Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Lethbridge, AB Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Lethbridge, AB

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,742 per month in Seoul vs $2,010 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,892 per month in Seoul vs $2,975 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,043 per month in Seoul vs $3,941 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

Seoul is about 13% cheaper than Lethbridge, AB, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Lethbridge, AB sit above the global median – Seoul by 30%, Lethbridge, AB by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.59 ₩13.2K

$18.57 CA$25.82

-53.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩83.2K

$69.3 CA$96.4

-21.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 ₩9,659

$11.15 CA$15.51

-43.50%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,954

$3.61 CA$5.02

7.48%

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

$1.72 ₩2,643

$1.60 CA$2.23

7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,311

$1.75 CA$2.43

-50.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 ₩5,511

$5.25 CA$7.30

-31.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩9,101

$6.17 CA$8.57

-3.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,410

$2.13 CA$2.96

4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 ₩5,288

$2.39 CA$3.32

44.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,804

$3.41 CA$4.74

-8.21%

Eggs

$3.19 ₩4,886

$3.31 CA$4.60

-3.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 ₩21.8K

$12.25 CA$17.03

16.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 ₩16.8K

$12.57 CA$17.48

-12.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.74 ₩53.2K

$12.47 CA$17.35

178.59%

Apples (1kg)

$7.97 ₩12.2K

$4.21 CA$5.86

89.31%

Banana (1kg)

$3.46 ₩5,307

$1.28 CA$1.78

170.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.43 ₩8,323

$3.78 CA$5.26

43.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.69 ₩10.2K

$4.35 CA$6.04

53.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₩5,830

$2.59 CA$3.60

46.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,516

$2.68 CA$3.72

10.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 ₩4,024

$2.77 CA$3.85

-5.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,947

$1.95 CA$2.72

-34.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,949

$14.70 CA$20.45

-78.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.49 ₩29.9K

$13.10 CA$18.21

48.78%

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

$2.93 CA$4.07

10.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,710

$2.16 CA$3.01

-48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 ₩73.4K

$56.7 CA$78.9

-15.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩5,458

$3.59 CA$4.99

-0.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₩828

$1.36 CA$1.89

-60.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.72 ₩13.4K

$29.17 CA$40.56

-70.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,911

$1.07 CA$1.49

16.82%

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

$28.3K ₩43.3M

$25.5K CA$35.4K

10.90%

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

$25.3K ₩38.8M

$20.7K CA$28.8K

22.19%

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

$161 ₩246.1K

$207 CA$288

-22.58%

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

$34.38 ₩52.7K

$41.74 CA$58.1

-17.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.41 ₩34.3K

$59.6 CA$82.8

-62.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩87.3K

$46.10 CA$64.1

23.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 ₩35.6K

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩17.1K

$11.60 CA$16.13

-3.53%

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

$412 ₩631.7K

$860 CA$1,196

-52.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K ₩36.3M

$16.0K CA$22.3K

47.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₩89.9K

$44.42 CA$61.8

32.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.80 ₩71.7K

$47.14 CA$65.6

-0.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 ₩120.0K

$87.8 CA$122

-10.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₩175.0K

$107 CA$149

6.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 ₩1.5M

$975 CA$1,356

-1.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₩924.9K

$777 CA$1,081

-22.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,580 ₩4.0M

$1,378 CA$1,916

87.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 ₩2.0M

$1,277 CA$1,776

2.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K ₩27.9M

$5,677 CA$7,896

220.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,223 ₩14.1M

$2,056 CA$2,860

348.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,095 ₩4.7M

$3,048 CA$4,239

1.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

5.71

-27.50%

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

Last update for Seoul: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lethbridge, AB: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Seoul versus $975 in Lethbridge, AB. 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 2% 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 $69.0 in Lethbridge, AB. Groceries tell a different story – $500 in Seoul vs $366 in Lethbridge, AB – so Lethbridge, AB 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 Lethbridge, AB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,742 in Seoul, $2,010 in Lethbridge, AB – roughly 15% apart. Lethbridge, AB 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 $3,015 in Lethbridge, AB. 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 37% cheaper in Lethbridge, AB – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Seoul and $69.0 in Lethbridge, AB. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Seoul, where all-in costs run around $1,742, than in Lethbridge, AB at $2,010. In Seoul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lethbridge, AB 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, Lethbridge, AB makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.