Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Yongin Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Yongin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,757 per month in Seoul vs $1,029 in Yongin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,790 per month in Seoul vs $1,554 in Yongin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,822 per month in Seoul vs $2,079 in Yongin, rent included.

Seoul costs about 71% more than Yongin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Seoul sits 28% above the global median, while Yongin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.53 ₩13.1K

$5.87 ₩8,093

62.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.0 ₩93.7K

$25.72 ₩35.4K

164.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 ₩10.1K

$6.52 ₩8,981

12.73%

Cappuccino

$4.17 ₩5,740

$3.74 ₩5,156

11.50%

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

$1.67 ₩2,299

$1.60 ₩2,210

4.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₩1,067

$0.58 ₩804

32.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 ₩5,155

$3.36 ₩4,629

11.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 ₩8,076

$4.32 ₩5,953

35.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ₩2,856

$1.10 ₩1,510

88.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₩4,363

$3.16 ₩4,352

0.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 ₩5,814

$2.23 ₩3,075

89.24%

Eggs

$3.49 ₩4,806

$2.34 ₩3,228

49.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.99 ₩23.4K

$15.74 ₩21.7K

7.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 ₩13.7K

$8.02 ₩11.1K

24.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.97 ₩35.8K

$11.10 ₩15.3K

133.96%

Apples (1kg)

$7.78 ₩10.7K

$7.76 ₩10.7K

0.26%

Banana (1kg)

$3.47 ₩4,781

$3.31 ₩4,559

4.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 ₩7,648

$7.64 ₩10.5K

-27.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.27 ₩8,639

$7.13 ₩9,824

-12.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.74 ₩5,149

$3.48 ₩4,799

7.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₩3,506

$2.47 ₩3,399

2.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,773

$2.08 ₩2,873

31.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₩1,472

$1.44 ₩1,978

-25.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩4,634

$3.44 ₩4,738

-2.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.77 ₩25.9K

$18.60 ₩25.6K

0.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₩3,372

$2.25 ₩3,098

8.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ₩4,243

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,562

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.48 ₩64.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 ₩4,888

$3.56 ₩4,908

-0.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 ₩814

$0.65 ₩891

-9.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 ₩12.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₩2,095

$1.40 ₩1,928

8.57%

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

$28.7K ₩39.6M

$29.5K ₩40.6M

-2.47%

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

$27.5K ₩38.0M

$36.0K ₩49.7M

-23.56%

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

$198 ₩272.4K

$209 ₩288.2K

-5.48%

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

$35.76 ₩49.3K

$42.43 ₩58.5K

-15.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.20 ₩27.8K

$20.95 ₩28.9K

-3.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.9 ₩81.2K

$52.3 ₩72.1K

12.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.96 ₩22.0K

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 ₩15.5K

$11.29 ₩15.6K

-0.09%

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

$1,899 ₩2.6M

$294 ₩405.1K

545.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.8K ₩31.5M

$17.6K ₩24.3M

29.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ₩80.4K

$66.0 ₩91.0K

-11.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.33 ₩44.6K

$63.3 ₩87.2K

-48.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 ₩97.5K

$74.2 ₩102.2K

-4.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.7 ₩114.0K

$101 ₩138.5K

-17.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₩823.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,570 ₩3.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ₩1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.3K ₩40.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K ₩15.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,545 ₩4.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.1

-0.49%

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

Last update for Seoul: September 14, 2026

Last update for Yongin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Seoul versus $26.00 in Yongin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $471 vs $396 – making Yongin 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 Yongin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 71% more than Yongin, 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 $2,636 per month in Seoul and $1,544 in Yongin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,757 in Seoul and $1,029 in Yongin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,899 per month in Seoul and $294 in Yongin. 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 Yongin, where all-in costs run around $1,029, than in Seoul at $1,757. In Yongin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yongin – 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 Yongin. 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.