Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Yangsan Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Yangsan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,783 per month in Seoul vs $1,499 in Yangsan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,868 per month in Seoul vs $2,397 in Yangsan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,952 per month in Seoul vs $3,294 in Yangsan, rent included.

Seoul costs about 19% more than Yangsan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Seoul and Yangsan sit above the global median – Seoul by 29%, Yangsan by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$7.35 ₩9,858

33.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.1 ₩92.7K

$47.53 ₩63.8K

45.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 ₩10.2K

$6.53 ₩8,761

15.93%

Cappuccino

$4.04 ₩5,422

$3.77 ₩5,054

7.16%

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

$1.60 ₩2,152

$1.78 ₩2,388

-10.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₩1,052

$1.42 ₩1,910

-45.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,030

$3.75 ₩5,033

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 ₩8,196

$4.30 ₩5,773

42.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₩2,882

$2.33 ₩3,133

-7.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₩4,178

$3.09 ₩4,146

0.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 ₩5,638

$3.09 ₩4,144

35.92%

Eggs

$3.41 ₩4,571

$2.71 ₩3,631

25.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 ₩23.5K

$10.77 ₩14.5K

62.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 ₩13.2K

$10.47 ₩14.1K

-6.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.26 ₩33.9K

$24.47 ₩32.8K

3.23%

Apples (1kg)

$7.80 ₩10.5K

$11.04 ₩14.8K

-29.35%

Banana (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,480

$3.69 ₩4,954

-9.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,796

$8.01 ₩10.8K

-27.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 ₩8,314

$5.95 ₩7,978

4.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₩4,787

$5.83 ₩7,818

-38.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 ₩3,351

$3.26 ₩4,377

-23.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 ₩3,747

$2.83 ₩3,798

-1.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₩1,500

$1.34 ₩1,795

-16.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,376

$3.32 ₩4,451

-1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 ₩24.5K

$18.49 ₩24.8K

-1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₩3,221

$2.44 ₩3,269

-1.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₩4,220

$3.48 ₩4,665

-9.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,507

$1.18 ₩1,583

-5.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.94 ₩61.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₩4,888

$3.48 ₩4,670

4.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₩843

$0.71 ₩955

-11.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₩12.0K

$16.54 ₩22.2K

-45.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₩2,024

$1.34 ₩1,792

12.69%

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

$29.8K ₩40.0M

$28.8K ₩38.6M

3.73%

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

$28.0K ₩37.6M

$33.8K ₩45.3M

-17.11%

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

$201 ₩269.1K

$198 ₩265.5K

1.33%

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

$34.79 ₩46.7K

$35.78 ₩48.0K

-2.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.70 ₩26.4K

$27.07 ₩36.3K

-27.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 ₩76.4K

$47.61 ₩63.9K

19.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.20 ₩21.7K

$13.19 ₩17.7K

22.82%

Cinema Ticket

$11.04 ₩14.8K

$12.01 ₩16.1K

-8.08%

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

$1,915 ₩2.6M

$632 ₩848.4K

202.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K ₩30.5M

$21.5K ₩28.8M

5.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ₩76.1K

$104 ₩139.5K

-45.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 ₩43.7K

$63.9 ₩85.7K

-49.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 ₩93.0K

$94.7 ₩127.1K

-26.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 ₩108.6K

$125 ₩167.2K

-35.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

$510 ₩684.7K

74.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 ₩826.4K

$314 ₩421.2K

96.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,555 ₩3.4M

$1,184 ₩1.6M

115.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 ₩1.7M

$810 ₩1.1M

55.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.4K ₩38.1M

$7,934 ₩10.6M

257.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K ₩15.5M

$6,060 ₩8.1M

90.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,457 ₩4.6M

$1,641 ₩2.2M

110.75%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Yangsan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $891 in Seoul versus $510 in Yangsan. 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 111% 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 $48.00 in Yangsan. Groceries tell a different story – $469 in Seoul vs $482 in Yangsan – 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 Yangsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 19% more than Yangsan, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,248 in Yangsan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yangsan, 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 $1,499 in Yangsan. 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 $632 in Yangsan. 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 Yangsan, where all-in costs run around $1,499, than in Seoul at $1,783. In Yangsan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yangsan – 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 Yangsan. 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.