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 17.4% cheaper than United States without rent, and 45.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: South Korea is 17.2% cheaper than United States without rent, and 35.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.51 ₩10.2K

$20.33 $20.33

-63.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.23 ₩58.7K

$74.4 $74.4

-41.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 ₩8,190

$11.49 $11.49

-47.43%

Cappuccino

$3.72 ₩5,041

$5.09 $5.09

-26.92%

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

$1.56 ₩2,117

$2.54 $2.54

-38.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₩1,037

$2.11 $2.11

-63.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,081

$6.09 $6.09

-38.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 ₩6,501

$7.1 $7.1

-32.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,033

$1.08 $1.08

107.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.16 ₩4,289

$3.7 $3.7

-14.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,187

$4.65 $4.65

-33.55%

Eggs

$2.97 ₩4,028

$4.21 $4.21

-29.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.76 ₩18.7K

$12.75 $12.75

7.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.54 ₩12.9K

$12.24 $12.24

-22.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$29.97 ₩40.7K

$16.08 $16.08

86.38%

Apples (1kg)

$7.99 ₩10.8K

$5.41 $5.41

47.69%

Banana (1kg)

$3.44 ₩4,669

$1.73 $1.73

98.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$6 ₩8,136

$4.37 $4.37

37.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.09 ₩8,263

$4.94 $4.94

23.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 ₩4,995

$2.88 $2.88

27.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 ₩3,853

$3.07 $3.07

-7.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 ₩3,382

$2.25 $2.25

10.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₩1,586

$2.21 $2.21

-47.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,381

$10.09 $10.09

-67.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.37 ₩23.6K

$14.73 $14.73

17.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₩2,898

$1.91 $1.91

12.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 ₩3,878

$3.54 $3.54

-19.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,451

$2.56 $2.56

-58.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.12 ₩62.6K

$63.9 $63.9

-27.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 ₩4,536

$3.81 $3.81

-12.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₩766

$1.77 $1.77

-68.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9 ₩12.2K

$30.4 $30.4

-70.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,669

$0.94 $0.94

30.85%

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

$28.1K ₩38.1M

$30K $30K

-6.15%

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

$24.5K ₩33.3M

$25.8K $25.8K

-4.91%

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

$168 ₩227.3K

$209 $209

-19.70%

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

$41.25 ₩56K

$57.9 $57.9

-28.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.59 ₩29.3K

$71.1 $71.1

-69.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 ₩71.4K

$45.88 $45.88

14.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.79 ₩26.8K

$22.25 $22.25

-11.06%

Cinema Ticket

$11.06 ₩15K

$14.14 $14.14

-21.78%

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

$385 ₩522.8K

$1,373 $1,373

-71.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.9K ₩31.1M

$22.4K $22.4K

2.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ₩79.2K

$51.5 $51.5

13.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.81 ₩66.2K

$41.96 $41.96

16.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 ₩109K

$88.3 $88.3

-9.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₩144K

$112 $112

-4.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$625 ₩848K

$1,731 $1,731

-63.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 ₩555.6K

$1,446 $1,446

-71.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,571 ₩2.1M

$2,846 $2,846

-44.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$966 ₩1.3M

$2,366 $2,366

-59.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.2K ₩17.9M

$3,245 $3,245

306.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,999 ₩10.9M

$2,667 $2,667

199.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,295 ₩3.1M

$4,312 $4,312

-46.79%

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: October 28, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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