Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Springfield, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Springfield, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,752 per month in Seoul vs $2,598 in Springfield, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,801 per month in Seoul vs $3,992 in Springfield, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,850 per month in Seoul vs $5,386 in Springfield, IL, rent included.

Seoul is about 33% cheaper than Springfield, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Seoul and Springfield, IL sit above the global median – Seoul by 28%, Springfield, IL by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.76 ₩13.2K

$14.33 $14.33

-31.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 ₩89.0K

$42.65 $42.65

53.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 ₩9,685

$10.12 $10.12

-29.45%

Cappuccino

$4.02 ₩5,453

$5.40 $5.40

-25.56%

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

$1.64 ₩2,218

$1.97 $1.97

-16.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₩1,119

$1.57 $1.57

-47.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 ₩4,865

$2.97 $2.97

20.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 ₩7,772

$3.91 $3.91

46.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₩2,855

$0.74 $0.74

185.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,217

$3.31 $3.31

-6.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.25 ₩5,764

$8.63 $8.63

-50.75%

Eggs

$3.38 ₩4,579

$3.23 $3.23

4.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.01 ₩23.1K

$18.88 $18.88

-9.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.06 ₩13.6K

$16.62 $16.62

-39.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.88 ₩33.7K

$32.84 $32.84

-24.24%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 ₩9,975

$8.28 $8.28

-11.11%

Banana (1kg)

$3.47 ₩4,706

$1.23 $1.23

182.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 ₩7,520

$8.84 $8.84

-37.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 ₩8,482

$5.73 $5.73

9.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.65 ₩4,942

$3.23 $3.23

13.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 ₩3,298

$4.42 $4.42

-45.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 ₩3,697

$1.97 $1.97

38.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₩1,464

$1.64 $1.64

-34.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,386

$9.83 $9.83

-67.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.34 ₩24.9K

$11.08 $11.08

65.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,202

$1.30 $1.30

81.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₩4,236

$1.55 $1.55

101.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,577

$1.22 $1.22

-4.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.79 ₩60.7K

$40.17 $40.17

11.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩4,821

$5.78 $5.78

-38.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩793

$1.09 $1.09

-46.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 ₩12.0K

$17.92 $17.92

-50.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₩1,964

$0.92 $0.92

57.61%

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

$29.1K ₩39.4M

$37.2K $37.2K

-21.88%

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

$28.1K ₩38.1M

$26.9K $26.9K

4.30%

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

$196 ₩266.4K

$204 $204

-3.53%

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

$34.49 ₩46.8K

$93.5 $93.5

-63.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.80 ₩26.8K

$64.9 $64.9

-69.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩77.3K

$51.0 $51.0

11.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.05 ₩21.8K

$20.34 $20.34

-21.09%

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩15.0K

$12.35 $12.35

-10.61%

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

$1,891 ₩2.6M

$956 $956

97.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 ₩76.4K

$106 $106

-46.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 ₩44.0K

$54.9 $54.9

-40.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 ₩92.5K

$124 $124

-44.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.4 ₩107.7K

$139 $139

-42.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₩1.2M

$922 $922

-6.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 ₩814.8K

$1,143 $1,143

-47.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,497 ₩3.4M

$1,857 $1,857

34.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 ₩1.7M

$2,170 $2,170

-43.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.2K ₩38.2M

$3,176 $3,176

787.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.3K ₩15.4M

$1,150 $1,150

886.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,486 ₩4.7M

$3,960 $3,960

-11.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

5.65

-27.79%

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

Last update for Seoul: August 30, 2026

Last update for Springfield, IL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $865 in Seoul versus $922 in Springfield, IL. 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 14% higher in Springfield, IL, 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 $66.0 in Seoul versus $43.00 in Springfield, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $464 in Seoul vs $517 in Springfield, IL – so Seoul wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Springfield, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield, IL costs about 48% more than Seoul, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,628 per month in Seoul and $3,898 in Springfield, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 12% less in Seoul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,891 per month in Seoul and $956 in Springfield, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Seoul, where all-in costs run around $1,752, than in Springfield, IL at $2,598. In Seoul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Springfield, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Seoul – 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 Seoul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Springfield, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.