Cost of Living Comparison Between China and South Korea 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Korea is 99.5% higher than in China (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Korea is 88.6% higher than in China | |
| Rent Prices in South Korea are 50.3% higher than in China | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Korea are 64.3% higher than in China | |
| Groceries Prices in South Korea are 131.3% higher than in China | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Korea is 24.4% higher than in China | |
Restaurants | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
20.00 ¥ (3,947.37 ₩) |
50.67 ¥ (10,000.00 ₩) |
+153.3 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
180.00 ¥ (35,526.35 ₩) |
304.00 ¥ (60,000.00 ₩) |
+68.9 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
35.00 ¥ (6,907.90 ₩) |
40.53 ¥ (8,000.00 ₩) |
+15.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
7.00 ¥ (1,381.58 ₩) |
25.33 ¥ (5,000.00 ₩) |
+261.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
15.00 ¥ (2,960.53 ₩) |
34.20 ¥ (6,750.00 ₩) |
+128.0 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
22.20 ¥ (4,382.41 ₩) |
25.46 ¥ (5,025.78 ₩) |
+14.7 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
3.30 ¥ (650.82 ₩) |
10.89 ¥ (2,149.43 ₩) |
+230.3 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
2.06 ¥ (407.16 ₩) |
5.45 ¥ (1,075.01 ₩) |
+164.0 % |
Markets | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
49.18 ¥ (9,705.72 ₩) |
57.21 ¥ (11,290.90 ₩) |
+16.3 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
10.87 ¥ (2,146.19 ₩) |
19.42 ¥ (3,832.41 ₩) |
+78.6 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
3.06 ¥ (603.62 ₩) |
9.47 ¥ (1,868.33 ₩) |
+209.5 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
11.62 ¥ (2,293.80 ₩) |
21.37 ¥ (4,217.10 ₩) |
+83.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
42.50 ¥ (8,387.84 ₩) |
43.13 ¥ (8,511.55 ₩) |
+1.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
10.77 ¥ (2,126.26 ₩) |
28.69 ¥ (5,662.48 ₩) |
+166.3 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
35.25 ¥ (6,957.64 ₩) |
94.66 ¥ (18,683.58 ₩) |
+168.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
5.80 ¥ (1,144.85 ₩) |
24.53 ¥ (4,840.53 ₩) |
+322.8 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
4.15 ¥ (818.25 ₩) |
10.82 ¥ (2,135.18 ₩) |
+160.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
4.87 ¥ (960.22 ₩) |
18.51 ¥ (3,652.55 ₩) |
+280.4 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
3.82 ¥ (754.51 ₩) |
19.21 ¥ (3,791.26 ₩) |
+402.5 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
2.44 ¥ (482.05 ₩) |
12.08 ¥ (2,384.44 ₩) |
+394.6 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
2.96 ¥ (583.93 ₩) |
9.11 ¥ (1,797.15 ₩) |
+207.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
4.35 ¥ (859.06 ₩) |
17.09 ¥ (3,373.78 ₩) |
+292.7 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
3.97 ¥ (783.69 ₩) |
8.19 ¥ (1,615.78 ₩) |
+106.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
80.00 ¥ (15,789.49 ₩) |
126.67 ¥ (25,000.00 ₩) |
+58.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
5.78 ¥ (1,141.62 ₩) |
15.05 ¥ (2,971.32 ₩) |
+160.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
11.81 ¥ (2,331.04 ₩) |
20.51 ¥ (4,047.51 ₩) |
+73.6 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
25.00 ¥ (4,934.22 ₩) |
22.80 ¥ (4,500.00 ₩) |
-8.8 % |
Transportation | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
3.00 ¥ (592.11 ₩) |
7.60 ¥ (1,500.00 ₩) |
+153.3 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
180.00 ¥ (35,526.35 ₩) |
329.33 ¥ (65,000.00 ₩) |
+83.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
10.00 ¥ (1,973.69 ₩) |
22.80 ¥ (4,500.00 ₩) |
+128.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
4.02 ¥ (794.09 ₩) |
6.52 ¥ (1,287.48 ₩) |
+62.1 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
48.00 ¥ (9,473.69 ₩) |
60.80 ¥ (12,000.00 ₩) |
+26.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
31.22 ¥ (6,161.27 ₩) |
31.71 ¥ (6,258.07 ₩) |
+1.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
140,000.00 ¥ (27,631,606.34 ₩) |
191,170.21 ¥ (37,731,000.00 ₩) |
+36.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
121,651.35 ¥ (24,010,159.58 ₩) |
161,862.53 ¥ (31,946,583.53 ₩) |
+33.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
370.40 ¥ (73,105.52 ₩) |
1,165.50 ¥ (230,032.89 ₩) |
+214.7 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
71.94 ¥ (14,199.52 ₩) |
278.61 ¥ (54,989.79 ₩) |
+287.3 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
83.64 ¥ (16,508.30 ₩) |
149.57 ¥ (29,519.89 ₩) |
+78.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
293.23 ¥ (57,874.49 ₩) |
357.34 ¥ (70,528.40 ₩) |
+21.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
108.02 ¥ (21,320.74 ₩) |
144.78 ¥ (28,575.00 ₩) |
+34.0 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
45.00 ¥ (8,881.59 ₩) |
76.00 ¥ (15,000.00 ₩) |
+68.9 % |
Childcare | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
3,014.47 ¥ (594,961.18 ₩) |
2,760.35 ¥ (544,805.52 ₩) |
-8.4 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
128,331.15 ¥ (25,328,541.14 ₩) |
156,809.08 ¥ (30,949,190.74 ₩) |
+22.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
335.24 ¥ (66,165.59 ₩) |
404.32 ¥ (79,799.35 ₩) |
+20.6 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
236.09 ¥ (46,596.67 ₩) |
346.25 ¥ (68,338.51 ₩) |
+46.7 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
524.50 ¥ (103,519.65 ₩) |
582.33 ¥ (114,932.76 ₩) |
+11.0 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
546.61 ¥ (107,882.88 ₩) |
769.69 ¥ (151,911.76 ₩) |
+40.8 % |
Rent Per Month | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
3,198.19 ¥ (631,223.18 ₩) |
4,092.22 ¥ (807,675.28 ₩) |
+28.0 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
1,951.33 ¥ (385,130.66 ₩) |
2,575.25 ¥ (508,274.38 ₩) |
+32.0 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
6,980.83 ¥ (1,377,796.65 ₩) |
10,944.28 ¥ (2,160,056.91 ₩) |
+56.8 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
4,012.25 ¥ (791,892.59 ₩) |
6,654.54 ¥ (1,313,397.44 ₩) |
+65.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
4,477.01 ¥ (883,621.25 ₩) |
8,853.27 ¥ (1,747,358.06 ₩) |
+97.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
2,195.35 ¥ (433,293.52 ₩) |
5,890.08 ¥ (1,162,516.01 ₩) |
+168.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
6,746.83 ¥ (1,331,612.11 ₩) |
15,827.89 ¥ (3,123,929.13 ₩) |
+134.6 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.13 | 4.50 | +8.8 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 1317 | 319 |
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