Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Geoje Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Geoje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,783 per month in Seoul vs $1,744 in Geoje, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,868 per month in Seoul vs $2,675 in Geoje, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,952 per month in Seoul vs $3,607 in Geoje, rent included.

Seoul costs about 2% more than Geoje, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Seoul and Geoje sit above the global median – Seoul by 29%, Geoje by 26%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Geoje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.84 ₩13.2K
$7.64 ₩10.2K
28.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 ₩92.6K
$48.78 ₩65.4K
41.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.57 ₩10.2K
$6.42 ₩8,616
17.91%
Cappuccino
$4.04 ₩5,419
$3.74 ₩5,016
8.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₩2,151
$1.80 ₩2,412
-11.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₩1,052
$1.08 ₩1,448
-27.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 ₩5,026
$1.82 ₩2,445
106.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.11 ₩8,190
$3.68 ₩4,929
66.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Geoje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ₩2,880
$2.25 ₩3,014
-4.44%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 ₩4,176
$2.84 ₩3,809
9.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.20 ₩5,635
$3.12 ₩4,189
34.62%
Eggs
$3.41 ₩4,568
$2.71 ₩3,638
25.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.49 ₩23.5K
$11.04 ₩14.8K
58.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.84 ₩13.2K
$7.29 ₩9,773
34.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.26 ₩33.9K
$22.22 ₩29.8K
13.68%
Apples (1kg)
$7.80 ₩10.5K
$10.93 ₩14.7K
-28.64%
Banana (1kg)
$3.34 ₩4,477
$3.60 ₩4,825
-7.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.81 ₩7,792
$5.92 ₩7,944
-1.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.20 ₩8,309
$5.80 ₩7,785
6.90%
Potato (1kg)
$3.57 ₩4,784
$5.96 ₩7,993
-40.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 ₩3,348
$3.22 ₩4,318
-22.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 ₩3,745
$2.74 ₩3,678
1.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 ₩1,499
$1.33 ₩1,787
-15.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.26 ₩4,373
$3.39 ₩4,544
-3.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.26 ₩24.5K
$13.17 ₩17.7K
38.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₩3,219
$1.88 ₩2,522
27.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 ₩4,217
$3.51 ₩4,707
-10.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Geoje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₩1,506
$1.24 ₩1,664
-9.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.94 ₩61.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 ₩4,885
$3.02 ₩4,045
20.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 ₩843
$0.76 ₩1,015
-17.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.96 ₩12.0K
$16.84 ₩22.6K
-46.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 ₩2,023
$1.40 ₩1,872
7.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K ₩40.0M
$28.9K ₩38.7M
3.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K ₩37.6M
$33.7K ₩45.2M
-16.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Geoje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 ₩268.9K
$203 ₩272.0K
-1.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.79 ₩46.7K
$35.74 ₩47.9K
-2.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.70 ₩26.4K
$26.64 ₩35.7K
-26.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Geoje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 ₩76.4K
$128 ₩171.5K
-55.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.20 ₩21.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.04 ₩14.8K
$12.09 ₩16.2K
-8.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Geoje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,915 ₩2.6M
$622 ₩834.6K
207.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K ₩30.5M
$21.6K ₩29.0M
5.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Geoje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 ₩76.1K
$106 ₩141.7K
-46.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 ₩43.7K
$66.1 ₩88.6K
-50.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.3 ₩92.9K
$52.3 ₩70.2K
32.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 ₩108.5K
$128 ₩172.0K
-36.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Geoje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ₩1.2M
$666 ₩892.6K
33.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 ₩825.9K
$555 ₩744.9K
10.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,555 ₩3.4M
$1,139 ₩1.5M
124.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 ₩1.7M
$1,042 ₩1.4M
20.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$28.4K ₩38.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.6K ₩15.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Geoje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,457 ₩4.6M
$1,758 ₩2.4M
96.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
4.22
-3.32%

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

Last update for Seoul: September 7, 2026

Last update for Geoje: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $891 in Seoul versus $666 in Geoje. 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 97% 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 $69.0 in Seoul versus $49.00 in Geoje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $469 vs $433 – making Geoje 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 Geoje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Seoul or Geoje?
Seoul costs about 2% more than Geoje, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Seoul and in Geoje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,675 per month in Seoul and $2,615 in Geoje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Seoul or Geoje?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Geoje, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Seoul compared to Geoje?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,783 in Seoul and $1,744 in Geoje. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Seoul and in Geoje?
Kindergarten costs $1,915 per month in Seoul and $622 in Geoje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Seoul or in Geoje?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Geoje, where all-in costs run around $1,744, than in Seoul at $1,783. In Geoje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Geoje – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Seoul compared to Geoje?
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.
Should I move to Seoul or to Geoje?
If budget matters most, go with Geoje. 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.

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