Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Changwon Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Changwon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,757 in Seoul versus $1,161 in Changwon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,790 in Seoul versus $1,811 in Changwon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,822 in Seoul versus $2,461 in Changwon.

Living in Seoul is roughly 51% more expensive than in Changwon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Seoul is 28% above, Changwon is 15% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.53 ₩13.1K

$7.56 ₩10.4K

26.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.0 ₩93.7K

$27.46 ₩37.8K

147.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 ₩10.1K

$5.26 ₩7,243

39.73%

Cappuccino

$4.17 ₩5,740

$3.73 ₩5,142

11.80%

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

$1.67 ₩2,299

$1.83 ₩2,523

-8.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₩1,067

$0.99 ₩1,362

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 ₩5,155

$2.93 ₩4,040

27.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 ₩8,076

$4.18 ₩5,756

40.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ₩2,856

$2.32 ₩3,192

-10.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₩4,363

$3.20 ₩4,409

-0.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 ₩5,814

$3.12 ₩4,306

35.26%

Eggs

$3.49 ₩4,806

$2.60 ₩3,581

34.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.99 ₩23.4K

$11.06 ₩15.2K

53.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 ₩13.7K

$10.52 ₩14.5K

-5.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.97 ₩35.8K

$24.57 ₩33.9K

5.70%

Apples (1kg)

$7.78 ₩10.7K

$11.16 ₩15.4K

-30.29%

Banana (1kg)

$3.47 ₩4,781

$3.65 ₩5,035

-4.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 ₩7,648

$8.18 ₩11.3K

-32.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.27 ₩8,639

$6.03 ₩8,305

3.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.74 ₩5,149

$6.09 ₩8,392

-38.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₩3,506

$3.34 ₩4,601

-23.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,773

$2.81 ₩3,875

-2.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₩1,472

$1.28 ₩1,763

-16.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩4,634

$3.39 ₩4,677

-0.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.77 ₩25.9K

$18.50 ₩25.5K

1.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₩3,372

$2.33 ₩3,211

5.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ₩4,243

$3.37 ₩4,645

-8.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,562

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.48 ₩64.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 ₩4,888

$2.89 ₩3,977

22.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 ₩814

$0.78 ₩1,070

-24.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 ₩12.1K

$16.72 ₩23.0K

-47.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₩2,095

$1.38 ₩1,906

10.14%

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

$28.7K ₩39.6M

$29.4K ₩40.5M

-2.30%

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

$27.5K ₩38.0M

$33.6K ₩46.3M

-17.97%

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

$198 ₩272.4K

$200 ₩275.9K

-1.28%

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

$35.76 ₩49.3K

$36.60 ₩50.4K

-2.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.20 ₩27.8K

$26.93 ₩37.1K

-24.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.9 ₩81.2K

$52.7 ₩72.7K

11.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.96 ₩22.0K

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 ₩15.5K

$10.93 ₩15.1K

3.20%

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

$1,899 ₩2.6M

$643 ₩886.1K

195.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.8K ₩31.5M

$22.1K ₩30.4M

3.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ₩80.4K

$106 ₩145.8K

-44.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.33 ₩44.6K

$65.8 ₩90.7K

-50.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 ₩97.5K

$94.6 ₩130.3K

-25.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.7 ₩114.0K

$127 ₩175.2K

-34.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₩823.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,570 ₩3.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ₩1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.3K ₩40.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K ₩15.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,545 ₩4.9M

$1,700 ₩2.3M

108.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.22

-3.32%

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

Last update for Seoul: September 14, 2026

Last update for Changwon: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Seoul pays 109% 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: $68.0 in Seoul vs $27.00 in Changwon. Groceries flip the comparison at $471 vs $485, with Seoul cheaper for home cooking.

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 Changwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul and Changwon differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($1,757 vs $1,161 including rent). Changwon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 109% higher in Seoul, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Seoul pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,757 per month in Seoul versus $1,161 in Changwon – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,161 in Changwon versus $1,757 in Seoul, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Changwon but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Changwon 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 Changwon 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 Changwon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.