Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Cheonan Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Cheonan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,742 per month in Seoul vs $1,274 in Cheonan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,892 per month in Seoul vs $1,957 in Cheonan, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,043 per month in Seoul vs $2,640 in Cheonan, rent included.

Seoul costs about 37% more than Cheonan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Seoul sits 30% above the global median, while Cheonan is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.59 ₩13.2K

$5.71 ₩8,745

50.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩83.2K

$21.99 ₩33.7K

146.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 ₩9,657

$4.84 ₩7,420

30.17%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,952

$2.14 ₩3,283

81.31%

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

$1.72 ₩2,643

$1.20 ₩1,845

43.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,311

$0.48 ₩735

79.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 ₩5,509

$2.55 ₩3,900

41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩9,098

$3.72 ₩5,696

59.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,409

$1.50 ₩2,295

48.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 ₩5,286

$3.52 ₩5,387

-1.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,802

$3.03 ₩4,644

3.30%

Eggs

$3.19 ₩4,884

$1.73 ₩2,647

84.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 ₩21.8K

$10.60 ₩16.2K

34.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 ₩16.8K

$8.33 ₩12.8K

31.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.74 ₩53.2K

$11.97 ₩18.3K

190.23%

Apples (1kg)

$7.97 ₩12.2K

$7.33 ₩11.2K

8.73%

Banana (1kg)

$3.46 ₩5,305

$2.50 ₩3,825

38.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.43 ₩8,321

$5.57 ₩8,541

-2.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.69 ₩10.2K

$5.31 ₩8,144

25.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₩5,828

$4.99 ₩7,651

-23.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,514

$2.95 ₩4,527

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 ₩4,023

$0.92 ₩1,411

185.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,946

$1.06 ₩1,619

19.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,947

$3.29 ₩5,034

-1.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.49 ₩29.9K

$16.68 ₩25.6K

16.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₩3,709

$1.77 ₩2,709

36.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₩4,976

$1.50 ₩2,296

116.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,710

$1.12 ₩1,712

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 ₩73.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩5,456

$2.96 ₩4,528

20.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₩827

$0.84 ₩1,289

-35.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.72 ₩13.4K

$16.77 ₩25.7K

-48.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,910

$1.16 ₩1,780

7.76%

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

$28.3K ₩43.3M

$27.8K ₩42.5M

1.76%

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

$25.3K ₩38.8M

$25.3K ₩38.7M

0.24%

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

$161 ₩246.1K

$141 ₩215.5K

14.19%

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

$34.38 ₩52.7K

$50.6 ₩77.5K

-32.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.41 ₩34.3K

$9.97 ₩15.3K

124.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩87.3K

$48.28 ₩74.0K

18.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 ₩35.6K

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩17.1K

$7.57 ₩11.6K

47.82%

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

$412 ₩631.5K

$492 ₩754.0K

-16.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K ₩36.2M

$14.1K ₩21.6M

68.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₩89.9K

$102 ₩156.0K

-42.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.80 ₩71.7K

$48.01 ₩73.6K

-2.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 ₩120.0K

$74.2 ₩113.7K

5.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₩175.0K

$110 ₩168.5K

3.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 ₩1.5M

$453 ₩693.8K

111.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₩924.7K

$378 ₩578.7K

59.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,580 ₩4.0M

$1,072 ₩1.6M

140.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 ₩2.0M

$774 ₩1.2M

68.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K ₩27.8M

$9,773 ₩15.0M

85.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,223 ₩14.1M

$5,779 ₩8.9M

59.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,095 ₩4.7M

$1,579 ₩2.4M

96.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

4.22

-1.90%

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

Last update for Seoul: June 2, 2026

Last update for Cheonan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Seoul versus $453 in Cheonan. 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 96% 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 $54.0 in Seoul versus $22.00 in Cheonan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $500 vs $362 – making Cheonan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Cheonan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 37% more than Cheonan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,613 per month in Seoul and $1,910 in Cheonan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,742 in Seoul and $1,274 in Cheonan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $412 per month in Seoul and $492 in Cheonan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cheonan, where all-in costs run around $1,274, than in Seoul at $1,742. In Cheonan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cheonan – 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 Cheonan. 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.