Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Pangyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Pangyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,742 per month in Seoul vs $1,472 in Pangyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,892 per month in Seoul vs $2,272 in Pangyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,043 per month in Seoul vs $3,071 in Pangyo, rent included.

Seoul costs about 18% more than Pangyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Pangyo sit above the global median – Seoul by 30%, Pangyo by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.59 ₩13.0K

$7.18 ₩10.9K

19.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩82.2K

$36.12 ₩54.7K

50.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 ₩9,550

$5.59 ₩8,463

12.70%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,886

$3.95 ₩5,987

-1.77%

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

$1.72 ₩2,613

$1.52 ₩2,301

13.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,296

$0.83 ₩1,264

3.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 ₩5,448

$3.29 ₩4,987

9.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩8,998

$5.07 ₩7,675

17.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,371

$2.15 ₩3,256

3.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 ₩5,228

$3.09 ₩4,676

11.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,749

$3.10 ₩4,703

0.97%

Eggs

$3.19 ₩4,830

$3.01 ₩4,564

5.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 ₩21.5K

$10.60 ₩16.1K

34.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 ₩16.6K

$8.01 ₩12.1K

37.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.74 ₩52.6K

$27.61 ₩41.8K

25.82%

Apples (1kg)

$7.97 ₩12.1K

$8.00 ₩12.1K

-0.38%

Banana (1kg)

$3.46 ₩5,247

$3.24 ₩4,903

6.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.43 ₩8,229

$5.46 ₩8,271

-0.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.69 ₩10.1K

$5.15 ₩7,805

29.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₩5,763

$3.96 ₩6,006

-4.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,465

$2.98 ₩4,509

-1.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 ₩3,978

$2.14 ₩3,239

22.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,924

$1.15 ₩1,744

10.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,893

$3.22 ₩4,876

0.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.49 ₩29.5K

$16.41 ₩24.9K

18.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₩3,668

$1.89 ₩2,866

28.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₩4,921

$3.33 ₩5,042

-2.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,691

$1.12 ₩1,694

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 ₩72.6K

$47.67 ₩72.2K

0.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩5,396

$3.61 ₩5,466

-1.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₩818

$0.53 ₩802

1.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.72 ₩13.2K

$8.73 ₩13.2K

-0.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,889

$1.18 ₩1,780

5.93%

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

$28.3K ₩42.8M

$27.4K ₩41.5M

3.08%

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

$25.3K ₩38.4M

$24.8K ₩37.6M

2.23%

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

$161 ₩243.4K

$162 ₩245.9K

-1.02%

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

$34.38 ₩52.1K

$35.40 ₩53.6K

-2.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.41 ₩34.0K

$21.84 ₩33.1K

2.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩86.4K

$46.97 ₩71.2K

21.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 ₩35.2K

$33.70 ₩51.1K

-31.07%

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩17.0K

$10.97 ₩16.6K

2.01%

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

$412 ₩624.5K

$419 ₩634.3K

-1.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K ₩35.8M

$23.5K ₩35.6M

0.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₩88.9K

$58.1 ₩88.0K

1.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.80 ₩70.9K

$48.49 ₩73.5K

-3.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 ₩118.6K

$78.6 ₩119.2K

-0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₩173.0K

$114 ₩173.2K

-0.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 ₩1.4M

$456 ₩691.2K

109.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₩914.5K

$381 ₩577.4K

58.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,580 ₩3.9M

$1,045 ₩1.6M

147.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 ₩2.0M

$771 ₩1.2M

69.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K ₩27.5M

$9,529 ₩14.4M

90.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,223 ₩14.0M

$5,255 ₩8.0M

75.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,095 ₩4.7M

$4,598 ₩7.0M

-32.70%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Pangyo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Seoul versus $456 in Pangyo. 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 49% higher in Pangyo, 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 $36.00 in Pangyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $500 vs $428 – making Pangyo 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 Pangyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seoul is pricier by about 18%, 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 $2,613 per month in Seoul and $2,209 in Pangyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pangyo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 0% less in Pangyo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $412 per month in Seoul and $419 in Pangyo. 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 Pangyo, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Seoul at $1,742. In Pangyo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pangyo – 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 Pangyo. 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.