Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Des Moines, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Des Moines, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Seoul is 3.3% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 14.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Seoul is 0.5% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9 ₩13.2K

$15.97 $15.97

-43.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.4 ₩80.1K

$78.6 $78.6

-30.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.18 ₩9,088

$11.86 $11.86

-47.89%

Cappuccino

$3.95 ₩5,812

$4.79 $4.79

-17.54%

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

$1.67 ₩2,462

$2.37 $2.37

-29.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₩1,188

$1.94 $1.94

-58.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 ₩5,337

$5.1 $5.1

-28.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 ₩8,881

$6.89 $6.89

-12.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,321

$0.92 $0.92

145.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 ₩5,059

$2.57 $2.57

33.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,608

$2.22 $2.22

40.99%

Eggs

$3.21 ₩4,718

$3.51 $3.51

-8.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.12 ₩20.8K

$12.55 $12.55

12.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.92 ₩16.1K

$10.49 $10.49

4.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.36 ₩50.6K

$13.1 $13.1

162.29%

Apples (1kg)

$7.92 ₩11.7K

$4.39 $4.39

80.41%

Banana (1kg)

$3.59 ₩5,279

$1.5 $1.5

139.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 ₩8,101

$3.64 $3.64

51.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.69 ₩9,847

$3.54 $3.54

88.98%

Potato (1kg)

$4 ₩5,880

$1.68 $1.68

138.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 ₩4,367

$2.97 $2.97

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 ₩3,807

$2.25 $2.25

15.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₩1,929

$1.13 $1.13

15.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,791

$7.07 $7.07

-53.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.99 ₩29.4K

$13.81 $13.81

44.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 ₩3,632

$1.76 $1.76

40.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 ₩4,738

$4.02 $4.02

-19.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,646

$1.71 $1.71

-34.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.65 ₩68.6K

$58.3 $58.3

-19.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 ₩5,137

$2.03 $2.03

71.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩844

$1.26 $1.26

-54.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.84 ₩13K

$19.95 $19.95

-55.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,815

$0.76 $0.76

61.84%

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

$27.3K ₩40.1M

$25.7K $25.7K

5.94%

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

$25.1K ₩37M

$24.9K $24.9K

1.01%

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

$163 ₩239.3K

$142 $142

14.19%

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

$35.23 ₩51.8K

$52.1 $52.1

-32.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.59 ₩33.2K

$54.5 $54.5

-58.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₩84.9K

$65.5 $65.5

-11.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.49 ₩34.6K

$20.02 $20.02

17.33%

Cinema Ticket

$10.92 ₩16.1K

$14.74 $14.74

-25.92%

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

$407 ₩598.8K

$1,364 $1,364

-70.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K ₩34.5M

$12K $12K

96.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₩86.5K

$52.7 $52.7

11.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.15 ₩69.4K

$41.5 $41.5

13.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 ₩116.9K

$71.5 $71.5

11.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩172.9K

$124 $124

-4.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$941 ₩1.4M

$1,219 $1,219

-22.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₩877.9K

$906 $906

-34.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,598 ₩3.8M

$1,730 $1,730

50.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 ₩2M

$1,467 $1,467

-8.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21.9K ₩32.3M

$2,294 $2,294

856.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.7K ₩17.2M

$2,275 $2,275

414.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,211 ₩4.7M

$3,582 $3,582

-10.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

6.5

-36.31%

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

Last update for Seoul: November 29, 2025

Last update for Des Moines, IA: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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