😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,757 in Seoul versus $1,703 in Compiegne.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,790 in Seoul versus $2,653 in Compiegne.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,822 in Seoul versus $3,603 in Compiegne.
🌍Living in Seoul is roughly 3% more expensive than in Compiegne, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seoul28% above, Compiegne25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Compiegne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.53₩13.1K
$17.60€15.34
-45.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.0₩93.7K
$67.2€58.5
1.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.35₩10.1K
$13.69€11.93
-46.31%
Cappuccino
$4.17₩5,740
$3.81€3.32
9.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67₩2,299
$2.94€2.57
-43.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₩1,067
$1.80€1.57
-57.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.74₩5,155
$8.23€7.17
-54.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86₩8,076
$5.64€4.92
3.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Compiegne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07₩2,856
$1.30€1.14
59.23%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17₩4,363
$1.98€1.72
60.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.22₩5,814
$2.83€2.47
49.12%
Eggs
$3.49₩4,806
$4.17€3.63
-16.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.99₩23.4K
$22.40€19.52
-24.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97₩13.7K
$13.33€11.62
-25.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.97₩35.8K
$24.06€20.97
7.94%
Apples(1kg)
$7.78₩10.7K
$3.45€3.01
125.51%
Banana(1kg)
$3.47₩4,781
$2.16€1.88
60.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.55₩7,648
$2.48€2.16
123.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.27₩8,639
$3.18€2.77
97.17%
Potato(1kg)
$3.74₩5,149
$1.92€1.68
94.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54₩3,506
$2.11€1.84
20.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74₩3,773
$1.74€1.52
57.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07₩1,472
$0.64€0.56
67.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36₩4,634
$14.69€12.81
-77.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.77₩25.9K
$7.71€6.72
143.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45₩3,372
$2.49€2.17
-1.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08₩4,243
$3.57€3.11
-13.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Compiegne
Difference
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
$2.33€2.03
52.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.59₩814
$2.20€1.92
-73.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.77₩12.1K
$24.53€21.39
-64.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52₩2,095
$2.18€1.90
-30.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K₩39.6M
$35.0K€30.5K
-17.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K₩38.0M
$35.4K€30.8K
-22.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Compiegne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198₩272.4K
$214€187
-7.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.76₩49.3K
$15.94€13.89
124.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.20₩27.8K
$32.10€27.98
-37.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Compiegne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.9₩81.2K
$43.12€37.59
36.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96₩22.0K
$41.14€35.86
-61.21%
Cinema Ticket
$11.28₩15.5K
$14.18€12.36
-20.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Compiegne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,899₩2.6M
$648€565
192.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.8K₩31.5M
$8,575€7,475
166.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Compiegne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4₩80.4K
$87.9€76.6
-33.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.33₩44.6K
$41.94€36.56
-22.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.7₩97.5K
$105€91.7
-32.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.7₩114.0K
$107€92.9
-22.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Compiegne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891₩1.2M
$725€632
22.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597₩823.2K
$519€452
15.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,570₩3.5M
$1,321€1,152
94.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252₩1.7M
$970€846
29.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$29.3K₩40.4M
$2,784€2,426
953.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.5K₩15.8M
$2,147€1,872
433.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Compiegne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,545₩4.9M
$2,224€1,939
59.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.08
3.72
9.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seoul: September 14, 2026
Last update for Compiegne: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $891 in Seoul and $725 in Compiegne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Seoul pays 59% 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 $67.0 in Compiegne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $471 vs $383 per month, with Compiegne cheaper across the board.
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 Compiegne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Seoul or Compiegne?
Compiegne wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Seoul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Compiegne the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Seoul or in Compiegne?
Average pay runs 59% higher in Seoul, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Seoul compared to Compiegne?
Rent for a central apartment: $891 in Seoul versus $725 in Compiegne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Seoul or in Compiegne?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Seoul. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Seoul compared to Compiegne?
All in, you'll spend $1,757 per month in Seoul versus $1,703 in Compiegne – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Seoul or in Compiegne?
At $1,703 in Compiegne versus $1,757 in Seoul, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Compiegne but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Compiegne the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Seoul or Compiegne?
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.
How safe is Seoul compared to Compiegne?
Safety-wise, Seoul and Compiegne are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Compiegne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.