Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Gyeongju Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Gyeongju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,783 per month in Seoul vs $1,197 in Gyeongju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,868 per month in Seoul vs $1,944 in Gyeongju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,952 per month in Seoul vs $2,690 in Gyeongju, rent included.

Seoul costs about 49% more than Gyeongju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Seoul sits 29% above the global median, while Gyeongju is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$7.61 ₩10.2K

29.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.1 ₩92.6K

$47.49 ₩63.7K

45.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 ₩10.2K

$6.71 ₩8,996

12.82%

Cappuccino

$4.04 ₩5,419

$2.98 ₩4,002

35.57%

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

$1.60 ₩2,151

$1.08 ₩1,454

48.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₩1,052

$0.39 ₩521

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,026

$2.67 ₩3,581

40.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 ₩8,190

$4.38 ₩5,867

39.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₩2,880

$2.33 ₩3,127

-7.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,176

$2.43 ₩3,264

27.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 ₩5,635

$3.19 ₩4,281

31.66%

Eggs

$3.41 ₩4,568

$2.72 ₩3,646

25.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 ₩23.5K

$10.91 ₩14.6K

60.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$10.45 ₩14.0K

-5.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.26 ₩33.9K

$18.47 ₩24.8K

36.76%

Apples (1kg)

$7.80 ₩10.5K

$4.45 ₩5,964

75.28%

Banana (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,477

$2.56 ₩3,434

30.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,792

$3.76 ₩5,043

54.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 ₩8,309

$3.69 ₩4,950

68.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₩4,784

$2.64 ₩3,546

35.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 ₩3,348

$2.24 ₩3,005

11.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 ₩3,745

$2.20 ₩2,952

26.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₩1,499

$1.27 ₩1,698

-11.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,373

$3.30 ₩4,426

-1.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 ₩24.5K

$15.04 ₩20.2K

21.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₩3,219

$1.12 ₩1,506

114.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₩4,217

$2.29 ₩3,071

37.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,506

$1.01 ₩1,361

10.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.94 ₩61.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₩4,885

$3.02 ₩4,047

20.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₩843

$0.72 ₩962

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₩12.0K

$16.94 ₩22.7K

-47.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₩2,023

$1.06 ₩1,420

42.45%

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

$29.8K ₩40.0M

$29.7K ₩39.8M

0.61%

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

$28.0K ₩37.6M

$33.0K ₩44.3M

-15.24%

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

$201 ₩268.9K

$78.7 ₩105.6K

154.66%

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

$34.79 ₩46.7K

$35.54 ₩47.7K

-2.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.70 ₩26.4K

$26.57 ₩35.6K

-25.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 ₩76.4K

$57.1 ₩76.6K

-0.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.20 ₩21.7K

$10.64 ₩14.3K

52.26%

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩14.8K

$11.18 ₩15.0K

-1.25%

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

$1,915 ₩2.6M

$630 ₩845.3K

203.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K ₩30.5M

$22.0K ₩29.5M

3.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ₩76.1K

$45.35 ₩60.8K

25.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 ₩43.7K

$22.40 ₩30.0K

45.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 ₩92.9K

$91.2 ₩122.4K

-24.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 ₩108.5K

$128 ₩172.3K

-37.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

$452 ₩606.0K

97.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 ₩825.9K

$352 ₩471.9K

75.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,555 ₩3.4M

$1,154 ₩1.5M

121.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 ₩1.7M

$815 ₩1.1M

54.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.4K ₩38.1M

$8,164 ₩10.9M

247.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K ₩15.5M

$6,253 ₩8.4M

84.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,457 ₩4.6M

$1,830 ₩2.5M

88.91%

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 Gyeongju: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $891 in Seoul versus $452 in Gyeongju. 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 89% 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 $47.00 in Gyeongju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $469 vs $359 – making Gyeongju 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 Gyeongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seoul is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,675 per month in Seoul and $1,796 in Gyeongju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gyeongju, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,783 in Seoul and $1,197 in Gyeongju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,915 per month in Seoul and $630 in Gyeongju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gyeongju, where all-in costs run around $1,197, than in Seoul at $1,783. In Gyeongju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gyeongju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Gyeongju. 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.