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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,752 per month in Seoul vs $1,322 in Ulsan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,801 per month in Seoul vs $2,143 in Ulsan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,850 per month in Seoul vs $2,964 in Ulsan, rent included.

Seoul costs about 33% more than Ulsan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Seoul sits 28% above the global median, while Ulsan is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.76 ₩13.2K

$7.35 ₩9,967

32.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 ₩89.0K

$43.91 ₩59.5K

49.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 ₩9,685

$5.93 ₩8,036

20.40%

Cappuccino

$4.02 ₩5,453

$3.35 ₩4,539

20.00%

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

$1.64 ₩2,218

$0.86 ₩1,170

90.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₩1,119

$0.46 ₩621

80.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 ₩4,865

$2.95 ₩4,000

21.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 ₩7,772

$4.19 ₩5,679

36.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₩2,855

$2.23 ₩3,022

-5.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,217

$3.17 ₩4,303

-1.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.25 ₩5,764

$3.13 ₩4,239

35.78%

Eggs

$3.38 ₩4,579

$2.67 ₩3,625

26.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.01 ₩23.1K

$10.88 ₩14.7K

56.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.06 ₩13.6K

$10.20 ₩13.8K

-1.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.88 ₩33.7K

$24.79 ₩33.6K

0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 ₩9,975

$10.87 ₩14.7K

-32.29%

Banana (1kg)

$3.47 ₩4,706

$3.54 ₩4,798

-1.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 ₩7,520

$7.72 ₩10.5K

-28.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 ₩8,482

$5.95 ₩8,066

5.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.65 ₩4,942

$5.95 ₩8,071

-38.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 ₩3,298

$3.31 ₩4,486

-26.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 ₩3,697

$2.70 ₩3,655

1.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₩1,464

$1.24 ₩1,684

-12.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,386

$3.18 ₩4,309

1.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.34 ₩24.9K

$18.38 ₩24.9K

-0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,202

$2.40 ₩3,260

-1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₩4,236

$3.45 ₩4,680

-9.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,577

$1.13 ₩1,527

2.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.79 ₩60.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩4,821

$2.92 ₩3,953

21.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₩793

$0.76 ₩1,026

-23.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 ₩12.0K

$16.58 ₩22.5K

-46.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₩1,964

$1.32 ₩1,791

9.85%

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

$29.1K ₩39.4M

$28.8K ₩39.0M

0.99%

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

$28.1K ₩38.1M

$32.7K ₩44.3M

-14.14%

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

$196 ₩266.4K

$193 ₩261.9K

1.70%

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

$34.49 ₩46.8K

$35.67 ₩48.4K

-3.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.80 ₩26.8K

$26.37 ₩35.8K

-24.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩77.3K

$57.6 ₩78.1K

-0.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.05 ₩21.8K

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩15.0K

$10.42 ₩14.1K

5.95%

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

$1,891 ₩2.6M

$260 ₩352.4K

627.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.9M

$21.1K ₩28.7M

4.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 ₩76.4K

$51.1 ₩69.3K

10.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 ₩44.0K

$43.29 ₩58.7K

-25.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 ₩92.5K

$58.0 ₩78.6K

17.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.4 ₩107.7K

$71.8 ₩97.4K

10.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₩1.2M

$362 ₩491.1K

138.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 ₩814.8K

$233 ₩316.3K

157.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,497 ₩3.4M

$717 ₩972.7K

248.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 ₩1.7M

$650 ₩881.9K

88.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.2K ₩38.2M

$4,368 ₩5.9M

545.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.3K ₩15.4M

$2,380 ₩3.2M

376.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,486 ₩4.7M

$2,201 ₩3.0M

58.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.22

-3.32%

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

Last update for Seoul: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ulsan: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $865 in Seoul versus $362 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 58% 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 $66.0 in Seoul versus $44.00 in Ulsan. Groceries tell a different story – $464 in Seoul vs $477 in Ulsan – so Seoul 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 Ulsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 33% more than Ulsan, 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 $2,628 per month in Seoul and $1,982 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 $1,752 in Seoul and $1,322 in Ulsan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,891 per month in Seoul and $260 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 $1,322, than in Seoul at $1,752. 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.