Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,742 per month in Seoul vs $2,347 in Kingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,892 per month in Seoul vs $3,286 in Kingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,043 per month in Seoul vs $4,226 in Kingston, rent included.

Seoul is about 26% cheaper than Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Kingston sit above the global median – Seoul by 30%, Kingston by 75%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.59 ₩13.2K

$16.77 CA$23.33

-48.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩83.2K

$74.6 CA$104

-27.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 ₩9,659

$11.29 CA$15.70

-44.20%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,954

$3.55 CA$4.94

9.30%

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

$1.72 ₩2,643

$1.88 CA$2.62

-8.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,311

$1.42 CA$1.98

-39.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 ₩5,511

$5.78 CA$8.04

-37.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩9,101

$6.62 CA$9.20

-10.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,410

$2.57 CA$3.57

-13.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 ₩5,288

$2.55 CA$3.55

35.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,804

$4.06 CA$5.64

-22.91%

Eggs

$3.19 ₩4,886

$2.92 CA$4.06

9.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 ₩21.8K

$10.55 CA$14.67

34.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 ₩16.8K

$11.30 CA$15.71

-2.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.74 ₩53.2K

$11.82 CA$16.44

193.91%

Apples (1kg)

$7.97 ₩12.2K

$3.64 CA$5.06

118.96%

Banana (1kg)

$3.46 ₩5,307

$1.31 CA$1.83

164.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.43 ₩8,323

$4.02 CA$5.59

35.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.69 ₩10.2K

$4.76 CA$6.62

40.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₩5,830

$3.57 CA$4.97

6.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,516

$2.30 CA$3.20

28.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 ₩4,024

$2.99 CA$4.16

-12.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,947

$1.68 CA$2.34

-24.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,949

$13.60 CA$18.91

-76.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.49 ₩29.9K

$12.50 CA$17.39

55.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₩3,710

$2.27 CA$3.16

6.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₩4,977

$3.45 CA$4.80

-5.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,710

$2.64 CA$3.67

-57.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 ₩73.4K

$60.0 CA$83.5

-20.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩5,458

$3.23 CA$4.49

10.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₩828

$1.52 CA$2.11

-64.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.72 ₩13.4K

$33.53 CA$46.63

-73.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,911

$1.10 CA$1.53

13.64%

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

$28.3K ₩43.3M

$25.1K CA$34.9K

12.62%

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

$25.3K ₩38.8M

$21.0K CA$29.3K

20.41%

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

$161 ₩246.1K

$134 CA$186

20.17%

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

$34.38 ₩52.7K

$43.78 CA$60.9

-21.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.41 ₩34.3K

$78.5 CA$109

-71.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩87.3K

$31.93 CA$44.41

78.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 ₩35.6K

$9.31 CA$12.95

149.52%

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩17.1K

$11.16 CA$15.51

0.27%

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

$412 ₩631.7K

$434 CA$604

-5.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K ₩36.3M

$11.7K CA$16.2K

102.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₩89.9K

$46.04 CA$64.0

27.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.80 ₩71.7K

$35.14 CA$48.86

33.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 ₩120.0K

$95.7 CA$133

-18.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₩175.0K

$94.5 CA$131

20.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 ₩1.5M

$1,278 CA$1,778

-25.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₩924.9K

$1,146 CA$1,594

-47.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,580 ₩4.0M

$2,064 CA$2,870

25.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 ₩2.0M

$1,643 CA$2,285

-20.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K ₩27.9M

$3,486 CA$4,848

421.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,223 ₩14.1M

$2,498 CA$3,474

269.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,095 ₩4.7M

$2,996 CA$4,167

3.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

6.69

-38.12%

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

Last update for Seoul: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Seoul versus $1,278 in Kingston. 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 3% higher in Seoul, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Seoul versus $75.0 in Kingston. Groceries tell a different story – $500 in Seoul vs $359 in Kingston – so Kingston 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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,742 in Seoul, $2,347 in Kingston – roughly 35% apart. Kingston costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,613 per month in Seoul and $3,521 in Kingston. 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 $1,742 in Seoul and $2,347 in Kingston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 25% 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 $1,742, than in Kingston at $2,347. In Seoul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingston 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, Kingston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.