Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Saint John, New Brunswick Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Saint John, New Brunswick

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,752 in Seoul versus $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,801 in Seoul versus $2,928 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,850 in Seoul versus $3,887 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Living in Seoul costs roughly 11% less than in Saint John, New Brunswick, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seoul 28% above, Saint John, New Brunswick 43% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.76 ₩13.1K

$19.25 CA$26.64

-49.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 ₩88.3K

$60.6 CA$83.8

8.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 ₩9,614

$10.92 CA$15.12

-34.62%

Cappuccino

$4.02 ₩5,413

$3.16 CA$4.37

27.22%

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

$1.64 ₩2,202

$1.81 CA$2.51

-9.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₩1,111

$1.10 CA$1.52

-24.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 ₩4,829

$4.59 CA$6.35

-21.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 ₩7,715

$5.14 CA$7.11

11.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₩2,835

$2.19 CA$3.03

-3.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,187

$2.70 CA$3.74

15.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.25 ₩5,722

$3.22 CA$4.45

31.99%

Eggs

$3.38 ₩4,546

$3.69 CA$5.11

-8.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.01 ₩22.9K

$13.85 CA$19.17

22.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.06 ₩13.5K

$10.81 CA$14.96

-6.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.88 ₩33.5K

$13.14 CA$18.18

89.35%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 ₩9,902

$5.15 CA$7.13

42.91%

Banana (1kg)

$3.47 ₩4,672

$1.54 CA$2.12

125.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 ₩7,465

$4.31 CA$5.96

28.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 ₩8,420

$4.06 CA$5.62

54.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.65 ₩4,906

$2.13 CA$2.94

71.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 ₩3,274

$2.24 CA$3.10

8.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 ₩3,670

$2.66 CA$3.67

2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₩1,454

$1.47 CA$2.04

-26.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,354

$14.66 CA$20.29

-77.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.34 ₩24.7K

$9.98 CA$13.81

83.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,178

$1.85 CA$2.56

27.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₩4,205

$2.13 CA$2.94

46.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,565

$2.19 CA$3.03

-47.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.79 ₩60.3K

$57.8 CA$80.0

-22.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩4,785

$2.95 CA$4.09

20.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩787

$1.22 CA$1.68

-52.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 ₩12.0K

$21.97 CA$30.41

-59.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₩1,950

$1.21 CA$1.68

19.83%

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

$29.1K ₩39.1M

$25.4K CA$35.2K

14.39%

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

$28.1K ₩37.8M

$19.4K CA$26.9K

44.54%

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

$196 ₩264.4K

$124 CA$172

58.06%

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

$34.49 ₩46.4K

$41.81 CA$57.9

-17.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.80 ₩26.7K

$65.4 CA$90.5

-69.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩76.8K

$54.6 CA$75.5

4.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.05 ₩21.6K

$35.76 CA$49.49

-55.12%

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩14.9K

$12.76 CA$17.65

-13.48%

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

$1,891 ₩2.5M

$384 CA$531

393.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.7M

$11.5K CA$15.9K

91.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 ₩75.8K

$51.5 CA$71.2

9.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 ₩43.7K

$35.92 CA$49.70

-9.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 ₩91.9K

$106 CA$147

-35.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.4 ₩106.9K

$110 CA$153

-28.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₩1.2M

$1,011 CA$1,399

-14.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 ₩808.9K

$841 CA$1,163

-28.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,497 ₩3.4M

$1,637 CA$2,265

52.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 ₩1.6M

$1,335 CA$1,847

-8.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.2K ₩37.9M

$2,072 CA$2,867

1259.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.3K ₩15.3M

$2,192 CA$3,033

417.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,486 ₩4.7M

$2,491 CA$3,447

39.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.69

-13.01%

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

Last update for Seoul: August 30, 2026

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $865 in Seoul and $1,011 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66.0 in Seoul vs $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $357 per month, with Saint John, New Brunswick 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 Saint John, New Brunswick: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Saint John, New Brunswick. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Seoul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 40% 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: $865 in Seoul versus $1,011 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Seoul – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,752 per month in Seoul versus $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,752 in Seoul versus $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Seoul but tight or insufficient in Saint John, New Brunswick. The gap between the two cities makes Seoul 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 Saint John, New Brunswick 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 Seoul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Saint John, New Brunswick. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.