How much do groceries cost in Seoul?

Basic grocery prices: milk (1L) — $1.93, eggs (12) — $3.99, chicken breast (500g) — $4.29.

Cost of Living in Seoul, South Korea

Prices in South Korea — Seoul + 6 more cities, Updated March 2026

Moderate

1 KRW = 0.0008 USD Rate updated October 27, 2026

KRW / USD →

🍜 $6.90 9,143 KRW Business Lunch (incl. drink)

☕ $3.77 4,996 KRW Cappuccino

🚌 $41.4 54,884 KRW Monthly Transport Pass

🏠 $456.2 604,496 KRW Studio 45m² (normal area)

How much does it cost to live in Seoul alone?

1 person

$823

≈ €736

To live in Seoul on a moderate budget, you'll need around $823/month. That covers renting a studio in a normal area ($456), weekday lunches out ($138), weekend casual meals ($43), a daily coffee, tea, or other cheap drinks ($113), a monthly transit pass ($41), and a few taxi rides ($31). No gym, no dining out every night — just everyday life.

How much does it cost to live in Seoul for two?

2 persons

$2,020 ≈ €1,806

If there are two of you, plan on around $2,020 ≈ €1,806/month — a proper apartment ($1,286), meals and daily drinks for both, two transit passes, and more taxi rides.

What does it cost to raise a family in Seoul?

Family

$2,136 ≈ €1,910

With a child, the total comes to around $2,136 ≈ €1,910/month. Kids eat less, rarely pay for transit, but you'll need more taxi rides and little extras add up fast. School fees not included.

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Food & Drinks

How much does eating out cost in Seoul?

Item USD $ KRW ₩

🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink) $6.90 9,143 KRW

🍔 Fast Food Combo Meal $5.43 7,195 KRW

🍗 Chicken Breast (500g) $4.29 5,685 KRW

🥛 Milk (1L) $1.93 2,557 KRW

🥚 Eggs (12) $3.99 5,287 KRW

🍅 Tomatoes (1kg) $3.42 4,532 KRW

🧀 Local Cheese (500g) $8.74 11,581 KRW

🍎 Apples (1kg) $6.50 8,613 KRW

🥔 Potatoes (1kg) $3.56 4,717 KRW

🍺 Beer 0.5L (supermarket) $1.49 1,974 KRW

🍷 Wine Bottle (red, table) $12.2 16,100 KRW

🥤 Coca-Cola (2L) $1.77 2,345 KRW

🍞 Bread (2 people, 1 day) $1.62 2,147 KRW

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Rent & Housing

How much is rent in Seoul?

Item USD $ KRW ₩

🏢 Rent 85m² (expensive area) $1,899 2,516,369 KRW

🏠 Rent 85m² (normal area) $1,286 1,703,851 KRW

💡 Utilities 85m² (2 persons) $175.1 232,033 KRW

🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive) $814.6 1,079,453 KRW

🏠 Studio 45m² (normal area) $456.2 604,496 KRW

💡 Utilities 45m² (1 person) $79.4 105,250 KRW

📶 Internet (monthly) $9.81 12,999 KRW

📺 TV 40" Flat Screen $222 294,112 KRW

🔲 Microwave (800/900W) $70.9 93,908 KRW

🧴 Laundry Detergent (3L) $5.64 7,473 KRW

🧹 Cleaning Help (per hour) $10.2 13,542 KRW

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Clothing & Shoes

How much do clothes cost in Seoul?

Item USD $ KRW ₩

👖 Jeans (Levis 501) $50.6 67,062 KRW

👗 Summer Dress (Zara, H&M) $35.7 47,331 KRW

👟 Sport Shoes (Nike, Adidas) $54.9 72,720 KRW

👞 Leather Business Shoes $73.3 97,127 KRW

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Transportation

How much does transport cost in Seoul?

Item USD $ KRW ₩

🚗 VW Golf (new) $21,920 29,045,080 KRW

⛽ Gasoline (1L) $1.11 1,471 KRW

🎫 Monthly Transport Pass $41.4 54,884 KRW

🚕 Taxi Trip (8km) $7.79 10,322 KRW

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Healthcare

How much does healthcare cost in Seoul?

Item USD $ KRW ₩

💊 Cold Medicine (6 days) $3.05 4,041 KRW

💉 Antibiotics (12 doses) $4.33 5,738 KRW

🏥 Doctor Visit (15 min) $61.6 81,651 KRW

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Personal Care

How much does personal care cost in Seoul?

Item USD $ KRW ₩

🧻 Tampons (32 pcs) $9.35 12,389 KRW

🧴 Deodorant (50ml) $2.78 3,684 KRW

🧴 Shampoo (400ml) $3.94 5,221 KRW

🧻 Toilet Paper (4 rolls) $3.42 4,532 KRW

🪥 Toothpaste $1.28 1,696 KRW

💇 Men's Haircut $21 27,879 KRW

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Entertainment & Leisure

How much does entertainment cost in Seoul?

Item USD $ KRW ₩

🍺 Dinner for 2 (pub) $18.3 24,222 KRW

🎬 Cinema (2 tickets) $18.1 23,957 KRW

🎭 Theater (2 tickets, best) $81 107,357 KRW

🍝 Italian Dinner for 2 (full) $48.6 64,451 KRW

🍸 Cocktail (downtown) $6.76 8,957 KRW

☕ Cappuccino $3.77 4,996 KRW

🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml) $3.30 4,373 KRW

📱 iPad Wi-Fi 128GB $402.2 532,929 KRW

📱 Mobile (1 min, prepaid) $0.98 1,299 KRW

🏋️ Gym Membership (monthly) $39.7 52,579 KRW

🚬 Marlboro Cigarettes $3.11 4,121 KRW

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Prices by City

Which city in South Korea is the cheapest to live in?

	Seoul ★	Daegu	Busan	Daejeon	Jeju	Suwon
🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink)	$6.90 9,143 KRW	$5.78 7,659 KRW	$5.70 7,553 KRW	$6.01 7,964 KRW	$5.82 7,712 KRW	$5.44 7,208 KRW
☕ Cappuccino	$3.77 4,996 KRW	$3.15 4,174 KRW	$3.82 5,062 KRW	$3.21 4,253 KRW	—	$3.28 4,346 KRW
🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml)	$3.30 4,373 KRW	$2.60 3,445 KRW	$2.76 3,657 KRW	$2.72 3,604 KRW	—	$2.29 3,034 KRW
🎫 Monthly Transport Pass	$41.4 54,884 KRW	$35.9 47,517 KRW	$38.1 50,445 KRW	$39.8 52,724 KRW	—	—
🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive)	$814.6 1,079,453 KRW	$403.6 534,757 KRW	$423.8 561,524 KRW	$349.6 463,230 KRW	—	$379.1 502,307 KRW

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All Cities in South Korea

Average cost of living in other cities

Seoul ~$823 (current) Busan ~$666 Daegu ~$612 Daejeon ~$634 Gwangju ~$670 Jeju ~$174 Suwon ~$491

✓ Verified by Dmitriy

Know.Travel founder · traveler, more than 80 countries

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South Korea is a country of contrasts, where rice fields sit next to skyscrapers, and prices range from Jeju ($174/month) on the island to Seoul ($823/month) in the capital - most cities hover around the middle. Confucianism shaped Korean society for centuries, and you'll feel it in the respect for hierarchy and order everywhere - from the subway to restaurants. Practical tip - get a transit card and use it everywhere: subway fares here are cheaper than in any other developed country, and the system runs like clockwork.