Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Gimhae Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Gimhae

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,765 in Seoul versus $1,476 in Gimhae.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,881 in Seoul versus $2,339 in Gimhae.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,997 in Seoul versus $3,202 in Gimhae.

Living in Seoul is roughly 20% more expensive than in Gimhae, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seoul 32% above, Gimhae 10% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.73 ₩13.0K

$7.11 ₩10.6K

22.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩80.8K

$37.11 ₩55.2K

46.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 ₩9,627

$6.01 ₩8,946

7.65%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,766

$4.07 ₩6,060

-4.67%

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

$1.65 ₩2,455

$1.80 ₩2,677

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,274

$1.33 ₩1,976

-35.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 ₩5,610

$3.76 ₩5,592

0.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.72 ₩8,517

$5.75 ₩8,557

-0.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,369

$2.27 ₩3,377

-0.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 ₩5,095

$3.55 ₩5,290

-3.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,604

$2.99 ₩4,456

3.34%

Eggs

$3.06 ₩4,548

$2.86 ₩4,256

6.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.51 ₩21.6K

$10.32 ₩15.4K

40.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 ₩16.0K

$8.46 ₩12.6K

27.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.54 ₩51.4K

$27.36 ₩40.7K

26.24%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 ₩11.4K

$8.39 ₩12.5K

-8.82%

Banana (1kg)

$3.54 ₩5,272

$3.22 ₩4,795

9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.42 ₩8,063

$7.44 ₩11.1K

-27.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 ₩9,657

$5.22 ₩7,767

24.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 ₩5,754

$5.09 ₩7,574

-23.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 ₩4,273

$2.90 ₩4,320

-1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 ₩3,890

$2.11 ₩3,138

23.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,960

$1.17 ₩1,737

12.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₩4,947

$3.23 ₩4,808

2.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.50 ₩24.5K

$16.92 ₩25.2K

-2.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₩3,547

$1.67 ₩2,492

42.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩5,015

$3.34 ₩4,965

0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,601

$1.06 ₩1,579

1.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.87 ₩69.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ₩5,152

$3.45 ₩5,128

0.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩847

$0.84 ₩1,254

-32.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.00 ₩13.4K

$16.24 ₩24.2K

-44.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,861

$1.22 ₩1,815

2.46%

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

$27.9K ₩41.6M

$28.2K ₩42.0M

-0.93%

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

$25.4K ₩37.7M

$24.9K ₩37.0M

1.96%

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

$160 ₩238.5K

$189 ₩281.0K

-15.13%

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

$34.41 ₩51.2K

$50.8 ₩75.6K

-32.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.05 ₩32.8K

$27.47 ₩40.9K

-19.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 ₩86.2K

$47.13 ₩70.1K

22.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.44 ₩34.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.93 ₩16.3K

$11.18 ₩16.6K

-2.24%

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

$417 ₩620.8K

$498 ₩741.0K

-16.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K ₩35.1M

$14.3K ₩21.3M

64.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₩88.0K

$102 ₩151.5K

-41.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.41 ₩72.0K

$47.56 ₩70.8K

1.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 ₩118.8K

$89.1 ₩132.5K

-10.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ₩170.9K

$115 ₩171.6K

-0.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ₩1.4M

$448 ₩667.2K

110.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₩874.6K

$383 ₩570.0K

53.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,584 ₩3.8M

$1,072 ₩1.6M

140.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₩2.0M

$780 ₩1.2M

68.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$26.0K ₩38.7M

$7,161 ₩10.7M

263.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.7K ₩15.9M

$5,868 ₩8.7M

82.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 ₩4.7M

$2,255 ₩3.4M

39.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

4.22

-1.90%

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

Last update for Seoul: July 14, 2026

Last update for Gimhae: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $944 in Seoul and $448 in Gimhae. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays 40% 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: $54.0 in Seoul vs $37.00 in Gimhae for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $491 vs $447 per month, with Gimhae cheaper across the board.

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 Gimhae: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gimhae wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Seoul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gimhae the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 40% higher in Seoul, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $944 in Seoul versus $448 in Gimhae. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $417 in Seoul versus $498 in Gimhae. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Gimhae – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $54.0 in Seoul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,476 in Gimhae versus $1,765 in Seoul, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gimhae but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Gimhae 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 Gimhae 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 Gimhae gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.