Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Stevenage Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Stevenage

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,752 per month in Seoul vs $2,612 in Stevenage, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,801 per month in Seoul vs $3,943 in Stevenage, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,850 per month in Seoul vs $5,273 in Stevenage, rent included.

Seoul is about 33% cheaper than Stevenage, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Stevenage sit above the global median – Seoul by 28%, Stevenage by 90%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Stevenage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.76 ₩13.2K
$26.57 £19.64
-63.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.6 ₩89.0K
$80.8 £59.7
-18.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.14 ₩9,685
$10.76 £7.95
-33.64%
Cappuccino
$4.02 ₩5,453
$5.22 £3.86
-22.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₩2,218
$1.95 £1.44
-15.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₩1,119
$1.73 £1.28
-52.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.59 ₩4,865
$5.62 £4.16
-36.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73 ₩7,772
$5.46 £4.04
4.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Stevenage
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 ₩2,855
$1.75 £1.30
20.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 ₩4,217
$1.55 £1.15
100.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.25 ₩5,764
$1.90 £1.40
123.68%
Eggs
$3.38 ₩4,579
$4.21 £3.11
-19.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.01 ₩23.1K
$8.34 £6.17
103.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.06 ₩13.6K
$8.67 £6.41
16.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.88 ₩33.7K
$13.95 £10.31
78.35%
Apples (1kg)
$7.36 ₩9,975
$3.40 £2.51
116.47%
Banana (1kg)
$3.47 ₩4,706
$1.52 £1.12
128.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.55 ₩7,520
$3.09 £2.29
79.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.26 ₩8,482
$2.89 £2.14
116.61%
Potato (1kg)
$3.65 ₩4,942
$1.19 £0.88
206.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 ₩3,298
$1.73 £1.28
40.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 ₩3,697
$1.23 £0.91
121.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₩1,464
$1.00 £0.74
8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23 ₩4,386
$24.04 £17.77
-86.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.34 ₩24.9K
$10.19 £7.53
79.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 ₩3,202
$2.82 £2.08
-16.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 ₩4,236
$2.99 £2.21
4.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Stevenage
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.16 ₩1,577
$3.47 £2.56
-66.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.79 ₩60.7K
$108 £79.8
-58.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 ₩4,821
$3.68 £2.72
-3.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ₩793
$1.89 £1.40
-69.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.88 ₩12.0K
$20.24 £14.96
-56.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ₩1,964
$1.91 £1.41
-24.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K ₩39.4M
$38.7K £28.6K
-24.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ₩38.1M
$42.1K £31.1K
-33.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Stevenage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 ₩266.4K
$236 £175
-16.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.49 ₩46.8K
$23.25 £17.18
48.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.80 ₩26.8K
$44.79 £33.11
-55.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Stevenage
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.0 ₩77.3K
$47.89 £35.40
19.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.05 ₩21.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.04 ₩15.0K
$13.37 £9.89
-17.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Stevenage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,891 ₩2.6M
$1,065 £788
77.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.0K ₩29.9M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Stevenage
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 ₩76.4K
$80.9 £59.8
-30.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.45 ₩44.0K
$38.76 £28.65
-16.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.2 ₩92.5K
$65.6 £48.45
4.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 ₩107.7K
$91.5 £67.6
-13.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Stevenage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₩1.2M
$1,674 £1,237
-48.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$601 ₩814.8K
$1,388 £1,026
-56.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,497 ₩3.4M
$3,020 £2,233
-17.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 ₩1.7M
$2,440 £1,803
-49.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$28.2K ₩38.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.3K ₩15.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Stevenage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,486 ₩4.7M
$3,340 £2,469
4.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
5.51
-25.95%

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

Last update for Seoul: August 30, 2026

Last update for Stevenage: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $865 in Seoul versus $1,674 in Stevenage. 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 $66.0 in Seoul versus $81.0 in Stevenage. Groceries tell a different story – $464 in Seoul vs $285 in Stevenage – so Stevenage 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 Stevenage: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Seoul or Stevenage?
Stevenage costs about 49% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Seoul and in Stevenage?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,628 per month in Seoul and $3,918 in Stevenage. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Seoul or Stevenage?
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.
How expensive is transport in Seoul compared to Stevenage?
Public transport costs about 141% less in Seoul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Seoul and in Stevenage?
Kindergarten costs $1,891 per month in Seoul and $1,065 in Stevenage. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Seoul or in Stevenage?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Seoul, where all-in costs run around $1,752, than in Stevenage at $2,612. In Seoul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stevenage it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Seoul compared to Stevenage?
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.
Should I move to Seoul or to Stevenage?
If budget matters most, go with Seoul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stevenage makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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