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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,789 in Seoul versus $2,077 in Des Moines, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,909 in Seoul versus $3,127 in Des Moines, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,028 in Seoul versus $4,176 in Des Moines, IA.

Living in Seoul costs roughly 14% less than in Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seoul 34% above, Des Moines, IA 55% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.78 ₩13.0K

$15.83 $15.83

-44.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.2 ₩83.0K

$78.5 $78.5

-28.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.39 ₩9,451

$11.96 $11.96

-46.57%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₩5,786

$4.90 $4.90

-20.20%

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

$1.72 ₩2,541

$2.31 $2.31

-25.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₩1,157

$1.92 $1.92

-59.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 ₩5,502

$5.14 $5.14

-27.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.72 ₩8,463

$6.94 $6.94

-17.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₩3,160

$0.98 $0.98

118.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 ₩5,027

$2.43 $2.43

39.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,730

$2.23 $2.23

43.50%

Eggs

$3.14 ₩4,647

$3.65 $3.65

-13.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 ₩21.3K

$12.83 $12.83

12.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.94 ₩16.2K

$10.59 $10.59

3.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.84 ₩51.5K

$12.72 $12.72

173.90%

Apples (1kg)

$7.70 ₩11.4K

$4.59 $4.59

67.76%

Banana (1kg)

$3.56 ₩5,269

$1.49 $1.49

138.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.53 ₩8,176

$3.77 $3.77

46.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.36 ₩9,403

$3.45 $3.45

84.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.90 ₩5,773

$1.68 $1.68

132.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 ₩4,394

$2.95 $2.95

0.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 ₩3,868

$2.31 $2.31

13.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,959

$1.13 $1.13

17.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₩4,835

$6.98 $6.98

-53.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.59 ₩29.0K

$14.86 $14.86

31.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₩3,616

$1.68 $1.68

45.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ₩4,775

$3.95 $3.95

-18.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,663

$1.80 $1.80

-37.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.19 ₩68.3K

$57.7 $57.7

-19.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₩5,274

$1.96 $1.96

82.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩781

$1.26 $1.26

-57.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.03 ₩13.4K

$19.93 $19.93

-54.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₩1,768

$0.82 $0.82

46.34%

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

$27.8K ₩41.1M

$26.5K $26.5K

4.88%

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

$25.1K ₩37.1M

$24.9K $24.9K

0.93%

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

$166 ₩245.2K

$148 $148

12.30%

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

$34.94 ₩51.7K

$50.3 $50.3

-30.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.79 ₩32.2K

$52.8 $52.8

-58.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.3 ₩86.2K

$67.9 $67.9

-14.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.72 ₩35.1K

$20.01 $20.01

18.54%

Cinema Ticket

$10.91 ₩16.1K

$15.07 $15.07

-27.60%

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

$422 ₩623.2K

$1,391 $1,391

-69.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K ₩34.5M

$11.9K $11.9K

95.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₩86.4K

$52.9 $52.9

10.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.92 ₩70.8K

$42.50 $42.50

12.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 ₩117.8K

$73.9 $73.9

7.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₩171.0K

$124 $124

-6.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 ₩1.4M

$1,209 $1,209

-20.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 ₩888.2K

$897 $897

-33.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,578 ₩3.8M

$1,788 $1,788

44.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₩2.0M

$1,514 $1,514

-12.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.4K ₩27.2M

$2,334 $2,334

689.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,851 ₩14.6M

$2,352 $2,352

318.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,988 ₩4.4M

$3,564 $3,564

-16.16%

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: April 19, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $964 in Seoul and $1,209 in Des Moines, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Moines, IA pays 19% 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: $56 in Seoul vs $79 in Des Moines, IA. Groceries flip the comparison at $499 vs $331, with Des Moines, IA cheaper for home cooking.

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 Des Moines, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Des Moines, IA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Seoul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Des Moines, IA earns 19% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $964 in Seoul versus $1,209 in Des Moines, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Seoul – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $79.0 in Des Moines, IA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,789 per month in Seoul versus $2,077 in Des Moines, IA – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,789 in Seoul versus $2,077 in Des Moines, IA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Seoul but tight or insufficient in Des Moines, IA. The gap between the two cities makes Seoul 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 Des Moines, IA 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 Seoul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Des Moines, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.