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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,391 per month in South Korea vs $2,626 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,185 per month in South Korea vs $3,830 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,978 per month in South Korea vs $5,033 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in South Korea is roughly 47% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both South Korea and United States are pricier than the global median – South Korea by 1%, United States by 90%.

The regional cost range is wider in United States ($986–$5,298) than in South Korea ($1,043–$1,783), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.51 ₩10.1K

$19.83 $19.83

-62.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.70 ₩59.9K

$78.8 $78.8

-43.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 ₩8,926

$12.19 $12.19

-45.37%

Cappuccino

$3.98 ₩5,343

$5.59 $5.59

-28.80%

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

$1.64 ₩2,195

$2.78 $2.78

-41.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₩1,047

$2.18 $2.18

-64.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.69 ₩4,946

$5.86 $5.86

-37.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 ₩5,962

$8.02 $8.02

-44.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ₩2,927

$1.07 $1.07

103.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₩3,857

$3.68 $3.68

-21.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.36 ₩4,506

$4.66 $4.66

-27.90%

Eggs

$3.21 ₩4,308

$4.20 $4.20

-23.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.62 ₩19.6K

$12.78 $12.78

14.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.88 ₩11.9K

$12.40 $12.40

-28.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.65 ₩33.1K

$16.90 $16.90

45.86%

Apples (1kg)

$8.27 ₩11.1K

$5.23 $5.23

58.13%

Banana (1kg)

$3.44 ₩4,616

$1.66 $1.66

107.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.32 ₩8,478

$4.33 $4.33

45.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.87 ₩7,866

$4.96 $4.96

18.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.93 ₩5,264

$2.82 $2.82

39.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₩3,751

$3.11 $3.11

-9.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 ₩3,610

$2.19 $2.19

22.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₩1,571

$2.26 $2.26

-48.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₩4,384

$10.35 $10.35

-68.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 ₩19.7K

$14.81 $14.81

-0.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₩2,870

$2.09 $2.09

2.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₩4,011

$3.65 $3.65

-18.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,450

$2.38 $2.38

-54.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.55 ₩61.1K

$64.5 $64.5

-29.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 ₩4,588

$3.54 $3.54

-3.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₩867

$1.86 $1.86

-65.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.69 ₩11.7K

$30.34 $30.34

-71.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,774

$1.00 $1.00

32.00%

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

$29.8K ₩40.0M

$35.5K $35.5K

-16.12%

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

$30.2K ₩40.4M

$25.9K $25.9K

16.59%

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

$200 ₩268.7K

$222 $222

-9.82%

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

$39.60 ₩53.1K

$61.1 $61.1

-35.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.91 ₩30.7K

$74.7 $74.7

-69.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ₩75.4K

$44.49 $44.49

26.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.03 ₩21.5K

$22.35 $22.35

-28.28%

Cinema Ticket

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$15.03 $15.03

-26.15%

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

$912 ₩1.2M

$1,431 $1,431

-36.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K ₩30.8M

$25.9K $25.9K

-11.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 ₩75.8K

$53.6 $53.6

5.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.05 ₩57.7K

$43.46 $43.46

-0.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ₩104.2K

$91.5 $91.5

-15.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 ₩128.4K

$114 $114

-15.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₩786.7K

$1,633 $1,633

-64.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$406 ₩544.2K

$1,328 $1,328

-69.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,536 ₩2.1M

$2,606 $2,606

-41.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$900 ₩1.2M

$2,206 $2,206

-59.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.0K ₩21.4M

$3,323 $3,323

380.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,144 ₩10.9M

$2,653 $2,653

206.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,365 ₩3.2M

$4,306 $4,306

-45.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.21

6.21

-32.21%

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

Last update for South Korea: September 6, 2026

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $430 in South Korea vs $1,604 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $891 in Seoul and $1,360 in Columbia, TN.

Average salary: $2,116 in South Korea vs $4,526 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 273% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 83% more in United States.

Public transport is 125% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 114% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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

South Korea vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

South Korea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 122% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in South Korea, contributing to the overall 122% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in South Korea, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

South Korea is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.