Cost of Living Comparison Between Yeosu and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Yeosu and Seoul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,427 per month in Yeosu vs $1,742 in Seoul, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Yeosu vs $2,892 in Seoul, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,029 per month in Yeosu vs $4,043 in Seoul, rent included.

Yeosu is about 18% cheaper than Seoul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Yeosu and Seoul sit above the global median – Yeosu by 6%, Seoul by 30%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.97 ₩9,040

$8.59 ₩13.0K

-30.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.51 ₩55.3K

$54.3 ₩82.2K

-32.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ₩9,055

$6.30 ₩9,550

-5.08%

Cappuccino

$4.08 ₩6,187

$3.88 ₩5,886

5.15%

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

$1.30 ₩1,977

$1.72 ₩2,613

-24.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₩1,057

$0.86 ₩1,296

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,622

$3.60 ₩5,448

3.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₩6,774

$5.94 ₩8,998

-24.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 ₩3,172

$2.22 ₩3,371

-5.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₩4,381

$3.45 ₩5,228

-16.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,591

$3.13 ₩4,749

-3.19%

Eggs

$2.97 ₩4,497

$3.19 ₩4,830

-6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 ₩15.6K

$14.21 ₩21.5K

-27.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.45 ₩12.8K

$10.99 ₩16.6K

-23.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.38 ₩41.5K

$34.74 ₩52.6K

-21.19%

Apples (1kg)

$7.51 ₩11.4K

$7.97 ₩12.1K

-5.77%

Banana (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,849

$3.46 ₩5,247

-7.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.50 ₩11.4K

$5.43 ₩8,229

38.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.18 ₩7,850

$6.69 ₩10.1K

-22.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.61 ₩5,475

$3.80 ₩5,763

-5.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 ₩4,415

$2.95 ₩4,465

-1.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₩3,049

$2.63 ₩3,978

-23.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₩1,709

$1.27 ₩1,924

-11.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.21 ₩4,869

$3.23 ₩4,893

-0.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 ₩19.8K

$19.49 ₩29.5K

-33.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₩2,627

$2.42 ₩3,668

-28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₩3,405

$3.25 ₩4,921

-30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,607

$1.12 ₩1,691

-5.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.65 ₩60.1K

$47.88 ₩72.6K

-17.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 ₩4,278

$3.56 ₩5,396

-20.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₩1,004

$0.54 ₩818

22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.68 ₩14.7K

$8.72 ₩13.2K

11.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₩1,731

$1.25 ₩1,889

-8.80%

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

$27.9K ₩42.2M

$28.3K ₩42.8M

-1.35%

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

$24.9K ₩37.8M

$25.3K ₩38.4M

-1.57%

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

$183 ₩276.5K

$161 ₩243.4K

13.64%

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

$49.88 ₩75.6K

$34.38 ₩52.1K

45.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.98 ₩33.3K

$22.41 ₩34.0K

-1.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.62 ₩73.7K

$57.0 ₩86.4K

-14.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.55 ₩28.1K

$23.23 ₩35.2K

-20.15%

Cinema Ticket

$10.11 ₩15.3K

$11.19 ₩17.0K

-9.65%

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

$362 ₩549.2K

$412 ₩624.5K

-12.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.5M

$23.7K ₩35.8M

-39.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 ₩84.2K

$58.7 ₩88.9K

-5.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.19 ₩56.4K

$46.80 ₩70.9K

-20.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 ₩111.9K

$78.3 ₩118.6K

-5.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 ₩169.2K

$114 ₩173.0K

-2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 ₩681.9K

$957 ₩1.4M

-52.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 ₩558.7K

$604 ₩914.5K

-38.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,076 ₩1.6M

$2,580 ₩3.9M

-58.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₩1.1M

$1,308 ₩2.0M

-42.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,770 ₩14.8M

$18.2K ₩27.5M

-46.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,805 ₩8.8M

$9,223 ₩14.0M

-37.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,849 ₩2.8M

$3,095 ₩4.7M

-40.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

-3.38%

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

Last update for Yeosu: June 2, 2026

Last update for Seoul: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $450 in Yeosu 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.

Salaries run about 67% 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 $37.00 in Yeosu versus $54.0 in Seoul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 vs $500 – making Yeosu 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

Yeosu vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 22% more than Yeosu, 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 $2,140 per month in Yeosu 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 Yeosu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 21% less in Yeosu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $362 per month in Yeosu and $412 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 Yeosu, where all-in costs run around $1,427, than in Seoul at $1,742. In Yeosu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yeosu – 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 Yeosu. 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.