Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Gwangju Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Gwangju

😐 Solo nomad: Seoul is 18.3% more expensive than Gwangju without rent, and 26.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seoul is 18.6% more expensive than Gwangju without rent, and 39.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Gwangju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.87 ₩13.0K
$7.24 ₩10.6K
22.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.8 ₩82.0K
$50.9 ₩74.7K
9.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.39 ₩9,392
$5.76 ₩8,469
10.94%
Cappuccino
$3.80 ₩5,588
$3.95 ₩5,807
-3.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₩2,453
$1.50 ₩2,210
11.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₩1,189
$0.72 ₩1,061
12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.61 ₩5,312
$2.97 ₩4,368
21.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₩8,690
$3.77 ₩5,538
56.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Gwangju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₩3,175
$1.89 ₩2,778
14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.43 ₩5,046
$2.45 ₩3,600
40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 ₩4,802
$3.05 ₩4,481
7.21%
Eggs
$3.19 ₩4,686
$2.64 ₩3,873
20.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.41 ₩21.2K
$7.21 ₩10.6K
99.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.69 ₩15.7K
$7.27 ₩10.7K
47.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$34.03 ₩50.0K
$34.36 ₩50.5K
-0.96%
Apples (1kg)
$7.87 ₩11.6K
$8.05 ₩11.8K
-2.24%
Banana (1kg)
$3.55 ₩5,219
$3.50 ₩5,138
1.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.53 ₩8,121
$5.62 ₩8,253
-1.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.63 ₩9,745
$5.79 ₩8,515
14.51%
Potato (1kg)
$3.86 ₩5,671
$3.91 ₩5,741
-1.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.95 ₩4,334
$2.50 ₩3,681
18.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 ₩3,871
$2.50 ₩3,672
5.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 ₩1,934
$1.16 ₩1,702
13.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39 ₩4,986
$3.39 ₩4,977
-
Wine (Bottle)
$19.46 ₩28.6K
$10.30 ₩15.1K
88.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 ₩3,606
$1.61 ₩2,364
52.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 ₩4,774
$2.34 ₩3,440
38.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Gwangju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₩1,640
$0.95 ₩1,391
17.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.79 ₩68.8K
$67.3 ₩98.8K
-30.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.50 ₩5,144
$2.97 ₩4,370
17.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₩834
$0.52 ₩770
9.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.01 ₩13.2K
$8.42 ₩12.4K
7.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ₩1,771
$1.19 ₩1,756
0.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K ₩40.6M
$27.8K ₩40.9M
-0.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K ₩37.3M
$22.0K ₩32.3M
15.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Gwangju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 ₩240.4K
$161 ₩237.3K
1.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.58 ₩50.8K
$35.23 ₩51.8K
-1.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.01 ₩32.3K
$21.84 ₩32.1K
0.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Gwangju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.1 ₩85.4K
$47.38 ₩69.6K
22.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.08 ₩33.9K
$14.95 ₩22.0K
54.38%
Cinema Ticket
$10.89 ₩16.0K
$8.62 ₩12.7K
26.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Gwangju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$410 ₩602.1K
$418 ₩614.2K
-1.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K ₩35.1M
$23.2K ₩34.1M
2.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Gwangju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6 ₩87.5K
$49.54 ₩72.8K
20.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.19 ₩69.4K
$37.46 ₩55.1K
25.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 ₩117.3K
$62.7 ₩92.1K
27.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 ₩171.7K
$97.9 ₩143.8K
19.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Gwangju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ₩1.4M
$448 ₩658.1K
112.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$598 ₩878.3K
$355 ₩522.2K
68.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,515 ₩3.7M
$850 ₩1.2M
195.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,296 ₩1.9M
$592 ₩869.3K
119.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.3K ₩26.9M
$7,227 ₩10.6M
152.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,948 ₩14.6M
$5,716 ₩8.4M
74.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Gwangju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,041 ₩4.5M
$2,562 ₩3.8M
18.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
3.9
6.15%

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

Last update for Seoul: April 12, 2026

Last update for Gwangju: April 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
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