Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and St. Thomas Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and St. Thomas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,765 per month in Seoul vs $2,347 in St. Thomas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,881 per month in Seoul vs $3,394 in St. Thomas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,997 per month in Seoul vs $4,440 in St. Thomas, rent included.

Seoul is about 25% cheaper than St. Thomas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and St. Thomas sit above the global median – Seoul by 32%, St. Thomas by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.73 ₩13.0K

$20.36 CA$28.54

-57.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩80.8K

$72.3 CA$101

-24.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 ₩9,627

$11.16 CA$15.64

-42.03%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,766

$3.44 CA$4.82

12.79%

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

$1.65 ₩2,455

$1.80 CA$2.52

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,274

$1.79 CA$2.51

-51.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 ₩5,610

$5.14 CA$7.21

-26.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.72 ₩8,517

$5.75 CA$8.06

-0.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,369

$2.01 CA$2.82

12.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 ₩5,095

$2.70 CA$3.78

26.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,604

$3.26 CA$4.57

-5.21%

Eggs

$3.06 ₩4,548

$3.17 CA$4.45

-3.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.51 ₩21.6K

$9.61 CA$13.47

50.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 ₩16.0K

$11.24 CA$15.76

-4.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.54 ₩51.4K

$16.00 CA$22.43

115.88%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 ₩11.4K

$4.22 CA$5.92

81.28%

Banana (1kg)

$3.54 ₩5,272

$1.29 CA$1.81

174.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.42 ₩8,063

$3.25 CA$4.56

66.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 ₩9,657

$3.69 CA$5.17

75.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 ₩5,754

$2.93 CA$4.11

32.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 ₩4,273

$2.64 CA$3.70

8.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 ₩3,890

$2.34 CA$3.27

11.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,960

$1.50 CA$2.11

-12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₩4,947

$11.10 CA$15.56

-70.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.50 ₩24.5K

$12.46 CA$17.46

32.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₩3,547

$2.12 CA$2.97

12.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩5,015

$2.52 CA$3.53

33.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,601

$2.39 CA$3.35

-54.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.87 ₩69.7K

$63.4 CA$88.8

-26.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ₩5,152

$2.31 CA$3.24

49.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩847

$1.75 CA$2.45

-67.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.00 ₩13.4K

$30.81 CA$43.20

-70.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,861

$1.14 CA$1.60

9.65%

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

$27.9K ₩41.6M

$25.1K CA$35.1K

11.52%

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

$25.4K ₩37.7M

$20.8K CA$29.2K

21.88%

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

$160 ₩238.5K

$134 CA$188

19.60%

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

$34.41 ₩51.2K

$53.7 CA$75.3

-35.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.05 ₩32.8K

$57.9 CA$81.1

-61.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 ₩86.2K

$41.18 CA$57.7

40.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.44 ₩34.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.93 ₩16.3K

$11.06 CA$15.51

-1.18%

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

$417 ₩620.8K

$546 CA$765

-23.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K ₩35.1M

$10.9K CA$15.3K

116.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₩88.0K

$54.3 CA$76.1

8.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.41 ₩72.0K

$38.84 CA$54.5

24.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 ₩118.8K

$86.4 CA$121

-7.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ₩170.9K

$80.6 CA$113

42.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ₩1.4M

$1,208 CA$1,693

-21.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₩874.6K

$1,182 CA$1,657

-50.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,584 ₩3.8M

$2,005 CA$2,811

28.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₩2.0M

$1,798 CA$2,521

-27.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$26.0K ₩38.7M

$4,383 CA$6,145

493.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.7K ₩15.9M

$3,545 CA$4,970

201.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 ₩4.7M

$2,869 CA$4,023

9.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

6.55

-36.79%

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

Last update for Seoul: July 14, 2026

Last update for St. Thomas: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $944 in Seoul versus $1,208 in St. Thomas. 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 10% higher in Seoul, 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 $54.0 in Seoul versus $72.0 in St. Thomas. Groceries tell a different story – $491 in Seoul vs $348 in St. Thomas – so St. Thomas 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 St. Thomas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St. Thomas costs about 33% more than Seoul, 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 $2,647 per month in Seoul and $3,520 in St. Thomas. 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 35% less in Seoul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $417 per month in Seoul and $546 in St. Thomas. 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 $1,765, than in St. Thomas at $2,347. In Seoul it covers expenses comfortably, while in St. Thomas 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, St. Thomas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.