Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Seongnam Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Seongnam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,761 per month in Seoul vs $1,661 in Seongnam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,851 per month in Seoul vs $2,454 in Seongnam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,940 per month in Seoul vs $3,248 in Seongnam, rent included.

Seoul costs about 6% more than Seongnam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Seongnam sit above the global median – Seoul by 31%, Seongnam by 24%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.81 ₩13.4K

$5.82 ₩8,835

51.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.2 ₩83.8K

$42.89 ₩65.1K

28.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.34 ₩9,626

$4.46 ₩6,768

42.15%

Cappuccino

$3.93 ₩5,966

$3.88 ₩5,891

1.29%

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

$1.74 ₩2,643

$1.52 ₩2,301

14.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₩1,284

$0.79 ₩1,192

7.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 ₩5,457

$2.55 ₩3,870

40.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 ₩8,885

$3.64 ₩5,532

60.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,364

$2.24 ₩3,398

-0.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.30 ₩5,010

$2.12 ₩3,224

55.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,692

$3.23 ₩4,904

-4.33%

Eggs

$3.20 ₩4,862

$3.07 ₩4,666

4.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.10 ₩21.4K

$9.42 ₩14.3K

49.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.98 ₩16.7K

$7.38 ₩11.2K

48.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.92 ₩51.5K

$34.03 ₩51.7K

-0.32%

Apples (1kg)

$7.78 ₩11.8K

$7.91 ₩12.0K

-1.64%

Banana (1kg)

$3.61 ₩5,488

$3.46 ₩5,261

4.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 ₩8,621

$5.51 ₩8,371

3.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.60 ₩10.0K

$6.43 ₩9,770

2.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.95 ₩5,994

$3.59 ₩5,456

10.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,522

$2.96 ₩4,491

0.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 ₩3,820

$2.56 ₩3,882

-1.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₩1,938

$0.95 ₩1,435

34.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₩5,062

$3.22 ₩4,889

3.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 ₩29.1K

$16.20 ₩24.6K

18.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₩3,550

$1.82 ₩2,771

28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩5,123

$1.89 ₩2,863

78.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,636

$1.05 ₩1,594

2.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.54 ₩70.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₩5,287

$3.58 ₩5,440

-2.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩860

$0.54 ₩812

5.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₩13.5K

$8.69 ₩13.2K

1.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₩1,828

$1.20 ₩1,818

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

$28.1K ₩42.7M

$27.2K ₩41.3M

3.42%

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

$24.7K ₩37.6M

$24.9K ₩37.8M

-0.62%

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

$166 ₩252.2K

$165 ₩250.4K

0.73%

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

$34.26 ₩52.0K

$34.89 ₩53.0K

-1.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.30 ₩33.9K

$22.27 ₩33.8K

0.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.6 ₩87.5K

$46.97 ₩71.3K

22.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.03 ₩35.0K

Cinema Ticket

$10.89 ₩16.5K

$11.11 ₩16.9K

-1.98%

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

$409 ₩621.6K

$410 ₩622.1K

-0.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K ₩35.6M

$23.3K ₩35.4M

0.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ₩90.4K

$59.4 ₩90.2K

0.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.29 ₩71.8K

$46.64 ₩70.8K

1.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 ₩118.8K

$78.3 ₩118.9K

-0.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩178.3K

$116 ₩175.6K

1.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$962 ₩1.5M

$440 ₩668.1K

118.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 ₩884.5K

$660 ₩1.0M

-11.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,572 ₩3.9M

$1,085 ₩1.6M

136.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 ₩2.0M

$1,026 ₩1.6M

29.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$27.2K ₩41.3M

$13.6K ₩20.6M

100.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.9K ₩16.5M

$5,955 ₩9.0M

82.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,095 ₩4.7M

$4,328 ₩6.6M

-28.48%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Seongnam: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $962 in Seoul versus $440 in Seongnam. 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 40% higher in Seongnam, 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 $55.0 in Seoul versus $43.00 in Seongnam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $496 vs $434 – making Seongnam 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 Seongnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,761 in Seoul, $1,661 in Seongnam – roughly 6% apart. Seoul costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,642 per month in Seoul and $2,491 in Seongnam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,761 in Seoul and $1,661 in Seongnam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $409 per month in Seoul and $410 in Seongnam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Seongnam, where all-in costs run around $1,661, than in Seoul at $1,761. In Seongnam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Seongnam – 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 Seongnam. 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.