Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Ulsan Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Ulsan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,765 per month in Seoul vs $1,428 in Ulsan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,881 per month in Seoul vs $2,216 in Ulsan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,997 per month in Seoul vs $3,004 in Ulsan, rent included.

Seoul costs about 24% more than Ulsan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Ulsan sit above the global median – Seoul by 32%, Ulsan by 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.73 ₩13.0K

$6.75 ₩10.0K

29.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩80.8K

$29.58 ₩44.0K

83.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 ₩9,627

$4.77 ₩7,101

35.64%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,766

$3.06 ₩4,550

26.80%

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

$1.65 ₩2,455

$1.12 ₩1,665

47.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,274

$0.38 ₩567

126.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 ₩5,610

$2.62 ₩3,899

43.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.72 ₩8,517

$3.33 ₩4,953

71.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,369

$1.75 ₩2,600

29.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 ₩5,095

$2.25 ₩3,341

52.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,604

$1.80 ₩2,674

71.67%

Eggs

$3.06 ₩4,548

$2.99 ₩4,455

2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.51 ₩21.6K

$10.35 ₩15.4K

40.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 ₩16.0K

$8.31 ₩12.4K

29.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.54 ₩51.4K

$27.98 ₩41.6K

23.45%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 ₩11.4K

$7.10 ₩10.6K

7.75%

Banana (1kg)

$3.54 ₩5,272

$3.12 ₩4,650

13.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.42 ₩8,063

$7.42 ₩11.0K

-26.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 ₩9,657

$4.53 ₩6,747

43.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 ₩5,754

$3.59 ₩5,341

7.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 ₩4,273

$2.39 ₩3,561

20.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 ₩3,890

$2.03 ₩3,023

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,960

$0.87 ₩1,293

51.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₩4,947

$3.34 ₩4,964

-0.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.50 ₩24.5K

$16.64 ₩24.8K

-0.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₩3,547

$1.69 ₩2,512

40.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩5,015

$3.38 ₩5,030

-0.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,601

$0.93 ₩1,385

16.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.87 ₩69.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ₩5,152

$2.47 ₩3,672

40.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩847

$0.84 ₩1,245

-32.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.00 ₩13.4K

$16.48 ₩24.5K

-45.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,861

$1.22 ₩1,817

2.46%

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

$27.9K ₩41.6M

$27.6K ₩41.1M

1.09%

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

$25.4K ₩37.7M

$24.8K ₩36.9M

2.42%

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

$160 ₩238.5K

$193 ₩287.3K

-16.99%

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

$34.41 ₩51.2K

$50.1 ₩74.5K

-31.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.05 ₩32.8K

$28.02 ₩41.7K

-21.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 ₩86.2K

$60.0 ₩89.2K

-3.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.44 ₩34.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.93 ₩16.3K

$10.40 ₩15.5K

5.10%

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

$417 ₩620.8K

$262 ₩389.4K

59.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K ₩35.1M

$14.0K ₩20.9M

68.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₩88.0K

$101 ₩150.4K

-41.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.41 ₩72.0K

$47.02 ₩70.0K

2.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 ₩118.8K

$89.3 ₩132.9K

-10.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ₩170.9K

$115 ₩171.6K

-0.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ₩1.4M

$277 ₩412.3K

240.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₩874.6K

$370 ₩551.0K

58.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,584 ₩3.8M

$1,051 ₩1.6M

145.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₩2.0M

$760 ₩1.1M

72.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$26.0K ₩38.7M

$4,065 ₩6.0M

539.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.7K ₩15.9M

$2,374 ₩3.5M

350.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 ₩4.7M

$2,011 ₩3.0M

56.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

3.50%

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

Last update for Seoul: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ulsan: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $944 in Seoul versus $277 in Ulsan. 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 57% 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 $54.0 in Seoul versus $30.00 in Ulsan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $491 vs $405 – making Ulsan 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 Ulsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 24% more than Ulsan, 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 $2,142 in Ulsan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ulsan, 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 $1,765 in Seoul and $1,428 in Ulsan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $417 per month in Seoul and $262 in Ulsan. 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 Ulsan, where all-in costs run around $1,428, than in Seoul at $1,765. In Ulsan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ulsan – 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 Ulsan. 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.