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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,770 per month in Seoul vs $1,350 in Yongin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,895 per month in Seoul vs $2,077 in Yongin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,020 per month in Seoul vs $2,805 in Yongin, rent included.

Seoul costs about 31% more than Yongin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seoul and Yongin sit above the global median – Seoul by 33%, Yongin by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.66 ₩12.4K

$6.05 ₩8,708

43.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.0 ₩80.5K

$21.77 ₩31.3K

157.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.48 ₩9,324

$6.28 ₩9,038

3.18%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₩5,621

$3.77 ₩5,417

3.71%

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

$1.73 ₩2,485

$1.74 ₩2,502

-0.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₩1,220

$0.78 ₩1,122

8.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,338

$3.15 ₩4,525

17.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 ₩8,206

$4.83 ₩6,943

18.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,221

$2.25 ₩3,230

-0.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 ₩5,020

$1.44 ₩2,075

142.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,441

$3.21 ₩4,618

-3.74%

Eggs

$3.11 ₩4,477

$2.55 ₩3,668

21.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.26 ₩20.5K

$7.50 ₩10.8K

90.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.80 ₩15.5K

$10.66 ₩15.3K

1.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.05 ₩49.0K

$22.22 ₩32.0K

53.24%

Apples (1kg)

$7.77 ₩11.2K

$7.50 ₩10.8K

3.60%

Banana (1kg)

$3.45 ₩4,967

$3.57 ₩5,129

-3.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.63 ₩8,097

$3.70 ₩5,314

52.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.66 ₩9,577

$3.69 ₩5,307

80.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 ₩5,515

$3.68 ₩5,300

4.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₩4,221

$2.98 ₩4,280

-1.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 ₩3,603

$2.53 ₩3,640

-0.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,894

$1.15 ₩1,651

14.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 ₩4,738

$3.28 ₩4,722

0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.33 ₩24.9K

$17.26 ₩24.8K

0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₩3,356

$1.79 ₩2,569

30.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 ₩4,777

$3.22 ₩4,634

3.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,544

$0.98 ₩1,405

9.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.68 ₩67.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 ₩5,187

$3.63 ₩5,222

-0.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩756

$0.57 ₩816

-7.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₩12.7K

$8.98 ₩12.9K

-1.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₩1,805

$1.21 ₩1,734

4.13%

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

$27.5K ₩39.6M

$28.2K ₩40.6M

-2.35%

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

$25.5K ₩36.7M

$24.9K ₩35.8M

2.48%

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

$165 ₩236.9K

$163 ₩233.7K

1.34%

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

$34.26 ₩49.3K

$34.77 ₩50.0K

-1.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.53 ₩32.4K

$22.40 ₩32.2K

0.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.1 ₩83.6K

$52.2 ₩75.1K

11.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.16 ₩33.3K

Cinema Ticket

$11.20 ₩16.1K

$10.94 ₩15.7K

2.38%

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

$417 ₩600.1K

$413 ₩594.1K

1.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K ₩33.5M

$23.4K ₩33.6M

-0.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ₩84.2K

$59.1 ₩85.0K

-0.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.59 ₩68.4K

$48.36 ₩69.6K

-1.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 ₩112.8K

$79.7 ₩114.7K

-1.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₩167.5K

$116 ₩166.9K

0.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 ₩1.4M

$453 ₩651.0K

112.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₩856.0K

$383 ₩550.2K

55.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,556 ₩3.7M

$1,064 ₩1.5M

140.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 ₩1.9M

$757 ₩1.1M

71.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$27.0K ₩38.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩15.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,214 ₩4.6M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

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

Last update for Seoul: July 26, 2026

Last update for Yongin: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $964 in Seoul versus $453 in Yongin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Seoul versus $22.00 in Yongin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $493 vs $385 – 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 31% 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 $2,655 per month in Seoul and $2,025 in Yongin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yongin, 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 $1,770 in Seoul and $1,350 in Yongin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $417 per month in Seoul and $413 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 $1,350, than in Seoul at $1,770. 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.