Cost of Living Comparison Between Suji-gu and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Suji-gu and Seoul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,355 per month in Suji-gu vs $1,757 in Seoul, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,099 per month in Suji-gu vs $2,790 in Seoul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,843 per month in Suji-gu vs $3,822 in Seoul, rent included.

Suji-gu is about 23% cheaper than Seoul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Suji-gu sits 1% below the global median, while Seoul is 28% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.02 ₩8,340

$9.53 ₩13.2K

-36.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.84 ₩48.3K

$68.0 ₩94.2K

-48.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 ₩9,078

$7.35 ₩10.2K

-10.88%

Cappuccino

$3.73 ₩5,172

$4.17 ₩5,773

-10.55%

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

$1.52 ₩2,106

$1.67 ₩2,312

-8.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₩808

$0.77 ₩1,073

-24.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 ₩4,934

$3.74 ₩5,184

-4.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 ₩6,012

$5.86 ₩8,121

-25.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ₩2,823

$2.07 ₩2,872

-1.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 ₩4,196

$3.17 ₩4,388

-4.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 ₩3,216

$4.22 ₩5,847

-45.02%

Eggs

$3.24 ₩4,488

$3.49 ₩4,833

-7.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.54 ₩21.5K

$16.99 ₩23.5K

-8.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.90 ₩10.9K

$9.97 ₩13.8K

-20.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.31 ₩15.7K

$25.97 ₩36.0K

-56.45%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 ₩10.3K

$7.78 ₩10.8K

-4.50%

Banana (1kg)

$3.15 ₩4,363

$3.47 ₩4,808

-9.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.77 ₩7,999

$5.55 ₩7,691

3.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.27 ₩8,694

$6.27 ₩8,687

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 ₩4,755

$3.74 ₩5,178

-8.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 ₩3,403

$2.54 ₩3,526

-3.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 ₩2,889

$2.74 ₩3,794

-24.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₩1,482

$1.07 ₩1,481

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.43 ₩4,750

$3.36 ₩4,661

2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.70 ₩25.9K

$18.77 ₩26.0K

-0.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₩3,154

$2.45 ₩3,391

-6.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₩4,410

$3.08 ₩4,267

3.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,555

$1.13 ₩1,570

-0.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.48 ₩64.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 ₩5,091

$3.55 ₩4,916

3.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₩864

$0.59 ₩819

5.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.12 ₩12.6K

$8.77 ₩12.2K

3.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ₩1,883

$1.52 ₩2,107

-10.53%

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

$28.9K ₩40.1M

$28.7K ₩39.8M

0.75%

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

$28.1K ₩38.9M

$27.5K ₩38.2M

1.98%

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

$198 ₩274.6K

$198 ₩273.9K

0.25%

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

$35.76 ₩49.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.57 ₩27.1K

$20.20 ₩28.0K

-3.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 ₩75.8K

$58.9 ₩81.7K

-7.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.75 ₩16.3K

$15.96 ₩22.1K

-26.38%

Cinema Ticket

$11.37 ₩15.8K

$11.28 ₩15.6K

0.80%

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

$571 ₩791.8K

$1,899 ₩2.6M

-69.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K ₩24.4M

$22.8K ₩31.6M

-22.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 ₩80.5K

$58.4 ₩80.9K

-0.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.39 ₩44.9K

$32.33 ₩44.8K

0.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 ₩95.9K

$70.7 ₩98.0K

-2.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.2 ₩113.9K

$82.7 ₩114.6K

-0.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 ₩613.3K

$891 ₩1.2M

-50.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 ₩495.2K

$597 ₩827.9K

-40.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 ₩1.6M

$2,570 ₩3.6M

-54.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 ₩1.0M

$1,252 ₩1.7M

-41.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,064 ₩9.8M

$29.3K ₩40.6M

-75.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,415 ₩7.5M

$11.5K ₩15.9M

-52.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,124 ₩1.6M

$3,545 ₩4.9M

-68.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

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

Last update for Suji-gu: September 13, 2026

Last update for Seoul: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Suji-gu versus $891 in Seoul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 216% higher in Seoul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Suji-gu versus $68.0 in Seoul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $471 – making Suji-gu 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

Suji-gu vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 30% more than Suji-gu, 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 $2,032 per month in Suji-gu and $2,636 in Seoul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Suji-gu, 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 $1,355 in Suji-gu and $1,757 in Seoul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $571 per month in Suji-gu and $1,899 in Seoul. 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 Suji-gu, where all-in costs run around $1,355, than in Seoul at $1,757. In Suji-gu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Suji-gu – 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 Suji-gu. 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.