Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Cheongju Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Cheongju

😐 Solo nomad: Seoul is 15.3% more expensive than Cheongju without rent, and 39.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seoul is 39.1% more expensive than Cheongju without rent, and 57.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Cheongju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.57 ₩11.6K
$7.09 ₩9,623
20.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.8 ₩75.7K
$37.03 ₩50.2K
50.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.48 ₩8,798
$4.87 ₩6,611
33.06%
Cappuccino
$3.94 ₩5,341
$4.23 ₩5,742
-6.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₩2,275
$1.87 ₩2,532
-10.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₩1,098
$1.38 ₩1,866
-41.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.72 ₩5,050
$3.64 ₩4,941
2.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₩8,020
$5.89 ₩7,994
0.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Cheongju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ₩3,069
$2.12 ₩2,870
6.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.31 ₩4,489
$3.51 ₩4,768
-5.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.1 ₩4,205
$1.86 ₩2,520
66.67%
Eggs
$3.22 ₩4,374
$2.15 ₩2,920
49.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.06 ₩19.1K
$10.39 ₩14.1K
35.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.93 ₩14.8K
$8.48 ₩11.5K
28.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$34.17 ₩46.4K
$14.75 ₩20K
131.66%
Apples (1kg)
$7.69 ₩10.4K
$2.96 ₩4,014
159.80%
Banana (1kg)
$3.48 ₩4,728
$2.93 ₩3,970
18.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.66 ₩7,685
$7.34 ₩9,955
-22.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.72 ₩9,119
$5.34 ₩7,250
25.84%
Potato (1kg)
$3.84 ₩5,209
$5.18 ₩7,027
-25.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 ₩3,888
$2.92 ₩3,959
-1.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 ₩3,438
$2.09 ₩2,837
21.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 ₩1,802
$0.42 ₩570
216.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₩4,554
$3.4 ₩4,612
-1.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.58 ₩27.9K
$13.73 ₩18.6K
49.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₩3,309
$1.75 ₩2,368
39.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 ₩4,547
$2.15 ₩2,924
55.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Cheongju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₩1,516
$1.2 ₩1,628
-6.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.88 ₩63.6K
$73.2 ₩99.3K
-35.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 ₩4,847
$2.66 ₩3,611
34.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₩779
$0.85 ₩1,149
-32.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.66 ₩11.8K
$16.74 ₩22.7K
-48.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ₩1,692
$1.2 ₩1,632
4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ₩37.2M
$27.2K ₩36.9M
0.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K ₩33.7M
$24.9K ₩33.8M
-0.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Cheongju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 ₩224.5K
$191 ₩258.6K
-13.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.61 ₩47K
$24.46 ₩33.2K
41.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.4 ₩30.4K
$14.54 ₩19.7K
54.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Cheongju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 ₩77.2K
$61.3 ₩83.1K
-7.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.73 ₩32.2K
$34.49 ₩46.8K
-31.20%
Cinema Ticket
$11.1 ₩15.1K
$7.3 ₩9,898
52.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Cheongju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$413 ₩560.9K
$498 ₩676.3K
-17.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23K ₩31.2M
$13.9K ₩18.8M
65.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Cheongju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 ₩79.7K
$36.08 ₩49K
62.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.88 ₩63.6K
$48.09 ₩65.3K
-2.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 ₩107.2K
$89.4 ₩121.3K
-11.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 ₩155.7K
$110 ₩149K
4.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Cheongju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$933 ₩1.3M
$294 ₩398.8K
217.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$587 ₩797.1K
$239 ₩324.4K
145.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,582 ₩3.5M
$406 ₩550.7K
536.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,302 ₩1.8M
$295 ₩399.8K
341.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$21.4K ₩29M
$4,261 ₩5.8M
401.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.1K ₩15M
$2,105 ₩2.9M
426.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Cheongju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,244 ₩4.4M
$2,460 ₩3.3M
31.90%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cheongju: October 28, 2025

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