Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Muntinlupa

For one person, living is cheaper in Muntinlupa: $742 a month against $1,794 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

88

Cost of Living Index in Seoul
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Seoul Living Index
36

Cost of Living Index in Muntinlupa
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Muntinlupa Living Index

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Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,794

/mo nomad

Muntinlupa

🇵🇭 Philippines

$742

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seoul and in Muntinlupa

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 Muntinlupa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,794 in Seoul versus $742 in Muntinlupa.

Seoul $1,794
Muntinlupa $742

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,863 in Seoul versus $1,173 in Muntinlupa.

Seoul $2,863
Muntinlupa $1,173

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,931 in Seoul versus $1,604 in Muntinlupa.

Seoul $3,931
Muntinlupa $1,604

Living in Seoul is roughly 142% more expensive than in Muntinlupa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Seoul is 33% above, Muntinlupa is 45% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.80 ₩11.7K

$3.94 ₱248

123.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.4 ₩90.9K

$27.36 ₱1,722

149.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 ₩10.0K

$2.81 ₱177

168.33%

Cappuccino

$4.23 ₩5,624

$2.36 ₱149

79.24%

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

$1.63 ₩2,167

$0.95 ₱59.7

71.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₩985

$0.44 ₱27.42

68.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 ₩4,843

$1.16 ₱72.7

213.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.15 ₩8,175

$1.78 ₱112

245.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 ₩2,679

$1.64 ₱103

22.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₩4,164

$1.22 ₱76.6

156.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 ₩5,744

$1.02 ₱64.3

323.53%

Eggs

$3.61 ₩4,794

$2.07 ₱130

74.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.83 ₩23.7K

$5.00 ₱315

256.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.45 ₩13.9K

$3.78 ₱238

176.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.80 ₩34.3K

$6.93 ₱436

272.29%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 ₩10.2K

$2.37 ₱149

223.21%

Banana (1kg)

$3.38 ₩4,499

$1.53 ₱96.4

120.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,723

$2.58 ₱162

125.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.41 ₩8,520

$1.23 ₱77.6

421.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 ₩4,983

$1.79 ₱112

109.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₩3,375

$1.93 ₱122

31.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 ₩3,782

$0.98 ₱61.8

189.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₩1,472

$0.56 ₱35.06

98.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₩4,455

$2.90 ₱183

15.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 ₩24.6K

$8.68 ₱547

113.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₩3,185

$1.28 ₱80.9

87.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩4,480

$2.09 ₱132

61.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,521

$0.26 ₱16.62

338.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.11 ₩61.3K

$12.39 ₱780

272.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 ₩4,643

$0.74 ₱46.66

371.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₩840

$0.23 ₱14.51

173.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₩11.8K

$1.94 ₱122

356.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₩2,005

$1.22 ₱76.6

23.77%

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

$29.3K ₩38.9M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

39.02%

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

$28.2K ₩37.5M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

45.46%

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

$218 ₩289.2K

$123 ₱7,728

77.21%

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

$35.15 ₩46.7K

$16.06 ₱1,011

118.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.29 ₩28.3K

$23.97 ₱1,509

-11.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.1 ₩77.2K

$32.71 ₱2,059

77.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.10 ₩21.4K

$4.82 ₱304

234.02%

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 ₩15.0K

$5.17 ₱325

118.76%

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

$1,948 ₩2.6M

$135 ₱8,503

1342.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.9K ₩30.4M

$8,993 ₱566.2K

154.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 ₩75.8K

$32.60 ₱2,052

74.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.39 ₩44.4K

$19.70 ₱1,240

69.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 ₩95.0K

$77.7 ₱4,889

-7.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 ₩109.7K

$58.6 ₱3,688

40.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$901 ₩1.2M

$270 ₱17.0K

233.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$612 ₩813.5K

$172 ₱10.8K

256.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 ₩3.4M

$517 ₱32.5K

388.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,266 ₩1.7M

$393 ₱24.8K

222.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.4K ₩39.1M

$2,401 ₱151.1K

1125.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.9K ₩15.8M

$994 ₱62.6K

1097.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,650 ₩4.9M

$602 ₱37.9K

506.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

6.75

-39.56%

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

Last update for Seoul: October 11, 2026

Last update for Muntinlupa: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seoul

$612 34.1%

Muntinlupa

$172 23.2% 71.9% $440

Groceries & Markets

Seoul

$477 26.6%

Muntinlupa

$181 24.4% 62.1% $296

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seoul

$274 15.3%

Muntinlupa

$163 21.9% 40.6% $111

Eating Out

Seoul

$184 10.2%

Muntinlupa

$83 11.2% 54.7% $101

Clothing & Footwear

Seoul

$110 6.1%

Muntinlupa

$85 11.4% 22.9% $25

Sport & Entertainment

Seoul

$81 4.5%

Muntinlupa

$43 5.8% 46.7% $38

Getting Around

Seoul

$57 3.2%

Muntinlupa

$15 2.1% 73.2% $42

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $901 in Seoul and $270 in Muntinlupa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays 506% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $68.0 in Seoul vs $27.00 in Muntinlupa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $477 vs $181 per month, with Muntinlupa cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇰🇷 Seoul

🇵🇭 Muntinlupa

🕒 Local time

08:07 8:07 AM

07:07 7:07 AM

1 h behind Seoul

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

9,509,458 Capital

543,445

💱 Currency

South Korean Won KRW ₩

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇷 South Korean Won (₩)

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to KRW in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Seoul Muntinlupa 2,640 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Seoul
Muntinlupa

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 Muntinlupa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muntinlupa wins on cost – living expenses run 142% lower than in Seoul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Muntinlupa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 506% higher in Seoul, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $901 in Seoul versus $270 in Muntinlupa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,948 in Seoul versus $135 in Muntinlupa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 164% higher in Seoul. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $742 in Muntinlupa versus $1,794 in Seoul, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Muntinlupa but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Muntinlupa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seoul and Muntinlupa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Muntinlupa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 142% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.