Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Magdeburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Magdeburg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,757 per month in Seoul vs $1,935 in Magdeburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,790 per month in Seoul vs $2,873 in Magdeburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,822 per month in Seoul vs $3,811 in Magdeburg, rent included.

Seoul is about 9% cheaper than Magdeburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Magdeburg sit above the global median – Seoul by 28%, Magdeburg by 41%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.53 ₩13.1K

$13.48 €11.75

-29.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.0 ₩93.7K

$69.5 €60.6

-2.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 ₩10.1K

$11.54 €10.06

-36.31%

Cappuccino

$4.17 ₩5,740

$3.23 €2.81

29.10%

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

$1.67 ₩2,299

$3.69 €3.22

-54.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₩1,067

$2.97 €2.59

-74.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 ₩5,155

$4.56 €3.97

-17.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 ₩8,076

$4.75 €4.14

23.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ₩2,856

$1.37 €1.20

51.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₩4,363

$2.21 €1.93

43.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 ₩5,814

$3.97 €3.46

6.30%

Eggs

$3.49 ₩4,806

$3.97 €3.46

-12.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.99 ₩23.4K

$14.76 €12.87

15.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 ₩13.7K

$11.35 €9.90

-12.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.97 ₩35.8K

$24.64 €21.48

5.40%

Apples (1kg)

$7.78 ₩10.7K

$3.47 €3.03

124.21%

Banana (1kg)

$3.47 ₩4,781

$2.20 €1.92

57.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 ₩7,648

$2.11 €1.84

163.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.27 ₩8,639

$4.48 €3.90

39.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.74 ₩5,149

$1.37 €1.19

172.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₩3,506

$1.17 €1.02

117.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,773

$1.50 €1.31

82.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₩1,472

$1.68 €1.46

-36.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩4,634

$10.25 €8.93

-67.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.77 ₩25.9K

$5.70 €4.97

229.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₩3,372

$1.26 €1.10

94.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ₩4,243

$1.75 €1.52

76.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,562

$3.40 €2.96

-66.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.48 ₩64.1K

$71.6 €62.4

-35.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 ₩4,888

$11.35 €9.90

-68.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 ₩814

$2.97 €2.58

-80.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 ₩12.1K

$11.66 €10.17

-24.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₩2,095

$2.08 €1.81

-26.92%

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

$28.7K ₩39.6M

$34.2K €29.9K

-16.12%

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

$27.5K ₩38.0M

$39.3K €34.2K

-29.87%

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

$198 ₩272.4K

$447 €390

-55.80%

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

$35.76 ₩49.3K

$26.83 €23.39

33.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.20 ₩27.8K

$39.62 €34.54

-49.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.9 ₩81.2K

$39.21 €34.18

50.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.96 ₩22.0K

$32.64 €28.45

-51.10%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 ₩15.5K

$14.03 €12.23

-19.60%

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

$1,899 ₩2.6M

$232 €203

717.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.8K ₩31.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ₩80.4K

$92.4 €80.5

-36.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.33 ₩44.6K

$34.26 €29.86

-5.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 ₩97.5K

$110 €95.5

-35.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.7 ₩114.0K

$172 €150

-51.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

$620 €540

43.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₩823.2K

$446 €389

33.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,570 ₩3.5M

$1,181 €1,030

117.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ₩1.7M

$768 €669

63.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.3K ₩40.4M

$4,904 €4,275

497.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K ₩15.8M

$1,583 €1,380

624.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,545 ₩4.9M

$2,848 €2,483

24.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

3.95

3.29%

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

Last update for Seoul: September 14, 2026

Last update for Magdeburg: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $891 in Seoul versus $620 in Magdeburg. 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 24% 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 $68.0 in Seoul versus $70.0 in Magdeburg. Groceries tell a different story – $471 in Seoul vs $358 in Magdeburg – so Magdeburg 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 Magdeburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,757 in Seoul, $1,935 in Magdeburg – roughly 10% apart. Magdeburg costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,636 per month in Seoul and $2,902 in Magdeburg. 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,899 per month in Seoul and $232 in Magdeburg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 32% cheaper in Magdeburg – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Seoul, where all-in costs run around $1,757, than in Magdeburg at $1,935. In Seoul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Magdeburg 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, Magdeburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.