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: $1,742 in Seoul versus $1,333 in Pohang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,892 in Seoul versus $2,007 in Pohang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,043 in Seoul versus $2,680 in Pohang.

Living in Seoul is roughly 31% more expensive than Pohang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seoul 30% above, Pohang 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.59 ₩13.2K

$5.23 ₩8,018

64.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩83.2K

$18.25 ₩28.0K

197.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 ₩9,657

$6.14 ₩9,412

2.61%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,952

$2.98 ₩4,565

30.20%

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

$1.72 ₩2,643

$1.44 ₩2,208

19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,311

$0.51 ₩787

68.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 ₩5,509

$3.75 ₩5,741

-4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩9,098

$3.62 ₩5,546

64.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,409

$1.79 ₩2,747

24.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 ₩5,286

$3.17 ₩4,854

8.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,802

$2.53 ₩3,883

23.72%

Eggs

$3.19 ₩4,884

$2.97 ₩4,547

7.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 ₩21.8K

$10.60 ₩16.2K

34.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 ₩16.8K

$6.44 ₩9,860

70.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.74 ₩53.2K

$27.14 ₩41.6K

28.00%

Apples (1kg)

$7.97 ₩12.2K

$2.17 ₩3,331

267.28%

Banana (1kg)

$3.46 ₩5,305

$3.11 ₩4,771

11.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.43 ₩8,321

$7.47 ₩11.4K

-27.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.69 ₩10.2K

$2.63 ₩4,030

154.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₩5,828

$4.89 ₩7,485

-22.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,514

$2.93 ₩4,494

0.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 ₩4,023

$2.02 ₩3,093

30.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,946

$1.16 ₩1,785

9.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,947

$3.33 ₩5,102

-3.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.49 ₩29.9K

$8.40 ₩12.9K

132.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₩3,709

$1.49 ₩2,280

62.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₩4,976

$3.37 ₩5,163

-3.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,710

$1.10 ₩1,691

1.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 ₩73.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩5,456

$2.47 ₩3,782

44.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₩827

$0.86 ₩1,313

-37.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.72 ₩13.4K

$16.38 ₩25.1K

-46.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,910

$1.22 ₩1,864

2.46%

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

$28.3K ₩43.3M

$28.0K ₩42.8M

1.08%

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

$25.3K ₩38.8M

$24.9K ₩38.2M

1.71%

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

$161 ₩246.1K

$106 ₩162.2K

51.70%

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

$34.38 ₩52.7K

$50.1 ₩76.8K

-31.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.41 ₩34.3K

$27.14 ₩41.6K

-17.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩87.3K

$29.52 ₩45.2K

93.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 ₩35.6K

$7.18 ₩11.0K

223.54%

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩17.1K

$10.98 ₩16.8K

1.91%

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

$412 ₩631.5K

$491 ₩752.6K

-16.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K ₩36.2M

$14.4K ₩22.1M

64.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₩89.9K

$104 ₩159.3K

-43.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.80 ₩71.7K

$47.82 ₩73.3K

-2.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 ₩120.0K

$87.1 ₩133.5K

-10.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₩175.0K

$110 ₩168.5K

3.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 ₩1.5M

$446 ₩682.9K

114.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₩924.7K

$427 ₩654.6K

41.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,580 ₩4.0M

$1,068 ₩1.6M

141.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 ₩2.0M

$780 ₩1.2M

67.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K ₩27.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,223 ₩14.1M

$2,602 ₩4.0M

254.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,095 ₩4.7M

$2,229 ₩3.4M

38.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

4.22

-1.90%

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

Last update for Seoul: June 2, 2026

Last update for Pohang: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $957 in Seoul and $446 in Pohang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays 39% 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: $54.0 in Seoul vs $18.00 in Pohang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $500 vs $363 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 31% 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.

Seoul pays 39% more on average, 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: $957 in Seoul versus $446 in Pohang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $412 in Seoul versus $491 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 $18.00 versus $54.0 in Seoul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,333 in Pohang versus $1,742 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 31% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.