Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Cotabato City

For one person, living is cheaper in Cotabato City: $764 a month against $1,804 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

87

Cost of Living Index in Seoul
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Seoul Living Index
37

Cost of Living Index in Cotabato City
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Cotabato City Living Index

Jump to prices

Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,804

/mo nomad

Cotabato City

🇵🇭 Philippines

$764

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seoul and in Cotabato City

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,804 in Seoul versus $764 in Cotabato City.

Seoul $1,804
Cotabato City $764

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,877 in Seoul versus $1,169 in Cotabato City.

Seoul $2,877
Cotabato City $1,169

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,950 in Seoul versus $1,574 in Cotabato City.

Seoul $3,950
Cotabato City $1,574

Living in Seoul is roughly 136% more expensive than in Cotabato City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Seoul is 33% above, Cotabato City is 44% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.10 ₩12.1K

$4.65 ₱293

95.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.7 ₩88.6K

$16.57 ₱1,044

302.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.49 ₩9,959

$4.00 ₱252

87.25%

Cappuccino

$4.19 ₩5,569

$2.23 ₱141

87.89%

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

$1.55 ₩2,067

$1.04 ₱65.4

49.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₩1,055

$0.64 ₱40.49

23.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 ₩4,846

$1.17 ₱73.4

211.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.14 ₩8,164

$1.91 ₱120

221.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₩2,811

$2.02 ₱127

4.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₩4,051

$1.08 ₱68.0

182.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.21 ₩5,599

$0.78 ₱49.16

439.74%

Eggs

$3.54 ₩4,709

$1.89 ₱119

87.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.02 ₩24.0K

$6.41 ₱404

181.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.35 ₩13.8K

$4.67 ₱294

121.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.47 ₩35.2K

$9.06 ₱570

192.16%

Apples (1kg)

$7.91 ₩10.5K

$2.73 ₱172

189.74%

Banana (1kg)

$3.44 ₩4,578

$1.11 ₱69.9

209.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 ₩7,493

$2.44 ₱154

131.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.41 ₩8,517

$1.20 ₱75.3

434.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.71 ₩4,938

$1.94 ₱122

91.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₩3,345

$3.55 ₱224

-29.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 ₩3,816

$1.20 ₱75.4

139.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,536

$0.71 ₱44.58

63.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.37 ₩4,480

$2.47 ₱156

36.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 ₩24.9K

$8.06 ₱507

132.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₩3,036

$1.22 ₱77.1

86.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ₩4,397

$1.68 ₱106

97.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,497

$0.26 ₱16.40

334.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.73 ₩62.1K

$11.02 ₱694

324.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 ₩4,684

$0.84 ₱52.8

319.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₩849

$0.23 ₱14.37

178.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.76 ₩11.7K

$1.94 ₱122

351.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₩1,930

$1.18 ₱74.4

22.88%

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

$29.7K ₩39.4M

$21.5K ₱1.4M

38.12%

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

$28.2K ₩37.5M

$18.7K ₱1.2M

50.92%

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

$211 ₩280.4K

$108 ₱6,788

95.58%

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

$35.36 ₩47.0K

$19.38 ₱1,220

82.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.57 ₩27.4K

$31.55 ₱1,986

-34.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₩76.7K

$32.71 ₱2,060

76.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.20 ₩21.5K

$4.78 ₱301

238.91%

Cinema Ticket

$11.37 ₩15.1K

$4.64 ₱292

145.04%

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

$1,967 ₩2.6M

$107 ₱6,709

1745.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.8K ₩30.3M

$7,519 ₱473.4K

202.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₩76.4K

$33.49 ₱2,109

71.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.08 ₩44.0K

$19.69 ₱1,240

68.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 ₩93.2K

$71.2 ₱4,483

-1.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.3 ₩112.0K

$60.8 ₱3,825

38.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$878 ₩1.2M

$270 ₱17.0K

224.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$624 ₩829.7K

$174 ₱11.0K

258.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,513 ₩3.3M

$524 ₱33.0K

379.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,287 ₩1.7M

$357 ₱22.5K

260.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$30.4K ₩40.4M

$2,445 ₱154.0K

1142.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.9K ₩15.8M

$999 ₱62.9K

1088.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,599 ₩4.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

8.31

-50.90%

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

Last update for Seoul: October 18, 2026

Last update for Cotabato City: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Seoul

$624 34.6%

Cotabato City

$174 22.8% 72.1% $450

Groceries & Markets

Seoul

$480 26.6%

Cotabato City

$199 26.1% 58.4% $280

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seoul

$267 14.8%

Cotabato City

$159 20.8% 40.5% $108

Eating Out

Seoul

$185 10.3%

Cotabato City

$92 12.1% 50.2% $93

Clothing & Footwear

Seoul

$110 6.1%

Cotabato City

$83 10.9% 24.4% $27

Sport & Entertainment

Seoul

$80 4.5%

Cotabato City

$42 5.5% 47.8% $38

Getting Around

Seoul

$58 3.2%

Cotabato City

$14 1.8% 75.8% $44

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $878 in Seoul and $270 in Cotabato City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $67.0 in Seoul vs $17.00 in Cotabato City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $480 vs $199 per month, with Cotabato City cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇰🇷 Seoul

🇵🇭 Cotabato City

🕒 Local time

19:10 7:10 PM

18:10 6:10 PM

1 h behind Seoul

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

9,509,458 Capital

325,079

💱 Currency

South Korean Won KRW ₩

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇷 South Korean Won (₩)

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to KRW in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Seoul Cotabato City 3,390 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Seoul
Cotabato City

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 Cotabato City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cotabato City wins on cost – living expenses run 136% lower than in Seoul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cotabato City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,707 in Seoul and $1,146 in Cotabato City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $878 in Seoul versus $270 in Cotabato City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,804 per month in Seoul versus $764 in Cotabato City – a 136% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cotabato City runs roughly 324% less than in Seoul. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $764 in Cotabato City versus $1,804 in Seoul, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cotabato City but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Cotabato City 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 Cotabato City 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 Cotabato City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.