Cost of Living

Seoul, South Korea

Live cost-of-living data for Seoul — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
39/ 10061% cheaper than New York
$2,800/mo
Median Income
76/100
Safety
22%
Income Tax
temperate
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
72/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,140/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$450/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,200/month
Food & Groceries
68/100
Milk (1 liter)$2.5/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$3.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$4.2/kg
Transportation
35/100
Monthly Transit Pass$55/month
One-Way Ticket$1.35/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.95/km
Utilities
62/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$170/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$28/month
Healthcare
55/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$25/visit
Dentist Visit$45/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
70/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$450/month
International Primary School (yearly)$15,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$600/course
Entertainment
58/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$9.5/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$8/ticket
Clothing
60/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$58/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$85/pair
Personal Care
50/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$40/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$5.5/bottle
Dining Out
62/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$6.5/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$48/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8.5/meal
Childcare
65/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$700/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
48/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$45/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$6/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

120 Mbps
Internet Speed
$300
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
82/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Gangnam, Hongdae, Itaewon

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Seoul cheap to live in?

Seoul has a cost of living index of 39/100, where New York = 100. It is 61% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,400–$1,960 per month.

How much does rent cost in Seoul?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Seoul costs approximately $1,140/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $450/month.

Is Seoul good for digital nomads?

Seoul has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 120 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $300/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Seoul?

The median net monthly salary in Seoul is approximately $2,800 USD. The income tax rate is around 22%.

How does Seoul compare to New York for cost of living?

Seoul (cost index 39) is 61% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,525/month by moving from New York to Seoul.

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