Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Pohang Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Pohang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,752 in Seoul versus $1,307 in Pohang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,801 in Seoul versus $1,611 in Pohang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,850 in Seoul versus $1,915 in Pohang.

Living in Seoul is roughly 34% more expensive than in Pohang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Seoul is 28% above, Pohang is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.76 ₩13.3K

$5.81 ₩7,898

67.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 ₩89.2K

$21.80 ₩29.6K

201.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 ₩9,710

$6.59 ₩8,957

8.35%

Cappuccino

$4.02 ₩5,467

$2.87 ₩3,902

40.07%

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

$1.64 ₩2,224

$1.44 ₩1,951

13.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₩1,122

$0.47 ₩637

76.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 ₩4,877

$3.54 ₩4,815

1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 ₩7,792

$3.57 ₩4,849

60.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₩2,863

$1.88 ₩2,559

12.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,228

$3.17 ₩4,304

-1.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.25 ₩5,779

$2.48 ₩3,378

71.37%

Eggs

$3.38 ₩4,591

$2.64 ₩3,590

28.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.01 ₩23.1K

$10.95 ₩14.9K

55.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.06 ₩13.7K

$6.49 ₩8,817

55.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.88 ₩33.8K

$24.37 ₩33.1K

2.09%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 ₩10.0K

$2.14 ₩2,905

243.93%

Banana (1kg)

$3.47 ₩4,718

$3.49 ₩4,741

-0.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 ₩7,539

$7.70 ₩10.5K

-27.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 ₩8,503

$2.98 ₩4,044

110.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.65 ₩4,955

$4.90 ₩6,663

-25.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 ₩3,307

$3.32 ₩4,519

-26.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 ₩3,707

$2.24 ₩3,040

21.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₩1,468

$1.30 ₩1,761

-16.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,397

$3.22 ₩4,373

0.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.34 ₩24.9K

$6.42 ₩8,732

185.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,210

$1.45 ₩1,970

62.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₩4,247

$3.30 ₩4,480

-5.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,581

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.79 ₩60.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩4,833

$3.38 ₩4,596

5.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩795

$0.60 ₩817

-3.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 ₩12.1K

$16.22 ₩22.0K

-45.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₩1,969

$1.22 ₩1,652

18.85%

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

$29.1K ₩39.5M

$28.8K ₩39.2M

0.82%

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

$28.1K ₩38.2M

$27.9K ₩37.9M

0.63%

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

$196 ₩267.0K

$97.7 ₩132.8K

101.02%

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

$34.49 ₩46.9K

$35.52 ₩48.3K

-2.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.80 ₩26.9K

$25.97 ₩35.3K

-23.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩77.5K

$28.64 ₩38.9K

99.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.05 ₩21.8K

$7.20 ₩9,785

122.92%

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩15.0K

$10.87 ₩14.8K

1.56%

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

$1,891 ₩2.6M

$612 ₩831.6K

209.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩30.0M

$21.4K ₩29.2M

2.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 ₩76.6K

$101 ₩137.3K

-44.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 ₩44.1K

$63.7 ₩86.6K

-49.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 ₩92.8K

$92.1 ₩125.2K

-25.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.4 ₩107.9K

$111 ₩150.6K

-28.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₩1.2M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 ₩816.9K

$454 ₩616.6K

32.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,497 ₩3.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 ₩1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.2K ₩38.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.3K ₩15.4M

$2,891 ₩3.9M

292.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,486 ₩4.7M

$2,242 ₩3.0M

55.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.22

-3.32%

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

Last update for Seoul: August 30, 2026

Last update for Pohang: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Seoul pays 56% 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: $66.0 in Seoul vs $22.00 in Pohang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $359 per month, with Pohang cheaper across the board.

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 Pohang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pohang wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Seoul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pohang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 56% higher in Seoul, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $1,891 in Seoul versus $612 in Pohang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Pohang – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $66.0 in Seoul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,307 in Pohang versus $1,752 in Seoul, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pohang but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Pohang 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 Pohang 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 Pohang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.