Cost of Living Comparison Between Wonju and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Wonju and Seoul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,506 per month in Wonju vs $1,742 in Seoul, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,347 per month in Wonju vs $2,892 in Seoul, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,187 per month in Wonju vs $4,043 in Seoul, rent included.

Wonju is about 14% cheaper than Seoul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Wonju and Seoul sit above the global median – Wonju by 12%, Seoul by 30%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.20 ₩10.9K

$8.59 ₩13.0K

-16.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 ₩54.9K

$54.3 ₩82.2K

-33.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.19 ₩9,385

$6.30 ₩9,550

-1.75%

Cappuccino

$4.03 ₩6,109

$3.88 ₩5,886

3.87%

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

$1.87 ₩2,831

$1.72 ₩2,613

8.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩2,001

$0.86 ₩1,296

53.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 ₩5,512

$3.60 ₩5,448

1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 ₩8,888

$5.94 ₩8,998

-1.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₩3,506

$2.22 ₩3,371

4.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 ₩5,431

$3.45 ₩5,228

3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,517

$3.13 ₩4,749

-4.79%

Eggs

$2.96 ₩4,490

$3.19 ₩4,830

-7.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 ₩15.7K

$14.21 ₩21.5K

-26.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 ₩12.2K

$10.99 ₩16.6K

-27.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.62 ₩41.9K

$34.74 ₩52.6K

-20.50%

Apples (1kg)

$8.66 ₩13.1K

$7.97 ₩12.1K

8.66%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 ₩4,899

$3.46 ₩5,247

-6.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.35 ₩11.1K

$5.43 ₩8,229

35.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.39 ₩8,171

$6.69 ₩10.1K

-19.43%

Potato (1kg)

$5.23 ₩7,928

$3.80 ₩5,763

37.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ₩4,397

$2.95 ₩4,465

-1.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 ₩3,193

$2.63 ₩3,978

-19.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,741

$1.27 ₩1,924

-9.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₩4,959

$3.23 ₩4,893

1.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.82 ₩25.5K

$19.49 ₩29.5K

-13.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₩2,578

$2.42 ₩3,668

-29.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩5,270

$3.25 ₩4,921

7.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,693

$1.12 ₩1,691

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.88 ₩72.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₩5,420

$3.56 ₩5,396

0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 ₩1,224

$0.54 ₩818

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.63 ₩25.2K

$8.72 ₩13.2K

90.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₩1,770

$1.25 ₩1,889

-6.40%

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

$28.2K ₩42.7M

$28.3K ₩42.8M

-0.19%

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

$25.1K ₩38.0M

$25.3K ₩38.4M

-0.97%

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

$191 ₩289.1K

$161 ₩243.4K

18.80%

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

$50.6 ₩76.6K

$34.38 ₩52.1K

47.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.31 ₩41.4K

$22.41 ₩34.0K

21.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.09 ₩72.9K

$57.0 ₩86.4K

-15.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 ₩35.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.20 ₩17.0K

$11.19 ₩17.0K

0.09%

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

$471 ₩713.7K

$412 ₩624.5K

14.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ₩21.9M

$23.7K ₩35.8M

-39.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₩155.5K

$58.7 ₩88.9K

74.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 ₩72.8K

$46.80 ₩70.9K

2.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 ₩132.8K

$78.3 ₩118.6K

11.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩177.3K

$114 ₩173.0K

2.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 ₩676.0K

$957 ₩1.4M

-53.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 ₩578.5K

$604 ₩914.5K

-36.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 ₩1.6M

$2,580 ₩3.9M

-58.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₩1.2M

$1,308 ₩2.0M

-41.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.1K ₩15.3M

$18.2K ₩27.5M

-44.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,512 ₩6.8M

$9,223 ₩14.0M

-51.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,095 ₩4.7M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.14

1.93%

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

Last update for Wonju: June 1, 2026

Last update for Seoul: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Wonju versus $957 in Seoul. 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 $36.00 in Wonju versus $54.0 in Seoul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $500 – making Wonju 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

Wonju vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 16% more than Wonju, 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 $2,259 per month in Wonju and $2,613 in Seoul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wonju, 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 $1,506 in Wonju and $1,742 in Seoul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $471 per month in Wonju and $412 in Seoul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Wonju, where all-in costs run around $1,506, than in Seoul at $1,742. In Wonju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Wonju – 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 Wonju. 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.