Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Daejeon Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Daejeon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,752 per month in Seoul vs $1,305 in Daejeon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,801 per month in Seoul vs $2,080 in Daejeon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,850 per month in Seoul vs $2,854 in Daejeon, rent included.

Seoul costs about 34% more than Daejeon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Seoul sits 28% above the global median, while Daejeon is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.76 ₩13.3K

$7.36 ₩10.0K

32.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 ₩89.2K

$36.30 ₩49.3K

80.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 ₩9,710

$5.26 ₩7,151

35.74%

Cappuccino

$4.02 ₩5,467

$3.71 ₩5,044

8.36%

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

$1.64 ₩2,224

$1.18 ₩1,610

38.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₩1,122

$0.62 ₩844

33.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 ₩4,877

$3.38 ₩4,594

6.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 ₩7,792

$3.68 ₩4,996

55.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₩2,863

$2.04 ₩2,780

3.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,228

$2.60 ₩3,541

19.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.25 ₩5,779

$2.57 ₩3,500

65.37%

Eggs

$3.38 ₩4,591

$2.50 ₩3,401

35.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.01 ₩23.1K

$10.59 ₩14.4K

60.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.06 ₩13.7K

$8.05 ₩10.9K

24.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.88 ₩33.8K

$20.11 ₩27.3K

23.72%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 ₩10.0K

$10.88 ₩14.8K

-32.35%

Banana (1kg)

$3.47 ₩4,718

$5.29 ₩7,191

-34.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 ₩7,539

$5.63 ₩7,660

-1.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 ₩8,503

$5.72 ₩7,782

9.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.65 ₩4,955

$4.96 ₩6,741

-26.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 ₩3,307

$2.64 ₩3,585

-7.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 ₩3,707

$1.60 ₩2,181

70.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₩1,468

$1.06 ₩1,441

1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,397

$3.21 ₩4,370

0.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.34 ₩24.9K

$18.39 ₩25.0K

-0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,210

$2.49 ₩3,387

-5.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₩4,247

$3.43 ₩4,668

-9.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,581

$1.12 ₩1,526

3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.79 ₩60.9K

$10.89 ₩14.8K

311.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩4,833

$3.05 ₩4,152

16.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩795

$0.71 ₩967

-18.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 ₩12.1K

$16.40 ₩22.3K

-45.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₩1,969

$1.18 ₩1,605

22.88%

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

$29.1K ₩39.5M

$27.2K ₩36.9M

7.05%

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

$28.1K ₩38.2M

$22.6K ₩30.7M

24.24%

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

$196 ₩267.0K

$171 ₩232.6K

14.80%

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

$34.49 ₩46.9K

$42.06 ₩57.2K

-18.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.80 ₩26.9K

$22.21 ₩30.2K

-10.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩77.5K

$32.29 ₩43.9K

76.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.05 ₩21.8K

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩15.0K

$11.05 ₩15.0K

-0.09%

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

$1,891 ₩2.6M

$295 ₩401.6K

540.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩30.0M

$21.5K ₩29.3M

2.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 ₩76.6K

$61.9 ₩84.2K

-9.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 ₩44.1K

$40.43 ₩55.0K

-19.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 ₩92.8K

$92.2 ₩125.3K

-25.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.4 ₩107.9K

$105 ₩142.1K

-24.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₩1.2M

$362 ₩491.4K

139.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 ₩816.9K

$296 ₩402.1K

103.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,497 ₩3.4M

$1,039 ₩1.4M

140.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 ₩1.7M

$592 ₩804.9K

106.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.2K ₩38.3M

$5,372 ₩7.3M

424.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.3K ₩15.4M

$4,408 ₩6.0M

157.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,486 ₩4.7M

$2,339 ₩3.2M

49.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

3.65

11.78%

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

Last update for Seoul: August 30, 2026

Last update for Daejeon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $865 in Seoul versus $362 in Daejeon. 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 49% 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 $66.0 in Seoul versus $36.00 in Daejeon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $432 – making Daejeon 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 Daejeon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 34% more than Daejeon, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,628 per month in Seoul and $1,957 in Daejeon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Daejeon, 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 $1,752 in Seoul and $1,305 in Daejeon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 311% less in Daejeon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Daejeon, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Seoul at $1,752. In Daejeon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Daejeon – 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 Daejeon. 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.