Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

🙂 Solo nomad: South Korea is 18.9% cheaper than United States without rent, and 43.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: South Korea is 17.6% cheaper than United States without rent, and 34.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.25 ₩10.7K

$20.22 $20.22

-64.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.33 ₩63.8K

$75.7 $75.7

-42.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 ₩8,901

$11.47 $11.47

-47.34%

Cappuccino

$3.84 ₩5,658

$5.13 $5.13

-25.15%

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

$1.63 ₩2,398

$2.61 $2.61

-37.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₩1,127

$2.14 $2.14

-64.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 ₩5,263

$6.17 $6.17

-42.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 ₩7,134

$7.07 $7.07

-31.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₩3,241

$1.08 $1.08

103.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.09 ₩4,557

$3.74 $3.74

-17.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.08 ₩4,530

$4.57 $4.57

-32.60%

Eggs

$2.94 ₩4,329

$4.20 $4.20

-30.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.59 ₩20.0K

$13.02 $13.02

4.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.09 ₩13.4K

$12.18 $12.18

-25.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$29.50 ₩43.5K

$16.14 $16.14

82.78%

Apples (1kg)

$7.71 ₩11.4K

$5.31 $5.31

45.20%

Banana (1kg)

$3.41 ₩5,018

$1.72 $1.72

98.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.97 ₩8,800

$4.59 $4.59

30.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.21 ₩9,140

$4.96 $4.96

25.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 ₩5,615

$3.00 $3.00

27.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 ₩4,181

$3.04 $3.04

-6.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 ₩3,703

$2.18 $2.18

15.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₩1,787

$2.19 $2.19

-44.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,798

$10.16 $10.16

-67.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.84 ₩24.8K

$15.16 $15.16

11.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₩3,149

$1.99 $1.99

7.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₩4,294

$3.71 $3.71

-21.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,663

$2.48 $2.48

-54.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.42 ₩68.4K

$63.9 $63.9

-27.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 ₩4,774

$3.69 $3.69

-12.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩788

$1.76 $1.76

-69.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.63 ₩12.7K

$30.06 $30.06

-71.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,798

$0.96 $0.96

27.08%

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

$28.1K ₩41.4M

$30.2K $30.2K

-6.93%

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

$23.7K ₩34.9M

$26.3K $26.3K

-9.86%

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

$169 ₩249.1K

$207 $207

-18.40%

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

$41.72 ₩61.5K

$57.0 $57.0

-26.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.57 ₩31.8K

$71.5 $71.5

-69.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.1 ₩78.2K

$45.91 $45.91

15.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.71 ₩29.0K

$22.25 $22.25

-11.42%

Cinema Ticket

$11.16 ₩16.4K

$14.13 $14.13

-21.02%

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

$391 ₩575.8K

$1,385 $1,385

-71.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K ₩33.9M

$22.2K $22.2K

3.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ₩86.0K

$52.1 $52.1

12.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.84 ₩71.9K

$42.53 $42.53

14.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 ₩117.8K

$89.9 $89.9

-11.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₩157.4K

$114 $114

-6.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ₩921.9K

$1,743 $1,743

-64.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$408 ₩600.4K

$1,422 $1,422

-71.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,566 ₩2.3M

$2,821 $2,821

-44.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$972 ₩1.4M

$2,370 $2,370

-58.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.8K ₩20.4M

$3,338 $3,338

314.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,446 ₩12.4M

$2,615 $2,615

222.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,319 ₩3.4M

$4,230 $4,230

-45.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

6.51

-35.48%

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

Last update for South Korea: January 10, 2026

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and United States

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