Cost of Living Comparison Between Yongin and Seoul Cost of Living Comparison Between Yongin and Seoul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,029 per month in Yongin vs $1,757 in Seoul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,554 per month in Yongin vs $2,790 in Seoul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,079 per month in Yongin vs $3,822 in Seoul, rent included.

Yongin is about 41% cheaper than Seoul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Yongin sits 25% below the global median, while Seoul is 28% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.87 ₩8,093

$9.53 ₩13.1K

-38.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.72 ₩35.4K

$68.0 ₩93.7K

-62.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.52 ₩8,981

$7.35 ₩10.1K

-11.29%

Cappuccino

$3.74 ₩5,156

$4.17 ₩5,740

-10.31%

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

$1.60 ₩2,210

$1.67 ₩2,299

-4.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₩804

$0.77 ₩1,067

-24.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 ₩4,629

$3.74 ₩5,155

-10.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,953

$5.86 ₩8,076

-26.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₩1,510

$2.07 ₩2,856

-46.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.16 ₩4,352

$3.17 ₩4,363

-0.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₩3,075

$4.22 ₩5,814

-47.16%

Eggs

$2.34 ₩3,228

$3.49 ₩4,806

-32.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.74 ₩21.7K

$16.99 ₩23.4K

-7.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 ₩11.1K

$9.97 ₩13.7K

-19.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 ₩15.3K

$25.97 ₩35.8K

-57.26%

Apples (1kg)

$7.76 ₩10.7K

$7.78 ₩10.7K

-0.26%

Banana (1kg)

$3.31 ₩4,559

$3.47 ₩4,781

-4.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.64 ₩10.5K

$5.55 ₩7,648

37.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.13 ₩9,824

$6.27 ₩8,639

13.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 ₩4,799

$3.74 ₩5,149

-6.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 ₩3,399

$2.54 ₩3,506

-2.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 ₩2,873

$2.74 ₩3,773

-24.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₩1,978

$1.07 ₩1,472

34.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₩4,738

$3.36 ₩4,634

2.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ₩25.6K

$18.77 ₩25.9K

-0.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₩3,098

$2.45 ₩3,372

-8.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ₩4,243

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,562

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.48 ₩64.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ₩4,908

$3.55 ₩4,888

0.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₩891

$0.59 ₩814

10.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 ₩12.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₩1,928

$1.52 ₩2,095

-7.89%

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

$29.5K ₩40.6M

$28.7K ₩39.6M

2.53%

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

$36.0K ₩49.7M

$27.5K ₩38.0M

30.83%

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

$209 ₩288.2K

$198 ₩272.4K

5.80%

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

$42.43 ₩58.5K

$35.76 ₩49.3K

18.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.95 ₩28.9K

$20.20 ₩27.8K

3.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 ₩72.1K

$58.9 ₩81.2K

-11.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.96 ₩22.0K

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 ₩15.6K

$11.28 ₩15.5K

0.09%

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

$294 ₩405.1K

$1,899 ₩2.6M

-84.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K ₩24.3M

$22.8K ₩31.5M

-22.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.0 ₩91.0K

$58.4 ₩80.4K

13.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.3 ₩87.2K

$32.33 ₩44.6K

95.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ₩102.2K

$70.7 ₩97.5K

4.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₩138.5K

$82.7 ₩114.0K

21.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₩1.2M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₩823.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,570 ₩3.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ₩1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.3K ₩40.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K ₩15.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,545 ₩4.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.1

4.08

0.49%

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

Last update for Yongin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Seoul: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Yongin versus $68.0 in Seoul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $471 – making Yongin 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

Yongin vs Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul costs about 71% more than Yongin, 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 $1,544 per month in Yongin and $2,636 in Seoul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,029 in Yongin and $1,757 in Seoul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $294 per month in Yongin 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 Yongin, where all-in costs run around $1,029, than in Seoul at $1,757. In Yongin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yongin – 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 Yongin. 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.