$142 A$202
49.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.83 ₩48.0K
$27.59 A$39.08
29.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.39 ₩28.7K
$56.5 A$80.1
-62.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Bendigo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.6 ₩82.6K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.41 ₩22.0K
$19.68 A$27.88
-16.62%
Cinema Ticket
$11.42 ₩15.3K
$12.70 A$17.99
-10.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Bendigo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,948 ₩2.6M
$2,154 A$3,051
-9.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K ₩30.5M
$29.9K A$42.3K
-23.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Bendigo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 ₩80.1K
$81.5 A$116
-26.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.19 ₩45.8K
$49.98 A$70.8
-31.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.0 ₩88.4K
$118 A$167
-44.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.9 ₩109.8K
$136 A$192
-39.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Bendigo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$924 ₩1.2M
$1,135 A$1,608
-18.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ₩883.5K
$825 A$1,169
-20.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,012 ₩4.0M
$1,337 A$1,894
125.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,440 ₩1.9M
$1,248 A$1,767
15.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$27.2K ₩36.4M
$4,400 A$6,232
517.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.3K ₩15.1M
$3,892 A$5,514
190.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Bendigo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,570 ₩4.8M
$2,967 A$4,202
20.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
5.9
-30.85%

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

Last update for Seoul: October 26, 2026

Last update for Bendigo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seoul
$659
Bendigo
$825 25.2% $166
Groceries & Markets
Seoul
$483
Bendigo
$361 25.4% $123
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
$270
Bendigo
$227 16% $43
Eating Out
Seoul
$184
Bendigo
$315 70.8% $131
Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
$109
Bendigo
$173 59.3% $65
Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
$84
Bendigo
$25 * 69.9% $59
Getting Around
Seoul
$57
Bendigo
$82 42.4% $24

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $924 in Seoul versus $1,135 in Bendigo. 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 20% 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 $68 in Seoul versus $77 in Bendigo. Groceries tell a different story – $483 in Seoul vs $361 in Bendigo – so Bendigo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Seoul
🇦🇺 Bendigo
🕒 Local time
11:13 11:13 AM
13:13 1:13 PM
2 h ahead of Seoul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,509,458 Capital
100,649
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1,340 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,492 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.7 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.706 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.634 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seoul Bendigo 8,450 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Seoul
  • Bendigo

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
Seoul vs Bendigo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seoul cheaper than Bendigo?
Yes – Bendigo is pricier by about 9%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,771 per month in Seoul and $3,012 in Bendigo. 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 Seoul, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $924 there versus $1,135 in Bendigo.
Is eating out cheaper in Seoul or in Bendigo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $68 in Seoul and $77 in Bendigo. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Seoul and in Bendigo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,848 in Seoul and $2,008 in Bendigo. That makes Seoul about 8% cheaper.
Is Seoul or Bendigo more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Seoul or Bendigo?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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