Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Visby Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Visby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,787 per month in Seoul vs $1,750 in Visby, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,884 per month in Seoul vs $2,770 in Visby, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,981 per month in Seoul vs $3,790 in Visby, rent included.

Seoul costs about 2% more than Visby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Visby sit above the global median – Seoul by 34%, Visby by 31%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.04 ₩13.7K
$10.40 SEK 97.3
-13.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.1 ₩81.7K
$95.8 SEK 896
-43.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.40 ₩9,665
$9.30 SEK 87.0
-31.18%
Cappuccino
$3.80 ₩5,742
$3.20 SEK 29.89
18.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₩2,528
$3.21 SEK 30.04
-47.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₩1,193
$2.88 SEK 26.98
-72.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.74 ₩5,654
$7.79 SEK 72.8
-51.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 ₩8,819
$4.29 SEK 40.14
36.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Visby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₩3,258
$1.59 SEK 14.90
35.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 ₩5,168
$2.61 SEK 24.42
31.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 ₩4,854
$3.18 SEK 29.73
0.94%
Eggs
$3.09 ₩4,672
$3.97 SEK 37.18
-22.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.48 ₩21.9K
$10.66 SEK 99.7
35.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.71 ₩16.2K
$12.15 SEK 114
-11.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$34.63 ₩52.3K
$18.19 SEK 170
90.38%
Apples (1kg)
$7.90 ₩11.9K
$3.10 SEK 29.02
154.84%
Banana (1kg)
$3.50 ₩5,289
$2.57 SEK 24.08
36.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.57 ₩8,422
$3.20 SEK 29.95
74.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.55 ₩9,903
$3.64 SEK 34.01
79.95%
Potato (1kg)
$3.81 ₩5,758
$1.81 SEK 16.91
110.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₩4,311
$1.74 SEK 16.24
63.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 ₩3,772
$2.92 SEK 27.35
-14.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 ₩2,021
$1.13 SEK 10.54
18.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 ₩5,041
$6.18 SEK 57.8
-45.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ₩28.8K
$12.81 SEK 120
49.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 ₩3,718
$2.38 SEK 22.27
3.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 ₩4,996
$1.83 SEK 17.08
80.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.11 ₩1,683
$3.07 SEK 28.75
-63.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.09 ₩69.6K
$49.98 SEK 468
-7.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 ₩5,392
$3.66 SEK 34.26
-2.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ₩798
$1.18 SEK 11.07
-55.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.98 ₩13.6K
$83.6 SEK 782
-89.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₩1,859
$1.89 SEK 17.71
-34.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K ₩42.7M
$32.5K SEK 303.9K
-12.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K ₩38.3M
$34.5K SEK 322.9K
-26.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$163 ₩246.4K
$191 SEK 1,785
-14.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.37 ₩51.9K
$28.99 SEK 271
18.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.58 ₩34.1K
$41.04 SEK 384
-44.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 ₩87.6K
$49.40 SEK 462
17.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.54 ₩35.6K
$42.80 SEK 400
-45.00%
Cinema Ticket
$11.10 ₩16.8K
$14.51 SEK 136
-23.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$421 ₩635.7K
$161 SEK 1,506
161.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K ₩35.3M
$4,061 SEK 38.0K
475.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Visby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 ₩89.7K
$94.4 SEK 883
-37.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.07 ₩72.6K
$42.47 SEK 397
13.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.2 ₩122.6K
$90.5 SEK 847
-10.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 ₩173.1K
$121 SEK 1,136
-5.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 ₩1.4M
$767 SEK 7,178
23.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$601 ₩907.6K
$580 SEK 5,421
3.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,556 ₩3.9M
$1,480 SEK 13.8K
72.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,321 ₩2.0M
$1,065 SEK 9,965
24.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$22.5K ₩34.1M
$3,779 SEK 35.3K
496.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,920 ₩15.0M
$3,004 SEK 28.1K
230.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,999 ₩4.5M
$2,714 SEK 25.4K
10.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
4.87
-14.99%

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

Last update for Seoul: June 14, 2026

Last update for Visby: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Seoul versus $767 in Visby. 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 11% 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 $96.0 in Visby. Groceries tell a different story – $498 in Seoul vs $355 in Visby – so Visby 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 Visby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Seoul or Visby?
Seoul costs about 2% more than Visby, 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 vs Visby?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,680 per month in Seoul and $2,624 in Visby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Seoul or Visby?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Visby, 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 vs Visby?
Public transport costs about 8% less in Visby. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Seoul and Visby?
Kindergarten costs $421 per month in Seoul and $161 in Visby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Seoul or Visby?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Visby, where all-in costs run around $1,750, than in Seoul at $1,787. In Visby it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Visby – 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 Visby?
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 Visby?
If budget matters most, go with Visby. 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.

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