Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Ilsan Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Ilsan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,783 in Seoul versus $1,417 in Ilsan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,868 in Seoul versus $2,307 in Ilsan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,952 in Seoul versus $3,198 in Ilsan.

Living in Seoul is roughly 26% more expensive than in Ilsan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seoul 29% above, Ilsan 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$7.30 ₩9,802

34.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.1 ₩92.7K

$67.7 ₩90.8K

2.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 ₩10.2K

$7.34 ₩9,849

3.13%

Cappuccino

$4.04 ₩5,422

$4.19 ₩5,626

-3.58%

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

$1.60 ₩2,152

$1.65 ₩2,213

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₩1,052

$0.76 ₩1,023

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,030

$3.67 ₩4,918

2.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 ₩8,196

$5.91 ₩7,928

3.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₩2,882

$2.10 ₩2,825

2.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,178

$3.12 ₩4,192

-0.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 ₩5,638

$2.24 ₩3,008

87.50%

Eggs

$3.41 ₩4,571

$3.22 ₩4,320

5.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 ₩23.5K

$15.55 ₩20.9K

12.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$7.57 ₩10.2K

29.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.26 ₩33.9K

$11.35 ₩15.2K

122.56%

Apples (1kg)

$7.80 ₩10.5K

$7.73 ₩10.4K

0.91%

Banana (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,480

$3.14 ₩4,216

6.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,796

$5.82 ₩7,807

-0.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 ₩8,314

$6.29 ₩8,437

-1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₩4,787

$3.41 ₩4,572

4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 ₩3,351

$2.44 ₩3,281

2.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 ₩3,747

$2.08 ₩2,786

34.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₩1,500

$1.07 ₩1,440

4.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,376

$3.37 ₩4,527

-3.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 ₩24.5K

$18.68 ₩25.1K

-2.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₩3,221

$2.29 ₩3,066

4.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₩4,220

$3.15 ₩4,222

-0.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,507

$1.12 ₩1,505

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.94 ₩61.6K

$49.03 ₩65.8K

-6.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₩4,888

$3.48 ₩4,666

4.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₩843

$0.65 ₩875

-3.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₩12.0K

$8.85 ₩11.9K

1.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₩2,024

$1.40 ₩1,878

7.86%

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

$29.8K ₩40.0M

0.23%

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

$28.0K ₩37.6M

$28.3K ₩38.0M

-1.18%

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

$201 ₩269.1K

$208 ₩278.8K

-3.48%

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

$34.79 ₩46.7K

$35.68 ₩47.9K

-2.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.70 ₩26.4K

$20.07 ₩26.9K

-1.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 ₩76.4K

$56.6 ₩76.0K

0.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.20 ₩21.7K

$12.13 ₩16.3K

33.55%

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩14.8K

$11.22 ₩15.1K

-1.60%

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

$1,915 ₩2.6M

$576 ₩773.3K

232.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K ₩30.5M

$17.8K ₩23.9M

27.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ₩76.1K

$57.6 ₩77.3K

-1.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 ₩43.7K

$32.06 ₩43.0K

1.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 ₩93.0K

$71.0 ₩95.2K

-2.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 ₩108.6K

$80.5 ₩108.0K

0.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

$450 ₩604.1K

97.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 ₩826.4K

$345 ₩462.3K

78.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,555 ₩3.4M

$1,094 ₩1.5M

133.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 ₩1.7M

$660 ₩885.5K

90.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.4K ₩38.1M

$7,303 ₩9.8M

288.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K ₩15.5M

$5,955 ₩8.0M

94.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,457 ₩4.6M

$3,506 ₩4.7M

-1.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.1

-0.49%

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

Last update for Seoul: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ilsan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $891 in Seoul and $450 in Ilsan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilsan pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Seoul vs $68.0 in Ilsan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $469 vs $396 per month, with Ilsan 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 Ilsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ilsan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Ilsan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $891 in Seoul versus $450 in Ilsan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,783 per month in Seoul versus $1,417 in Ilsan – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ilsan runs roughly 7% less than in Seoul. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,417 in Ilsan versus $1,783 in Seoul, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ilsan but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Ilsan 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 Ilsan 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 Ilsan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.