Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Gyeonggi Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Gyeonggi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,765 in Seoul versus $1,389 in Gyeonggi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,881 in Seoul versus $2,697 in Gyeonggi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,997 in Seoul versus $4,005 in Gyeonggi.

Living in Seoul is roughly 27% more expensive than in Gyeonggi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seoul 32% above, Gyeonggi 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.73 ₩12.9K

$7.20 ₩10.6K

21.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩80.2K

$85.4 ₩125.9K

-36.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 ₩9,546

$6.72 ₩9,908

-3.72%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,717

$3.56 ₩5,250

8.99%

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

$1.65 ₩2,435

$1.38 ₩2,041

19.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,263

$0.71 ₩1,043

21.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 ₩5,562

$4.45 ₩6,572

-15.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.72 ₩8,444

$2.88 ₩4,255

98.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,340

$2.17 ₩3,209

4.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 ₩5,051

$3.04 ₩4,482

12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,565

$3.13 ₩4,616

-1.28%

Eggs

$3.06 ₩4,509

$2.88 ₩4,242

6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.51 ₩21.4K

$10.48 ₩15.5K

38.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 ₩15.9K

$8.16 ₩12.0K

31.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.54 ₩51.0K

$27.93 ₩41.2K

23.67%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 ₩11.3K

$10.94 ₩16.1K

-30.07%

Banana (1kg)

$3.54 ₩5,227

$3.73 ₩5,505

-5.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.42 ₩7,995

$7.52 ₩11.1K

-27.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 ₩9,575

$5.28 ₩7,796

22.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 ₩5,705

$3.90 ₩5,749

-0.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 ₩4,236

$2.90 ₩4,278

-1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 ₩3,856

$2.26 ₩3,328

15.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,943

$1.16 ₩1,718

13.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₩4,905

$3.27 ₩4,829

1.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.50 ₩24.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₩3,517

$1.80 ₩2,653

32.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩4,973

$3.24 ₩4,773

4.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,587

$1.12 ₩1,653

-3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.87 ₩69.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ₩5,109

$3.13 ₩4,611

10.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩840

$0.54 ₩790

5.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.00 ₩13.3K

$8.57 ₩12.6K

5.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,846

$1.36 ₩2,004

-8.09%

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

$27.9K ₩41.2M

$27.2K ₩40.1M

2.76%

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

$25.4K ₩37.4M

$24.9K ₩36.7M

1.94%

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

$160 ₩236.5K

$188 ₩278.0K

-14.95%

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

$34.41 ₩50.8K

$39.25 ₩57.9K

-12.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.05 ₩32.5K

$20.92 ₩30.9K

5.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 ₩85.5K

$55.0 ₩81.2K

5.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.44 ₩34.6K

Cinema Ticket

$10.93 ₩16.1K

$10.04 ₩14.8K

8.86%

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

$417 ₩615.5K

$419 ₩618.1K

-0.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K ₩34.8M

$23.1K ₩34.1M

1.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₩87.3K

$57.7 ₩85.2K

2.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.41 ₩71.4K

$41.38 ₩61.1K

16.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 ₩117.8K

$85.7 ₩126.5K

-6.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ₩169.4K

$114 ₩168.4K

0.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ₩1.4M

$505 ₩744.5K

87.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₩867.2K

$369 ₩544.0K

59.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,584 ₩3.8M

$2,114 ₩3.1M

22.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₩1.9M

$1,468 ₩2.2M

-10.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$26.0K ₩38.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.7K ₩15.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 ₩4.6M

$2,041 ₩3.0M

54.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

3.5

18.29%

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

Last update for Seoul: July 14, 2026

Last update for Gyeonggi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $944 in Seoul and $505 in Gyeonggi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays 54% 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 $85.0 in Gyeonggi. Groceries flip the comparison at $491 vs $422, with Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gyeonggi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 54% 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 $505 in Gyeonggi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $417 in Seoul versus $419 in Gyeonggi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Gyeonggi – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $54.0 in Seoul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,389 in Gyeonggi versus $1,765 in Seoul, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gyeonggi but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.