Cost of Living in Seoul, South Korea

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

Moderate
1 KRW = 0.0007 USD Rate updated July 21, 2026
KRW / USD →
🍜 $6.90 10,264 KRW Business Lunch (incl. drink)
$3.77 5,608 KRW Cappuccino
🚌 $41.4 61,612 KRW Monthly Transport Pass
🏠 $456.2 678,591 KRW Studio 45m² (normal area)

How much does it cost to live in Seoul alone?

1 person
$823
≈ €720

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 ≈ €1,768

If there are two of you, plan on around $2,020 ≈ €1,768/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 ≈ €1,869

With a child, the total comes to around $2,136 ≈ €1,869/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?

13
Item USD $ KRW ₩
🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink) $6.90 10,264 KRW
🍔 Fast Food Combo Meal $5.43 8,077 KRW
🍗 Chicken Breast (500g) $4.29 6,381 KRW
🥛 Milk (1L) $1.93 2,871 KRW
🥚 Eggs (12) $3.99 5,935 KRW
🍅 Tomatoes (1kg) $3.42 5,087 KRW
🧀 Local Cheese (500g) $8.74 13,001 KRW
🍎 Apples (1kg) $6.50 9,669 KRW
🥔 Potatoes (1kg) $3.56 5,295 KRW
🍺 Beer 0.5L (supermarket) $1.49 2,216 KRW
🍷 Wine Bottle (red, table) $12.2 18,073 KRW
🥤 Coca-Cola (2L) $1.77 2,633 KRW
🍞 Bread (2 people, 1 day) $1.62 2,410 KRW
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Rent & Housing

How much is rent in Seoul?

11
Item USD $ KRW ₩
🏢 Rent 85m² (expensive area) $1,899 2,824,812 KRW
🏠 Rent 85m² (normal area) $1,286 1,912,700 KRW
💡 Utilities 85m² (2 persons) $175.1 260,474 KRW
🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive) $814.6 1,211,766 KRW
🏠 Studio 45m² (normal area) $456.2 678,591 KRW
💡 Utilities 45m² (1 person) $79.4 118,151 KRW
📶 Internet (monthly) $9.81 14,592 KRW
📺 TV 40" Flat Screen $222 330,163 KRW
🔲 Microwave (800/900W) $70.9 105,418 KRW
🧴 Laundry Detergent (3L) $5.64 8,389 KRW
🧹 Cleaning Help (per hour) $10.2 15,202 KRW
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Clothing & Shoes

How much do clothes cost in Seoul?

4
Item USD $ KRW ₩
👖 Jeans (Levis 501) $50.6 75,282 KRW
👗 Summer Dress (Zara, H&M) $35.7 53,133 KRW
👟 Sport Shoes (Nike, Adidas) $54.9 81,633 KRW
👞 Leather Business Shoes $73.3 109,033 KRW
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Transportation

How much does transport cost in Seoul?

4
Item USD $ KRW ₩
🚗 VW Golf (new) $21,920 32,605,264 KRW
Gasoline (1L) $1.11 1,651 KRW
🎫 Monthly Transport Pass $41.4 61,612 KRW
🚕 Taxi Trip (8km) $7.79 11,588 KRW
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Healthcare

How much does healthcare cost in Seoul?

3
Item USD $ KRW ₩
💊 Cold Medicine (6 days) $3.05 4,537 KRW
💉 Antibiotics (12 doses) $4.33 6,441 KRW
🏥 Doctor Visit (15 min) $61.6 91,659 KRW
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Personal Care

How much does personal care cost in Seoul?

6
Item USD $ KRW ₩
🧻 Tampons (32 pcs) $9.35 13,908 KRW
🧴 Deodorant (50ml) $2.78 4,135 KRW
🧴 Shampoo (400ml) $3.94 5,861 KRW
🧻 Toilet Paper (4 rolls) $3.42 5,087 KRW
🪥 Toothpaste $1.28 1,904 KRW
💇 Men's Haircut $21 31,297 KRW
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Entertainment & Leisure

How much does entertainment cost in Seoul?

11
Item USD $ KRW ₩
🍺 Dinner for 2 (pub) $18.3 27,191 KRW
🎬 Cinema (2 tickets) $18.1 26,894 KRW
🎭 Theater (2 tickets, best) $81 120,516 KRW
🍝 Italian Dinner for 2 (full) $48.6 72,351 KRW
🍸 Cocktail (downtown) $6.76 10,055 KRW
Cappuccino $3.77 5,608 KRW
🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml) $3.30 4,909 KRW
📱 iPad Wi-Fi 128GB $402.2 598,252 KRW
📱 Mobile (1 min, prepaid) $0.98 1,458 KRW
🏋️ Gym Membership (monthly) $39.7 59,023 KRW
🚬 Marlboro Cigarettes $3.11 4,626 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 10,264 KRW $5.78 8,598 KRW $5.70 8,479 KRW $6.01 8,940 KRW $5.82 8,657 KRW $5.44 8,092 KRW
☕ Cappuccino $3.77 5,608 KRW $3.15 4,686 KRW $3.82 5,682 KRW $3.21 4,775 KRW $3.28 4,879 KRW
🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml) $3.30 4,909 KRW $2.60 3,867 KRW $2.76 4,105 KRW $2.72 4,046 KRW $2.29 3,406 KRW
🎫 Monthly Transport Pass $41.4 61,612 KRW $35.9 53,341 KRW $38.1 56,629 KRW $39.8 59,187 KRW
🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive) $814.6 1,211,766 KRW $403.6 600,305 KRW $423.8 630,352 KRW $349.6 520,011 KRW $379.1 563,876 KRW
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All Cities in South Korea

Average cost of living in other cities

Dmitriy
Verified by Dmitriy
Know.Travel founder · traveler, more than 80 countries

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.