Cost of Living in South Korea - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: South Korea
Address: KR

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $957 (excluding rent), and $1,542 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,306 (excluding rent), and $3,499 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.48 ₩11.0K

$5.99 ₩8,800

$11.22 ₩16.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.35 ₩65.2K

$29.57 ₩43.5K

$73.9 ₩108.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.74 ₩8,431

$5.31 ₩7,800

$6.88 ₩10.1K

Cappuccino

$3.75 ₩5,512

$2.19 ₩3,216

$4.76 ₩6,988

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

$1.64 ₩2,407

$1.13 ₩1,655

$2.35 ₩3,460

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₩1,191

$0.67 ₩983

$1.49 ₩2,189

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 ₩5,285

$1.80 ₩2,650

$5.04 ₩7,402

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 ₩6,826

$2.86 ₩4,199

$6.71 ₩9,868

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,286

$1.51 ₩2,216

$3.02 ₩4,432

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 ₩4,620

$1.88 ₩2,760

$6.00 ₩8,820

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,542

$1.64 ₩2,413

$4.88 ₩7,165

Eggs

$3.01 ₩4,418

$1.75 ₩2,575

$5.27 ₩7,738

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.79 ₩20.3K

$7.33 ₩10.8K

$32.96 ₩48.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 ₩13.5K

$4.34 ₩6,385

$13.75 ₩20.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$30.52 ₩44.8K

$12.59 ₩18.5K

$52.3 ₩76.9K

Apples (1kg)

$7.97 ₩11.7K

$3.71 ₩5,456

$13.38 ₩19.7K

Banana (1kg)

$3.40 ₩4,995

$2.16 ₩3,176

$7.22 ₩10.6K

Oranges (1kg)

$6.07 ₩8,927

$2.62 ₩3,856

$11.25 ₩16.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$6.00 ₩8,817

$2.14 ₩3,139

$9.99 ₩14.7K

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 ₩5,505

$1.96 ₩2,876

$5.81 ₩8,540

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,329

$1.50 ₩2,202

$5.11 ₩7,505

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 ₩3,583

$1.45 ₩2,124

$3.94 ₩5,794

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₩1,753

$0.60 ₩877

$1.49 ₩2,184

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩4,944

$3.73 ₩5,482

Wine (Bottle)

$16.96 ₩24.9K

$8.14 ₩12.0K

$27.13 ₩39.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₩3,045

$1.31 ₩1,923

$3.50 ₩5,143

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₩4,181

$1.44 ₩2,120

$5.04 ₩7,411

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,647

$0.98 ₩1,437

$1.29 ₩1,902

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.49 ₩68.3K

$43.59 ₩64.1K

$65.4 ₩96.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 ₩4,788

$2.75 ₩4,036

$3.61 ₩5,308

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩835

$0.54 ₩790

$0.99 ₩1,458

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.56 ₩12.6K

$8.28 ₩12.2K

$14.26 ₩21.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₩1,740

$1.15 ₩1,697

$1.34 ₩1,971

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

$28.2K ₩41.5M

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

$23.7K ₩34.8M

$21.6K ₩31.8M

$26.0K ₩38.3M

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

$171 ₩251.6K

$113 ₩166.5K

$252 ₩370.1K

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

$40.77 ₩59.9K

$19.76 ₩29.0K

$52.7 ₩77.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.95 ₩32.3K

$14.66 ₩21.5K

$32.99 ₩48.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ₩76.5K

$22.03 ₩32.4K

$88.1 ₩129.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.53 ₩28.7K

$7.28 ₩10.7K

$32.01 ₩47.0K

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 ₩16.4K

$8.90 ₩13.1K

$13.36 ₩19.6K

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

$391 ₩574.1K

$261 ₩383.7K

$970 ₩1.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K ₩34.4M

$14.9K ₩21.9M

$33.2K ₩48.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ₩86.1K

$36.84 ₩54.1K

$95.8 ₩140.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.76 ₩70.2K

$25.52 ₩37.5K

$72.9 ₩107.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 ₩118.3K

$52.4 ₩76.9K

$112 ₩164.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₩156.8K

$58.0 ₩85.2K

$181 ₩266.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$622 ₩914.4K

$361 ₩531.0K

$1,104 ₩1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 ₩598.0K

$218 ₩320.7K

$873 ₩1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 ₩2.3M

$744 ₩1.1M

$3,571 ₩5.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$971 ₩1.4M

$511 ₩751.4K

$1,826 ₩2.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.5K ₩21.3M

$6,640 ₩9.8M

$33.2K ₩48.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,714 ₩12.8M

$6,201 ₩9.1M

$17.2K ₩25.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,246 ₩3.3M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

3.5

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

Last update: April 12, 2026

By City in South Korea

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Andong	166274	70	$846	$1,392	$2,103	$3,009	66.01	229.82
2	Ansan	677710	72	$831	$1,442	$2,326	$3,012	84.45	231.33
3	Anseong-si	181319	70	$827	$1,411	$1,851	$2,977	31.36	209.19
4	Anyang	587764	66	$927	$1,316	$1,993	$3,054	123.87	287.48
5	Boryeong	103620	74	$856	$1,504	$2,669	$3,275	170.46	142.7
6	Bucheon	848191	74	$890	$1,497	$2,330	$3,255	85.83	299.28
7	Busan	3586079	75	$985	$1,482	$2,380	$3,222	109.81	222.75
8	Changwon	1055839	75	$918	$1,497	$2,297	$3,163	66.64	313.11
9	Cheonan	658486	64	$854	$1,290	$1,754	$2,718	34.57	285.04
10	Cheongju	835669	64	$901	$1,274	$1,778	$2,567	46.03	248.05
11	Chuncheon	280061	68	$818	$1,362	$1,869	$2,572	13.08	302.86
12	Chungju	208529	72	$945	$1,436	$2,299	$3,080	39.66	186.97
13	Daegu	2528933	68	$1,017	$1,339	$2,180	$2,926	102.89	334.71
14	Daejeon	1537324	66	$839	$1,296	$1,774	$2,776	64.45	256.35
15	Geoje	254073	68	$936	$1,369	$1,759	$3,002	52.92	258.3
16	Gimcheon	143056	74	$886	$1,501	$2,111	$3,222	17.32	172.65
17	Gimhae	532132	75	$1,037	$1,500	$2,147	$3,198	220.93	259.22
18	Gongju	110428	75	$935	$1,518	$2,313	$3,212	167.77	248.41
19	Gwangju	1467996	70	$854	$1,419	$2,093	$2,901	243.31	256.88
20	Gyeonggi	-	71	$971	$1,402	$2,678	$3,933	181.63	292.8
21	Gyeongju	258156	75	$916	$1,473	$2,299	$3,147	204.46	187.22
22	Icheon	213059	73	$823	$1,462	$2,316	$3,162	97.76	183.93
23	Iksan	307000	70	$823	$1,421	$2,079	$3,024	48.27	268.65
24	Ilsan	-	76	$867	$1,534	$2,666	$3,337	124.09	329.31
25	Incheon	2870545	68	$722	$1,358	$2,006	$2,963	10.42	276.55
26	Jecheon	136432	75	$872	$1,503	$2,135	$3,173	276.83	205.47
27	Jeju	469279	68	$881	$1,378	$1,915	$3,301	114.91	261.64
28	Jeonju	653387	62	$872	$1,251	$1,789	$2,666	161.72	247.2
29	Jinju	340548	74	$897	$1,476	$2,121	$3,304	186.17	343.38
30	Mokpo	237739	72	$1,013	$1,435	$1,997	$3,136	232.15	241.01
31	Pangyo	-	72	$1,040	$1,458	$2,269	$3,061	114.34	296.13
32	Pohang	514869	67	$696	$1,314	$1,604	$2,694	254.89	328.14
33	Pyeongtaek	489081	73	$860	$1,469	$2,198	$3,041	135.39	249.31
34	Sacheon	117500	70	$929	$1,422	$1,860	$2,960	375.25	337.25
35	Sangju	100947	72	$1,005	$1,439	$2,049	$3,129	321.39	141.08
36	Seogwipo	155641	70	$750	$1,421	$2,313	$3,014	145.23	275.68
37	Seongnam	967510	84	$831	$1,666	$1,979	$3,255	108.75	314.76
38	Seoul	9509458	88	$1,010	$1,794	$2,482	$4,047	172.59	204.19
39	Songdo-dong	-	71	$898	$1,439	$2,329	$3,056	63.18	330.4
40	Suji-gu	-	74	$885	$1,476	$2,547	$3,252	105.83	282.04
41	Suwon	1203000	69	$710	$1,347	$2,044	$2,855	112.38	316.13
42	Uijeongbu	463077	63	$1,018	$1,282	$1,931	$2,829	378.95	282.78
43	Ulsan	1129827	72	$989	$1,452	$2,269	$3,020	284.67	252.71
44	Wonju	340196	75	$928	$1,524	$2,356	$3,205	370.45	219.78
45	Yangsan	335474	75	$943	$1,482	$2,241	$3,145	74.77	295.57
46	Yeosu	288988	72	$889	$1,450	$2,362	$3,126	46.48	113.47
47	Yongin	1004081	67	$871	$1,340	$2,130	$2,834	185.19	257.69

South Korea Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in South Korea - Frequently Asked Questions

In South Korea, affordability is highly location driven: Seoul is pricier, while other cities and rural areas offer more breathing room. When you compare options, Cost of Living in South Korea varies by city and lifestyle, and public transit is efficient and widely used, helping daily costs stay manageable if you stay near a transit hub. For travelers, expats, and digital nomads, value comes from flexible leases, guesthouses, and share houses, plus abundant street food and markets that stretch meals farther. The vibe blends modern convenience with culture, and seasonality brings different perks. Tip: Map out a few neighborhoods and compare transit passes to estimate your core monthly expenses.

South Korea living cost varies by city and lifestyle, so your plan should start with a rough map of priorities. Housing runs from compact officetels and shared flats to traditional rentals; understand local terms like monthly rent versus Jeonse if you plan to stay longer. Food options span markets, street stalls, and affordable eateries alongside convenience stores. Public transit is fast and convenient, with reliable subways and buses that let you explore neighborhoods without a car. Co-working spaces and cafes can fit different work styles and budgets. Tip: Use transit passes, shop at markets, and test different neighborhoods before committing.

Quality of life depends on finding a neighborhood that fits your routine and a budgeting framework that keeps goals realistic. Start with a simple monthly plan: housing, food, transport, and utilities, then add flexible funds for social activities. Seasonal shifts matter – spring and fall bring milder days for outdoor exploring, while humidity in summer and dry winters change comfort needs and energy use. To save, mix shopping at traditional markets with planned purchases at grocery chains, and favor public spaces over expensive entertainment. For neighborhood fit, prioritize transit access, safe walkability, and nearby cafes or parks that support your work and downtime. Tip: test a couple of areas for a week or two before committing.