Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Uijeongbu Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Uijeongbu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,783 per month in Seoul vs $1,211 in Uijeongbu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,868 per month in Seoul vs $1,839 in Uijeongbu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,952 per month in Seoul vs $2,467 in Uijeongbu, rent included.

Seoul costs about 47% more than Uijeongbu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Seoul sits 29% above the global median, while Uijeongbu is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$6.85 ₩9,189

43.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.1 ₩92.6K

$34.15 ₩45.8K

102.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 ₩10.2K

$6.51 ₩8,724

16.28%

Cappuccino

$4.04 ₩5,419

$3.73 ₩5,003

8.31%

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

$1.60 ₩2,151

$1.58 ₩2,113

1.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₩1,052

$0.84 ₩1,120

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,026

$3.37 ₩4,520

11.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 ₩8,190

$4.41 ₩5,913

38.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₩2,880

$2.11 ₩2,829

1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,176

$3.03 ₩4,064

2.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 ₩5,635

$2.25 ₩3,015

86.67%

Eggs

$3.41 ₩4,568

$3.23 ₩4,332

5.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 ₩23.5K

$15.58 ₩20.9K

12.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$7.59 ₩10.2K

29.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.26 ₩33.9K

$11.18 ₩15.0K

125.94%

Apples (1kg)

$7.80 ₩10.5K

$7.53 ₩10.1K

3.59%

Banana (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,477

$3.28 ₩4,400

1.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,792

$5.67 ₩7,601

2.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 ₩8,309

$6.09 ₩8,166

1.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₩4,784

$3.57 ₩4,782

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 ₩3,348

$2.41 ₩3,231

3.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 ₩3,745

$2.07 ₩2,781

34.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₩1,499

$1.06 ₩1,419

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,373

$3.43 ₩4,598

-4.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 ₩24.5K

$18.69 ₩25.1K

-2.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₩3,219

$2.28 ₩3,056

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₩4,217

$3.18 ₩4,268

-1.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,506

$1.12 ₩1,505

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.94 ₩61.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₩4,885

$3.58 ₩4,805

1.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₩843

$0.58 ₩780

8.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₩12.0K

$9.09 ₩12.2K

-1.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₩2,023

$1.33 ₩1,784

13.53%

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

$29.8K ₩40.0M

$29.7K ₩39.8M

0.60%

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

$28.0K ₩37.6M

$28.0K ₩37.5M

0.15%

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

$201 ₩268.9K

$197 ₩263.9K

1.91%

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

$34.79 ₩46.7K

$35.96 ₩48.2K

-3.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.70 ₩26.4K

$19.85 ₩26.6K

-0.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 ₩76.4K

$56.6 ₩75.9K

0.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.20 ₩21.7K

$10.83 ₩14.5K

49.58%

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩14.8K

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

$1,915 ₩2.6M

$571 ₩766.0K

235.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K ₩30.5M

$18.0K ₩24.1M

26.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ₩76.1K

$57.7 ₩77.4K

-1.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 ₩43.7K

$32.20 ₩43.2K

1.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 ₩92.9K

$70.1 ₩94.0K

-1.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 ₩108.5K

$81.7 ₩109.5K

-0.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

$263 ₩352.6K

238.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 ₩825.9K

$222 ₩297.5K

177.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,555 ₩3.4M

$478 ₩641.1K

434.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 ₩1.7M

$408 ₩547.7K

208.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.4K ₩38.1M

$7,180 ₩9.6M

295.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K ₩15.5M

$5,409 ₩7.3M

113.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,457 ₩4.6M

$2,213 ₩3.0M

56.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

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

Last update for Seoul: September 7, 2026

Last update for Uijeongbu: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $891 in Seoul versus $263 in Uijeongbu. 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 56% 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 $69.0 in Seoul versus $34.00 in Uijeongbu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $469 vs $394 – making Uijeongbu 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 Uijeongbu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 47% more than Uijeongbu, 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 $2,675 per month in Seoul and $1,816 in Uijeongbu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Uijeongbu, 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 $1,783 in Seoul and $1,211 in Uijeongbu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,915 per month in Seoul and $571 in Uijeongbu. 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 Uijeongbu, where all-in costs run around $1,211, than in Seoul at $1,783. In Uijeongbu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Uijeongbu – 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 Uijeongbu. 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.