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 $1,742 per month in Seoul vs $2,349 in St. Thomas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,892 per month in Seoul vs $3,371 in St. Thomas, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,043 per month in Seoul vs $4,393 in St. Thomas, rent included.

Seoul is about 26% cheaper than St. Thomas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and St. Thomas sit above the global median – Seoul by 30%, St. Thomas by 75%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.59 ₩13.2K

$20.60 CA$28.62

-58.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩83.2K

$74.3 CA$103

-26.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 ₩9,657

$11.56 CA$16.07

-45.50%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,952

$3.54 CA$4.92

9.60%

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

$1.72 ₩2,643

$1.86 CA$2.58

-7.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,311

$1.83 CA$2.54

-53.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 ₩5,509

$5.30 CA$7.36

-32.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩9,098

$5.75 CA$7.99

3.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,409

$2.00 CA$2.78

11.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 ₩5,286

$2.67 CA$3.71

29.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,802

$3.29 CA$4.57

-4.86%

Eggs

$3.19 ₩4,884

$3.05 CA$4.24

4.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 ₩21.8K

$9.56 CA$13.28

48.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 ₩16.8K

$11.26 CA$15.65

-2.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.74 ₩53.2K

$15.98 CA$22.20

117.40%

Apples (1kg)

$7.97 ₩12.2K

$4.21 CA$5.84

89.31%

Banana (1kg)

$3.46 ₩5,305

$1.23 CA$1.71

181.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.43 ₩8,321

$3.33 CA$4.62

63.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.69 ₩10.2K

$3.72 CA$5.17

79.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₩5,828

$2.85 CA$3.97

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,514

$2.56 CA$3.55

15.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 ₩4,023

$2.30 CA$3.20

14.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,946

$1.43 CA$1.98

-11.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,947

$11.16 CA$15.50

-71.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.49 ₩29.9K

$13.27 CA$18.43

46.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₩3,709

$2.12 CA$2.95

14.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₩4,976

$2.57 CA$3.57

26.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,710

$2.40 CA$3.34

-53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 ₩73.4K

$62.0 CA$86.1

-22.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩5,456

$2.38 CA$3.30

49.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₩827

$1.70 CA$2.36

-68.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.72 ₩13.4K

$30.76 CA$42.74

-71.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,910

$1.10 CA$1.53

13.64%

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

$28.3K ₩43.3M

$25.4K CA$35.3K

11.35%

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

$25.3K ₩38.8M

$20.6K CA$28.6K

23.16%

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

$161 ₩246.1K

$131 CA$182

22.72%

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

$34.38 ₩52.7K

$53.9 CA$74.8

-36.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.41 ₩34.3K

$57.7 CA$80.2

-61.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩87.3K

$41.44 CA$57.6

37.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 ₩35.6K

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩17.1K

$10.98 CA$15.26

1.91%

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

$412 ₩631.5K

$557 CA$774

-25.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K ₩36.2M

$10.9K CA$15.1K

117.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₩89.9K

$53.7 CA$74.6

9.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.80 ₩71.7K

$38.85 CA$54.0

20.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 ₩120.0K

$86.5 CA$120

-9.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₩175.0K

$80.3 CA$112

42.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 ₩1.5M

$1,204 CA$1,673

-20.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₩924.7K

$1,173 CA$1,630

-48.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,580 ₩4.0M

$1,987 CA$2,761

29.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 ₩2.0M

$1,832 CA$2,546

-28.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K ₩27.8M

$4,528 CA$6,292

301.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,223 ₩14.1M

$3,867 CA$5,373

138.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,095 ₩4.7M

$2,969 CA$4,125

4.24%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for St. Thomas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Seoul versus $1,204 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 4% 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 $74.0 in St. Thomas. Groceries tell a different story – $500 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 35% 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 $2,613 per month in Seoul and $3,524 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 29% less in Seoul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $412 per month in Seoul and $557 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 $1,742, than in St. Thomas at $2,349. 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.