Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Songdo-dong Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Songdo-dong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,783 per month in Seoul vs $1,479 in Songdo-dong, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,868 per month in Seoul vs $2,336 in Songdo-dong, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,952 per month in Seoul vs $3,193 in Songdo-dong, rent included.

Seoul costs about 21% more than Songdo-dong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Songdo-dong sit above the global median – Seoul by 29%, Songdo-dong by 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$5.98 ₩8,021

64.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.1 ₩92.6K

$34.80 ₩46.7K

98.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 ₩10.2K

$6.77 ₩9,078

11.82%

Cappuccino

$4.04 ₩5,419

$3.60 ₩4,830

12.22%

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

$1.60 ₩2,151

$1.58 ₩2,120

1.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₩1,052

$0.62 ₩834

25.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,026

$3.02 ₩4,047

24.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 ₩8,190

$4.42 ₩5,923

38.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₩2,880

$2.29 ₩3,066

-6.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,176

$3.02 ₩4,049

2.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 ₩5,635

$2.34 ₩3,144

79.49%

Eggs

$3.41 ₩4,568

$3.19 ₩4,275

6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 ₩23.5K

$15.72 ₩21.1K

11.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$7.60 ₩10.2K

29.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.26 ₩33.9K

$11.22 ₩15.0K

125.13%

Apples (1kg)

$7.80 ₩10.5K

$3.70 ₩4,961

110.81%

Banana (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,477

$2.94 ₩3,945

13.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,792

$7.51 ₩10.1K

-22.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 ₩8,309

$7.01 ₩9,404

-11.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₩4,784

$2.63 ₩3,522

35.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 ₩3,348

$2.35 ₩3,153

6.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 ₩3,745

$2.09 ₩2,798

33.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₩1,499

$1.13 ₩1,510

-0.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,373

$3.32 ₩4,448

-1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 ₩24.5K

$14.72 ₩19.7K

24.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₩3,219

$2.19 ₩2,935

9.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₩4,217

$5.27 ₩7,063

-40.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,506

$0.87 ₩1,160

28.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.94 ₩61.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₩4,885

$3.63 ₩4,863

0.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₩843

$0.66 ₩886

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₩12.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₩2,023

$1.37 ₩1,843

10.22%

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

$29.8K ₩40.0M

$28.9K ₩38.7M

3.34%

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

$28.0K ₩37.6M

$35.7K ₩47.8M

-21.46%

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

$201 ₩268.9K

$214 ₩287.1K

-6.34%

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

$34.79 ₩46.7K

$43.07 ₩57.8K

-19.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.70 ₩26.4K

$20.86 ₩28.0K

-5.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 ₩76.4K

$73.4 ₩98.4K

-22.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.20 ₩21.7K

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩14.8K

$11.05 ₩14.8K

-0.09%

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

$1,915 ₩2.6M

$366 ₩490.6K

423.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K ₩30.5M

$17.6K ₩23.6M

29.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ₩76.1K

$65.5 ₩87.9K

-13.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 ₩43.7K

$62.3 ₩83.6K

-47.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 ₩92.9K

$36.54 ₩49.0K

89.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 ₩108.5K

$98.1 ₩131.6K

-17.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 ₩825.9K

$448 ₩600.7K

37.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,555 ₩3.4M

$1,519 ₩2.0M

68.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 ₩1.7M

$1,038 ₩1.4M

21.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.4K ₩38.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K ₩15.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,457 ₩4.6M

$3,376 ₩4.5M

2.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.1

-0.49%

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

Last update for Seoul: September 7, 2026

Last update for Songdo-dong: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 2% higher in Seoul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Seoul versus $35.00 in Songdo-dong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $469 vs $381 – making Songdo-dong 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 Songdo-dong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 21% more than Songdo-dong, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,675 per month in Seoul and $2,218 in Songdo-dong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,783 in Seoul and $1,479 in Songdo-dong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,915 per month in Seoul and $366 in Songdo-dong. 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 Songdo-dong, where all-in costs run around $1,479, than in Seoul at $1,783. In Songdo-dong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Songdo-dong – 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 Songdo-dong. 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.