Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Kangar, Perlis

For one person, living is cheaper in Kangar, Perlis: $956 a month against $1,794 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,794
/mo nomad
Kangar, Perlis
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$956
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seoul and in Kangar, Perlis

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seoul and in Kangar, Perlis actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,794 per month in Seoul vs $956 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

  • Seoul $1,794
  • Kangar, Perlis $956

A couple spends around $2,863 per month in Seoul vs $1,408 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

  • Seoul $2,863
  • Kangar, Perlis $1,408

A family of three spends $3,931 per month in Seoul vs $1,861 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

  • Seoul $3,931
  • Kangar, Perlis $1,861

Seoul costs about 88% more than Kangar, Perlis, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Seoul sits 33% above the global median, while Kangar, Perlis is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.80 ₩11.7K
$3.57 MYR 14.55
146.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4 ₩90.9K
$21.50 MYR 87.7
218.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₩10.0K
$4.40 MYR 17.97
71.36%
Cappuccino
$4.23 ₩5,624
$2.86 MYR 11.68
47.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₩2,167
$0.77 MYR 3.13
111.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₩985
$0.38 MYR 1.56
94.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.64 ₩4,843
$3.79 MYR 15.48
-3.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 ₩8,175
$4.97 MYR 20.27
23.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.01 ₩2,679
$1.76 MYR 7.18
14.20%
White Bread (500g)
$3.13 ₩4,164
$1.05 MYR 4.29
198.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 ₩5,744
$1.66 MYR 6.78
160.24%
Eggs
$3.61 ₩4,794
$2.01 MYR 8.21
79.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.83 ₩23.7K
$13.31 MYR 54.3
33.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 ₩13.9K
$4.47 MYR 18.24
133.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.80 ₩34.3K
$9.54 MYR 38.93
170.44%
Apples (1kg)
$7.66 ₩10.2K
$3.43 MYR 14.01
123.32%
Banana (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,499
$1.82 MYR 7.41
85.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.81 ₩7,723
$2.54 MYR 10.37
128.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.41 ₩8,520
$1.80 MYR 7.36
256.11%
Potato (1kg)
$3.75 ₩4,983
$1.13 MYR 4.61
231.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 ₩3,375
$1.03 MYR 4.20
146.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.84 ₩3,782
$1.03 MYR 4.19
175.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₩1,472
$0.58 MYR 2.36
91.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 ₩4,455
$4.92 MYR 20.09
-31.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.49 ₩24.6K
$20.09 MYR 82.0
-7.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₩3,185
$2.60 MYR 10.62
-7.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 ₩4,480
$3.90 MYR 15.91
-13.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 ₩1,521
$0.82 MYR 3.36
39.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.11 ₩61.3K
$12.92 MYR 52.7
256.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 ₩4,643
$1.21 MYR 4.94
188.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 ₩840
$0.52 MYR 2.10
21.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₩11.8K
$7.58 MYR 30.91
16.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 ₩2,005
$0.77 MYR 3.12
96.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K ₩38.9M
$45.6K MYR 186.2K
-35.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K ₩37.5M
$33.4K MYR 136.1K
-15.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 ₩289.2K
$44.60 MYR 182
387.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.15 ₩46.7K
$9.52 MYR 38.84
269.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.29 ₩28.3K
$24.94 MYR 102
-14.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.1 ₩77.2K
$36.59 MYR 149
58.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.10 ₩21.4K
$7.71 MYR 31.45
108.82%
Cinema Ticket
$11.31 ₩15.0K
$4.37 MYR 17.83
158.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,948 ₩2.6M
$211 MYR 861
822.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.9K ₩30.4M
$6,606 MYR 26.9K
246.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 ₩75.8K
$50.9 MYR 208
12.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.39 ₩44.4K
$38.96 MYR 159
-14.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.5 ₩95.0K
$84.0 MYR 342
-14.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.5 ₩109.7K
$72.3 MYR 295
14.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 ₩1.2M
$348 MYR 1,422
158.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$612 ₩813.5K
$333 MYR 1,357
83.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,526 ₩3.4M
$749 MYR 3,057
237.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,266 ₩1.7M
$493 MYR 2,012
156.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.4K ₩39.1M
$2,142 MYR 8,738
1273.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.9K ₩15.8M
$1,088 MYR 4,437
994.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,650 ₩4.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
4.06
0.49%

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

Last update for Seoul: October 11, 2026

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seoul
$612
Kangar, Perlis
$333 45.6% $279
Groceries & Markets
Seoul
$477
Kangar, Perlis
$258 45.8% $218
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
$274
Kangar, Perlis
$79 71.1% $195
Eating Out
Seoul
$184
Kangar, Perlis
$110 40.4% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
$110
Kangar, Perlis
$111 0.7% $0.8
Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
$81
Kangar, Perlis
$45 43.8% $35
Getting Around
Seoul
$57
Kangar, Perlis
$20 65.1% $37

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $901 in Seoul versus $348 in Kangar, Perlis. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Seoul versus $22.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $477 vs $258 – making Kangar, Perlis the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Seoul
🇲🇾 Kangar, Perlis
🕒 Local time
09:03 9:03 AM
08:03 8:03 AM
1 h behind Seoul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,509,458 Capital
284,853
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seoul Kangar, Perlis 4,390 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Seoul
  • Kangar, Perlis

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kangar, Perlis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Seoul and in Kangar, Perlis compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,794 in Seoul, $956 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 88% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Seoul compared to Kangar, Perlis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,692 per month in Seoul and $1,434 in Kangar, Perlis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Seoul and Kangar, Perlis?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kangar, Perlis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Seoul and $22.00 in Kangar, Perlis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Seoul or Kangar, Perlis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,794 in Seoul and $956 in Kangar, Perlis. That's a gap of about 88%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kangar, Perlis, where all-in costs run around $956, than in Seoul at $1,794. In Kangar, Perlis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Seoul or Kangar, Perlis?
Families tend to lean toward Kangar, Perlis – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Seoul or Kangar, Perlis safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Seoul and Kangar, Perlis?
If budget matters most, go with Kangar, Perlis. 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.

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