Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Ipswich Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Ipswich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,761 per month in Seoul vs $2,158 in Ipswich, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,851 per month in Seoul vs $3,030 in Ipswich, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,940 per month in Seoul vs $3,902 in Ipswich, rent included.

Seoul is about 18% cheaper than Ipswich, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Ipswich sit above the global median – Seoul by 31%, Ipswich by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.81 ₩13.4K

$16.12 A$22.77

-45.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.2 ₩83.8K

$76.7 A$108

-28.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.34 ₩9,626

$9.56 A$13.50

-33.68%

Cappuccino

$3.93 ₩5,966

$3.36 A$4.75

16.96%

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

$1.74 ₩2,643

$2.60 A$3.68

-33.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₩1,284

$2.12 A$2.99

-59.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 ₩5,457

$6.68 A$9.44

-46.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 ₩8,885

$7.04 A$9.95

-16.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,364

$1.45 A$2.04

53.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.30 ₩5,010

$2.42 A$3.42

36.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,692

$1.93 A$2.73

60.10%

Eggs

$3.20 ₩4,862

$4.43 A$6.26

-27.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.10 ₩21.4K

$8.76 A$12.38

60.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.98 ₩16.7K

$8.64 A$12.21

27.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.92 ₩51.5K

$13.76 A$19.43

146.51%

Apples (1kg)

$7.78 ₩11.8K

$3.32 A$4.69

134.34%

Banana (1kg)

$3.61 ₩5,488

$2.77 A$3.91

30.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 ₩8,621

$2.99 A$4.23

89.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.60 ₩10.0K

$4.10 A$5.79

60.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.95 ₩5,994

$2.52 A$3.56

56.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,522

$2.12 A$2.99

40.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 ₩3,820

$2.12 A$2.99

18.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₩1,938

$1.58 A$2.24

-18.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₩5,062

$39.43 A$55.7

-91.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 ₩29.1K

$22.58 A$31.90

-15.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₩3,550

$4.60 A$6.51

-49.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩5,123

$5.21 A$7.36

-35.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,636

$2.68 A$3.78

-59.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.54 ₩70.7K

$66.1 A$93.4

-29.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₩5,287

$2.00 A$2.83

74.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩860

$1.38 A$1.95

-58.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₩13.5K

$33.38 A$47.16

-73.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₩1,828

$1.13 A$1.60

6.19%

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

$28.1K ₩42.7M

$29.3K A$41.3K

-3.88%

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

$24.7K ₩37.6M

$22.7K A$32.1K

9.00%

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

$166 ₩252.2K

$184 A$260

-9.85%

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

$34.26 ₩52.0K

$29.83 A$42.15

14.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.30 ₩33.9K

$51.9 A$73.3

-57.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.6 ₩87.5K

$47.92 A$67.7

20.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.03 ₩35.0K

$15.59 A$22.03

47.72%

Cinema Ticket

$10.89 ₩16.5K

$12.86 A$18.17

-15.32%

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

$409 ₩621.6K

$1,643 A$2,322

-75.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K ₩35.6M

$12.0K A$16.9K

96.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ₩90.4K

$68.5 A$96.8

-13.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.29 ₩71.8K

$51.5 A$72.8

-8.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 ₩118.8K

$99.8 A$141

-21.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩178.3K

$106 A$150

10.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$962 ₩1.5M

$956 A$1,351

0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 ₩884.5K

$937 A$1,324

-37.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,572 ₩3.9M

$1,306 A$1,845

96.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 ₩2.0M

$1,319 A$1,864

0.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$27.2K ₩41.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.9K ₩16.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,095 ₩4.7M

$4,243 A$5,995

-27.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

-31.00%

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

Last update for Seoul: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ipswich: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $962 in Seoul versus $956 in Ipswich. 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 37% higher in Ipswich, 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 $55.0 in Seoul versus $77.0 in Ipswich. Groceries tell a different story – $496 in Seoul vs $358 in Ipswich – so Ipswich wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ipswich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ipswich is pricier by about 23%, 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 $2,642 per month in Seoul and $3,237 in Ipswich. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Seoul, 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 $1,761 in Seoul and $2,158 in Ipswich. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 42% less in Seoul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Seoul, where all-in costs run around $1,761, than in Ipswich at $2,158. In Seoul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ipswich it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Seoul – 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 Seoul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ipswich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.