Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Bohol

For one person, living is cheaper in Bohol: $461 a month against $1,794 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $16,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,794
/mo nomad
Bohol
🇵🇭 Philippines
$461
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seoul and in Bohol

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 Bohol actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,794 per month in Seoul vs $461 in Bohol, rent included.

  • Seoul $1,794
  • Bohol $461

A couple spends around $2,863 per month in Seoul vs $793 in Bohol, rent included.

  • Seoul $2,863
  • Bohol $793

A family of three spends $3,931 per month in Seoul vs $1,125 in Bohol, rent included.

  • Seoul $3,931
  • Bohol $1,125

Seoul costs about 290% more than Bohol, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Seoul sits 33% above the global median, while Bohol is 66% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Bohol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.80 ₩11.7K
$7.85 ₱494
12.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4 ₩90.9K
$32.23 ₱2,029
112.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₩10.0K
$3.14 ₱198
140.13%
Cappuccino
$4.23 ₩5,624
$1.96 ₱123
115.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₩2,167
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₩985
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.64 ₩4,843
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 ₩8,175
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Bohol
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.01 ₩2,679
$1.56 ₱97.9
28.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.13 ₩4,164
$0.92 ₱57.6
240.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 ₩5,744
$0.99 ₱62.1
336.36%
Eggs
$3.61 ₩4,794
$2.13 ₱134
69.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.83 ₩23.7K
$7.55 ₱475
136.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 ₩13.9K
$4.81 ₱303
117.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.80 ₩34.3K
$9.48 ₱597
172.15%
Apples (1kg)
$7.66 ₩10.2K
$1.40 ₱88.3
447.14%
Banana (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,499
$0.98 ₱61.7
244.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.81 ₩7,723
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$6.41 ₩8,520
$1.90 ₱119
237.37%
Potato (1kg)
$3.75 ₩4,983
$1.78 ₱112
110.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 ₩3,375
$4.75 ₱299
-46.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.84 ₩3,782
$2.36 ₱148
20.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₩1,472
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 ₩4,455
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.49 ₩24.6K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₩3,185
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 ₩4,480
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Bohol
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 ₩1,521
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.11 ₩61.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 ₩4,643
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 ₩840
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₩11.8K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 ₩2,005
$1.38 ₱86.8
9.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K ₩38.9M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K ₩37.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Bohol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 ₩289.2K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.15 ₩46.7K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.29 ₩28.3K
$22.30 ₱1,404
-4.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Bohol
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.1 ₩77.2K
$14.51 ₱914
300.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.10 ₩21.4K
$5.66 ₱356
184.45%
Cinema Ticket
$11.31 ₩15.0K
$4.08 ₱257
177.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Bohol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,948 ₩2.6M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.9K ₩30.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Bohol
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 ₩75.8K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.39 ₩44.4K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.5 ₩95.0K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.5 ₩109.7K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Bohol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 ₩1.2M
$193 ₱12.1K
367.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$612 ₩813.5K
$161 ₱10.1K
279.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,526 ₩3.4M
$314 ₱19.8K
703.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,266 ₩1.7M
$290 ₱18.2K
337.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.4K ₩39.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.9K ₩15.8M
$526 ₱33.1K
2162.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Bohol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,650 ₩4.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
0
-

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

Last update for Seoul: October 11, 2026

Last update for Bohol: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seoul
$612
Bohol
$161 73.7% $451
Groceries & Markets
Seoul
$477
Bohol
$159 * 66.7% $318
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
$274
Bohol
$22 * 91.9% $252
Eating Out
Seoul
$184
Bohol
$96 * 47.9% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
$110
Bohol
- * 100%
Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
$81
Bohol
$23 71.9% $58
Getting Around
Seoul
$57
Bohol
- * 100%

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $901 in Seoul versus $193 in Bohol. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Seoul versus $32.00 in Bohol. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $477 vs $159 – making Bohol the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Seoul
🇵🇭 Bohol
🕒 Local time
06:22 6:22 AM
05:22 5:22 AM
1 h behind Seoul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,509,458 Capital
2,454
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seoul Bohol 3,090 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Seoul
  • Bohol

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 Bohol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bohol cheaper than Seoul?
Yes – Seoul is pricier by about 290%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,692 per month in Seoul and $691 in Bohol. 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 Bohol, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Seoul and in Bohol?
Groceries cost about 200% more in Seoul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Seoul or in Bohol?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Seoul and $32.00 in Bohol. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Seoul or in Bohol?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bohol, where all-in costs run around $461, than in Seoul at $1,794. In Bohol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Seoul or Bohol more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bohol – 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 Bohol?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bohol. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seoul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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