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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,742 per month in Seoul vs $1,524 in Yangsan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,892 per month in Seoul vs $2,378 in Yangsan, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,043 per month in Seoul vs $3,232 in Yangsan, rent included.

Seoul costs about 14% more than Yangsan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Yangsan sit above the global median – Seoul by 30%, Yangsan by 14%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.59 ₩13.0K

$7.29 ₩11.0K

17.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 ₩82.2K

$37.37 ₩56.6K

45.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 ₩9,550

$6.17 ₩9,353

2.11%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₩5,886

$4.20 ₩6,368

-7.62%

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

$1.72 ₩2,613

$1.80 ₩2,727

-4.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₩1,296

$1.33 ₩2,011

-35.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 ₩5,448

$3.70 ₩5,604

-2.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩8,998

$5.86 ₩8,883

1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,371

$2.34 ₩3,553

-5.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 ₩5,228

$3.58 ₩5,426

-3.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,749

$3.04 ₩4,604

2.96%

Eggs

$3.19 ₩4,830

$3.02 ₩4,582

5.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 ₩21.5K

$10.57 ₩16.0K

34.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 ₩16.6K

$8.12 ₩12.3K

35.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.74 ₩52.6K

$27.73 ₩42.0K

25.28%

Apples (1kg)

$7.97 ₩12.1K

$8.50 ₩12.9K

-6.24%

Banana (1kg)

$3.46 ₩5,247

$3.23 ₩4,889

7.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.43 ₩8,229

$7.42 ₩11.2K

-26.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.69 ₩10.1K

$5.40 ₩8,190

23.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₩5,763

$5.05 ₩7,657

-24.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,465

$2.90 ₩4,393

1.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 ₩3,978

$2.09 ₩3,162

25.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,924

$1.21 ₩1,831

4.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,893

$3.23 ₩4,889

Wine (Bottle)

$19.49 ₩29.5K

$16.67 ₩25.3K

16.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₩3,668

$1.74 ₩2,635

39.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₩4,921

$3.42 ₩5,189

-4.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,691

$1.06 ₩1,608

5.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 ₩72.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩5,396

$3.55 ₩5,378

0.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₩818

$0.84 ₩1,269

-35.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.72 ₩13.2K

$16.79 ₩25.4K

-48.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,889

$1.16 ₩1,757

7.76%

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

$28.3K ₩42.8M

$28.2K ₩42.7M

0.23%

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

$25.3K ₩38.4M

$24.9K ₩37.7M

1.70%

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

$161 ₩243.4K

$191 ₩290.1K

-16.12%

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

$34.38 ₩52.1K

$50.9 ₩77.1K

-32.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.41 ₩34.0K

$27.61 ₩41.8K

-18.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₩86.4K

$48.07 ₩72.8K

18.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 ₩35.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩17.0K

$11.41 ₩17.3K

-1.93%

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

$412 ₩624.5K

$480 ₩727.5K

-14.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K ₩35.8M

$13.9K ₩21.1M

69.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₩88.9K

$101 ₩153.5K

-42.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.80 ₩70.9K

$48.45 ₩73.4K

-3.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 ₩118.6K

$88.4 ₩134.0K

-11.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₩173.0K

$119 ₩180.9K

-4.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 ₩1.4M

$449 ₩681.0K

112.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₩914.5K

$378 ₩573.2K

59.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,580 ₩3.9M

$1,077 ₩1.6M

139.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 ₩2.0M

$775 ₩1.2M

68.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K ₩27.5M

$9,778 ₩14.8M

85.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,223 ₩14.0M

$5,787 ₩8.8M

59.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,095 ₩4.7M

$1,428 ₩2.2M

116.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

4.22

-1.90%

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

Last update for Seoul: June 2, 2026

Last update for Yangsan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Seoul versus $449 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 117% 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 $37.00 in Yangsan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $500 vs $450 – making Yangsan 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 Yangsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 14% more than Yangsan, 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 $2,613 per month in Seoul and $2,286 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 $1,742 in Seoul and $1,524 in Yangsan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $412 per month in Seoul and $480 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 $1,524, than in Seoul at $1,742. 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.