Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Suji-gu Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Suji-gu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,784 per month in Seoul vs $1,479 in Suji-gu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,852 per month in Seoul vs $2,394 in Suji-gu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,920 per month in Seoul vs $3,310 in Suji-gu, rent included.

Seoul costs about 21% more than Suji-gu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seoul and Suji-gu sit above the global median – Seoul by 33%, Suji-gu by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.98 ₩13.3K

$9.03 ₩13.4K

-0.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.4 ₩82.1K

$54.4 ₩80.6K

1.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.46 ₩9,588

$6.53 ₩9,686

-1.07%

Cappuccino

$3.77 ₩5,591

$3.84 ₩5,697

-1.82%

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

$1.71 ₩2,537

$1.72 ₩2,558

-0.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₩1,199

$0.79 ₩1,178

2.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 ₩5,322

$3.74 ₩5,551

-4.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 ₩8,952

$5.97 ₩8,860

1.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 ₩3,208

$2.25 ₩3,333

-4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.36 ₩4,987

$3.32 ₩4,921

1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 ₩4,699

$3.13 ₩4,642

1.28%

Eggs

$3.15 ₩4,671

$3.07 ₩4,548

2.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 ₩21.4K

$14.30 ₩21.2K

1.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.91 ₩16.2K

$10.78 ₩16.0K

1.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.05 ₩50.5K

$33.91 ₩50.3K

0.41%

Apples (1kg)

$7.88 ₩11.7K

$7.64 ₩11.3K

3.14%

Banana (1kg)

$3.63 ₩5,390

$3.60 ₩5,341

0.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 ₩8,407

$5.67 ₩8,410

Tomato (1kg)

$6.44 ₩9,553

$6.61 ₩9,805

-2.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.89 ₩5,777

$3.83 ₩5,688

1.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 ₩4,257

$2.98 ₩4,426

-3.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 ₩3,848

$2.61 ₩3,864

-0.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,956

$1.16 ₩1,723

13.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ₩4,891

$3.39 ₩5,023

-2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.80 ₩29.4K

$15.28 ₩22.7K

29.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₩3,454

$2.35 ₩3,488

-0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ₩4,793

$3.26 ₩4,837

-0.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,586

$1.06 ₩1,580

0.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.51 ₩69.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,190

$3.60 ₩5,346

-2.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩843

$0.52 ₩776

9.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.59 ₩12.7K

$8.77 ₩13.0K

-2.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₩1,793

$1.24 ₩1,844

-2.42%

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

$27.4K ₩40.6M

$27.2K ₩40.3M

0.66%

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

$25.1K ₩37.2M

$24.7K ₩36.6M

1.62%

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

$161 ₩239.2K

$165 ₩244.9K

-2.30%

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

$34.79 ₩51.6K

$35.23 ₩52.3K

-1.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.48 ₩33.3K

$21.93 ₩32.5K

2.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.8 ₩87.2K

$48.38 ₩71.8K

21.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.22 ₩34.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.10 ₩16.5K

$10.98 ₩16.3K

1.09%

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

$413 ₩612.3K

$422 ₩625.3K

-2.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K ₩34.3M

$23.1K ₩34.2M

0.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 ₩85.9K

$58.7 ₩87.1K

-1.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.44 ₩70.4K

$46.62 ₩69.2K

1.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 ₩116.7K

$80.6 ₩119.5K

-2.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩173.0K

$117 ₩173.9K

-0.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 ₩1.4M

$455 ₩675.5K

109.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₩877.1K

$380 ₩564.3K

55.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,570 ₩3.8M

$1,045 ₩1.5M

146.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,318 ₩2.0M

$771 ₩1.1M

70.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K ₩27.4M

$8,337 ₩12.4M

121.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,790 ₩14.5M

$5,314 ₩7.9M

84.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,903 ₩4.3M

$1,000 ₩1.5M

190.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

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

Last update for Seoul: April 27, 2026

Last update for Suji-gu: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Seoul versus $455 in Suji-gu. 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 190% 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 $55.0 in Seoul versus $54.0 in Suji-gu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $498 vs $485 – making Suji-gu 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 Suji-gu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 21% more than Suji-gu, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,676 per month in Seoul and $2,218 in Suji-gu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,784 in Seoul and $1,479 in Suji-gu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $413 per month in Seoul and $422 in Suji-gu. 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 Suji-gu, where all-in costs run around $1,479, than in Seoul at $1,784. In Suji-gu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Suji-gu – 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 Suji-gu. 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.