Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Budapest: $1,621 a month against $1,822 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

87

Cost of Living Index in Seoul
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Seoul Living Index
79

Cost of Living Index in Budapest
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Budapest Living Index

Jump to prices

Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,822

/mo nomad

Budapest

🇭🇺 Hungary

$1,621

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seoul and in Budapest

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

A single person spends $1,822 per month in Seoul vs $1,621 in Budapest, rent included.

Seoul $1,822
Budapest $1,621

A couple spends around $2,847 per month in Seoul vs $2,555 in Budapest, rent included.

Seoul $2,847
Budapest $2,555

A family of three spends $3,872 per month in Seoul vs $3,489 in Budapest, rent included.

Seoul $3,872
Budapest $3,489

Seoul costs about 12% more than Budapest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seoul and Budapest sit above the global median – Seoul by 36%, Budapest by 21%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.10 ₩12.2K

$13.99 Ft 4,555

-34.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.0 ₩90.0K

$60.3 Ft 19.7K

11.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 ₩9,964

$9.96 Ft 3,244

-25.50%

Cappuccino

$4.08 ₩5,482

$3.38 Ft 1,102

20.71%

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

$1.60 ₩2,146

$2.13 Ft 693

-24.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₩1,081

$1.87 Ft 609

-57.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 ₩4,898

$3.75 Ft 1,222

-2.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩7,974

$3.57 Ft 1,163

66.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₩2,748

$1.13 Ft 369

81.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 ₩4,139

$1.84 Ft 600

67.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.21 ₩5,659

$2.39 Ft 777

76.15%

Eggs

$3.57 ₩4,795

$3.83 Ft 1,246

-6.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.95 ₩24.1K

$11.33 Ft 3,689

58.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.64 ₩14.3K

$6.74 Ft 2,194

57.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.44 ₩35.5K

$14.69 Ft 4,784

79.99%

Apples (1kg)

$7.42 ₩9,969

$1.84 Ft 598

303.26%

Banana (1kg)

$3.53 ₩4,743

$2.01 Ft 654

75.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 ₩7,884

$2.36 Ft 767

148.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 ₩8,554

$3.77 Ft 1,227

68.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 ₩5,040

$0.96 Ft 314

290.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₩3,345

$1.03 Ft 335

141.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.92 ₩3,920

$1.56 Ft 509

87.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,545

$0.66 Ft 216

74.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 ₩4,418

$7.96 Ft 2,594

-58.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 ₩24.8K

$6.01 Ft 1,956

207.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₩3,064

$1.30 Ft 422

75.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 ₩4,408

$2.08 Ft 677

57.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,529

$1.50 Ft 490

-24.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.47 ₩61.1K

$27.61 Ft 8,991

64.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₩4,674

$3.30 Ft 1,075

5.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₩805

$1.30 Ft 424

-53.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.70 ₩11.7K

$19.78 Ft 6,442

-56.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ₩2,008

$1.81 Ft 591

-17.13%

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

$29.1K ₩39.1M

$29.3K Ft 9.6M

-0.72%

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

$28.2K ₩37.9M

$34.1K Ft 11.1M

-17.34%

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

$209 ₩280.5K

$170 Ft 55.3K

22.91%

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

$35.13 ₩47.2K

$23.98 Ft 7,809

46.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.18 ₩28.4K

$23.42 Ft 7,628

-9.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ₩77.0K

$66.2 Ft 21.6K

-13.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.89 ₩21.3K

$19.18 Ft 6,245

-17.15%

Cinema Ticket

$11.33 ₩15.2K

$9.52 Ft 3,101

19.01%

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

$1,902 ₩2.6M

$537 Ft 174.8K

254.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.5K ₩30.2M

$16.6K Ft 5.4M

35.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₩79.1K

$101 Ft 33.0K

-41.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.12 ₩43.1K

$42.99 Ft 14.0K

-25.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 ₩94.2K

$113 Ft 36.7K

-37.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 ₩110.8K

$119 Ft 38.7K

-30.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ₩1.2M

$805 Ft 262.2K

9.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$624 ₩837.5K

$629 Ft 204.9K

-0.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,494 ₩3.3M

$1,549 Ft 504.6K

60.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,275 ₩1.7M

$1,167 Ft 380.1K

9.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.8K ₩40.1M

$5,618 Ft 1.8M

431.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.8K ₩15.9M

$3,968 Ft 1.3M

198.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,649 ₩4.9M

$1,626 Ft 529.5K

124.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

6.43

-36.55%

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

Last update for Seoul: October 4, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seoul

$624 34.7%

Budapest

$629 38.7% 0.9% $5.7

Groceries & Markets

Seoul

$479 26.7%

Budapest

$258 15.8% 46.2% $221

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seoul

$265 14.8%

Budapest

$217 13.4% 18% $48

Eating Out

Seoul

$184 10.2%

Budapest

$224 13.8% 22.1% $41

Clothing & Footwear

Seoul

$110 6.1%

Budapest

$169 10.4% 54.3% $59

Sport & Entertainment

Seoul

$80 4.5%

Budapest

$85 5.2% 6.6% $5.3

Getting Around

Seoul

$57 3.1%

Budapest

$43 2.7% 23.1% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $885 in Seoul versus $805 in Budapest. 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 124% higher in Seoul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Seoul versus $60.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $479 vs $258 – making Budapest the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇰🇷 Seoul

🇭🇺 Budapest

🕒 Local time

10:49 10:49 AM

03:49 3:49 AM

7 h behind Seoul

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

9,509,458 Capital

1,686,222 Capital

💱 Currency

South Korean Won KRW ₩

Hungarian Forint HUF Ft

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 KRW = 7.45 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.64 EUR

1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD

1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇷 South Korean Won (₩)

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,343 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.45 USD). 1 EUR = 1,506 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.64 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 326 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 365 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR).

USD to KRW in detail →

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Seoul Budapest 8,170 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

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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 Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seoul is pricier by about 12%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,733 per month in Seoul and $2,432 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Budapest, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 65% less in Budapest. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,902 per month in Seoul and $537 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,621, than in Seoul at $1,822. In Budapest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Budapest – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Budapest. 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.