Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Weifang

For one person, living is cheaper in Weifang: $564 a month against $1,794 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $14,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,794
/mo nomad
Weifang
🇨🇳 China
$564
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seoul and in Weifang

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seoul and in Weifang actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,794 per month in Seoul vs $564 in Weifang, rent included.

  • Seoul $1,794
  • Weifang $564

A couple spends around $2,863 per month in Seoul vs $894 in Weifang, rent included.

  • Seoul $2,863
  • Weifang $894

A family of three spends $3,931 per month in Seoul vs $1,225 in Weifang, rent included.

  • Seoul $3,931
  • Weifang $1,225

Seoul costs about 218% more than Weifang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Seoul sits 33% above the global median, while Weifang is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Weifang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.80 ₩11.8K
$2.54 ¥16.98
246.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4 ₩91.6K
$15.15 ¥101
351.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₩10.1K
$4.96 ¥33.17
52.02%
Cappuccino
$4.23 ₩5,664
$2.47 ¥16.54
71.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₩2,182
$0.47 ¥3.15
246.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₩992
$0.23 ¥1.54
221.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.64 ₩4,878
$0.94 ¥6.29
287.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 ₩8,233
$1.97 ¥13.20
212.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Weifang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.01 ₩2,698
$1.44 ¥9.61
39.58%
White Bread (500g)
$3.13 ₩4,194
$1.29 ¥8.65
142.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 ₩5,785
$0.88 ¥5.88
390.91%
Eggs
$3.61 ₩4,828
$1.07 ¥7.17
237.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.83 ₩23.9K
$11.99 ¥80.2
48.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 ₩14.0K
$2.92 ¥19.51
257.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.80 ₩34.6K
$8.44 ¥56.5
205.69%
Apples (1kg)
$7.66 ₩10.3K
$1.07 ¥7.15
615.89%
Banana (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,531
$0.87 ¥5.81
288.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.81 ₩7,778
$1.44 ¥9.61
303.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.41 ₩8,580
$0.68 ¥4.58
842.65%
Potato (1kg)
$3.75 ₩5,018
$0.51 ¥3.44
635.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 ₩3,400
$0.47 ¥3.13
440.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.84 ₩3,809
$0.56 ¥3.77
407.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₩1,483
$0.59 ¥3.94
88.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 ₩4,487
$3.84 ¥25.66
-12.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.49 ₩24.8K
$10.17 ¥68.0
81.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₩3,208
$0.64 ¥4.31
275.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 ₩4,512
$1.11 ¥7.43
203.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Weifang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 ₩1,531
$0.21 ¥1.40
442.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.11 ₩61.7K
$7.66 ¥51.2
501.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 ₩4,677
$1.01 ¥6.73
245.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 ₩846
$0.27 ¥1.81
133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₩11.9K
$4.50 ¥30.10
96.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 ₩2,020
$1.22 ¥8.19
23.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K ₩39.2M
$12.8K ¥85.6K
128.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K ₩37.8M
$15.2K ¥101.8K
85.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Weifang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 ₩291.3K
$69.2 ¥463
214.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.15 ₩47.1K
$6.79 ¥45.44
417.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.29 ₩28.5K
$7.42 ¥49.59
186.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Weifang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.1 ₩77.8K
$29.33 ¥196
97.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.10 ₩21.6K
$14.65 ¥98.0
9.90%
Cinema Ticket
$11.31 ₩15.1K
$4.38 ¥29.32
158.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Weifang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,948 ₩2.6M
$190 ¥1,270
925.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.9K ₩30.6M
$19.6K ¥131.3K
16.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Weifang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 ₩76.4K
$21.94 ¥147
159.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.39 ₩44.7K
$42.69 ¥285
-21.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.5 ₩95.7K
$69.8 ¥467
2.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.5 ₩110.5K
$71.0 ¥475
16.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Weifang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 ₩1.2M
$134 ¥897
571.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$612 ₩819.3K
$94.2 ¥630
549.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,526 ₩3.4M
$327 ¥2,184
673.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,266 ₩1.7M
$208 ¥1,390
509.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.4K ₩39.4M
$1,472 ¥9,845
1898.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.9K ₩15.9M
$5,086 ¥34.0K
134.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Weifang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,650 ₩4.9M
$627 ¥4,192
482.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
3.13
30.35%

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

Last update for Seoul: October 11, 2026

Last update for Weifang: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seoul
$612
Weifang
$94 84.6% $518
Groceries & Markets
Seoul
$477
Weifang
$168 64.7% $309
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
$274
Weifang
$83 69.5% $191
Eating Out
Seoul
$184
Weifang
$76 58.5% $107
Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
$110
Weifang
$92 16% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
$81
Weifang
$38 52.8% $43
Getting Around
Seoul
$57
Weifang
$11 81.1% $46

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $901 in Seoul versus $134 in Weifang. 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 482% 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 $68.0 in Seoul versus $15.00 in Weifang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $477 vs $168 – making Weifang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Seoul
🇨🇳 Weifang
🕒 Local time
18:31 6:31 PM
17:31 5:31 PM
1 h behind Seoul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,509,458 Capital
9,277,200
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1,339 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 1,500 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.67 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seoul Weifang 700 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Seoul
  • Weifang

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Weifang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Seoul or Weifang?
Seoul costs about 218% more than Weifang, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Weifang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,692 per month in Seoul and $845 in Weifang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Seoul or Weifang?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Weifang, 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 compared to Weifang?
Public transport costs about 502% less in Weifang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Seoul and in Weifang?
Kindergarten costs $1,948 per month in Seoul and $190 in Weifang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Seoul or in Weifang?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Weifang, where all-in costs run around $564, than in Seoul at $1,794. In Weifang 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 Weifang – 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 Weifang?
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 to Weifang?
If budget matters most, go with Weifang. 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.

Seoul vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?