Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Mokpo Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Mokpo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,770 per month in Seoul vs $1,469 in Mokpo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,895 per month in Seoul vs $2,302 in Mokpo, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,020 per month in Seoul vs $3,136 in Mokpo, rent included.

Seoul costs about 21% more than Mokpo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Mokpo sit above the global median – Seoul by 33%, Mokpo by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.66 ₩12.4K

$13.79 ₩19.8K

-37.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.0 ₩80.5K

$36.15 ₩52.0K

54.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.48 ₩9,324

$5.30 ₩7,628

22.26%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₩5,621

$3.92 ₩5,640

-0.26%

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

$1.73 ₩2,485

$1.53 ₩2,200

13.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₩1,220

$0.85 ₩1,218

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,338

$3.26 ₩4,683

13.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 ₩8,206

$4.96 ₩7,138

15.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,221

$2.23 ₩3,214

0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 ₩5,020

$3.07 ₩4,416

13.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,441

$3.02 ₩4,346

2.32%

Eggs

$3.11 ₩4,477

$2.87 ₩4,133

8.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.26 ₩20.5K

$10.32 ₩14.8K

38.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.80 ₩15.5K

$8.00 ₩11.5K

35.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.05 ₩49.0K

$27.57 ₩39.6K

23.50%

Apples (1kg)

$7.77 ₩11.2K

$7.92 ₩11.4K

-1.89%

Banana (1kg)

$3.45 ₩4,967

$3.24 ₩4,664

6.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.63 ₩8,097

$5.67 ₩8,154

-0.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.66 ₩9,577

$5.20 ₩7,485

28.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 ₩5,515

$3.85 ₩5,533

-0.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₩4,221

$2.92 ₩4,200

0.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 ₩3,603

$2.21 ₩3,183

13.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,894

$1.15 ₩1,660

14.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 ₩4,738

$3.30 ₩4,744

-0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.33 ₩24.9K

$17.22 ₩24.8K

0.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₩3,356

$1.79 ₩2,572

30.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 ₩4,777

$3.37 ₩4,852

-1.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,544

$1.11 ₩1,594

-3.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.68 ₩67.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 ₩5,187

$3.59 ₩5,159

0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩756

$0.52 ₩752

1.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₩12.7K

$8.74 ₩12.6K

1.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₩1,805

$1.22 ₩1,755

3.28%

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

$27.5K ₩39.6M

0.10%

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

$25.5K ₩36.7M

$25.5K ₩36.6M

0.22%

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

$165 ₩236.9K

$163 ₩234.7K

0.93%

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

$34.26 ₩49.3K

$35.11 ₩50.5K

-2.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.53 ₩32.4K

$22.45 ₩32.3K

0.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.1 ₩83.6K

$48.07 ₩69.1K

20.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.16 ₩33.3K

Cinema Ticket

$11.20 ₩16.1K

$11.24 ₩16.2K

-0.36%

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

$417 ₩600.1K

$420 ₩604.6K

-0.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K ₩33.5M

$23.2K ₩33.4M

0.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ₩84.2K

$51.0 ₩73.4K

14.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.59 ₩68.4K

$48.46 ₩69.7K

-1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 ₩112.8K

$79.3 ₩114.1K

-1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₩167.5K

$116 ₩167.2K

0.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 ₩1.4M

$456 ₩655.6K

111.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₩856.0K

$378 ₩544.3K

57.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,556 ₩3.7M

$1,044 ₩1.5M

144.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 ₩1.9M

$758 ₩1.1M

71.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$27.0K ₩38.8M

$8,205 ₩11.8M

228.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩15.2M

$4,966 ₩7.1M

112.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,214 ₩4.6M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

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

Last update for Seoul: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mokpo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $964 in Seoul versus $456 in Mokpo. 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 $56.0 in Seoul versus $36.00 in Mokpo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $493 vs $428 – making Mokpo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mokpo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seoul is pricier by about 21%, 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 $2,655 per month in Seoul and $2,203 in Mokpo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mokpo, 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 $1,770 in Seoul and $1,469 in Mokpo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $417 per month in Seoul and $420 in Mokpo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mokpo, where all-in costs run around $1,469, than in Seoul at $1,770. In Mokpo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mokpo – 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 Mokpo. 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.