Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Tokyo 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Tokyo is 19.0% lower than in Seoul (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Tokyo is 11.7% lower than in Seoul | |
| Rent Prices in Tokyo are 16.1% higher than in Seoul | |
| Restaurant Prices in Tokyo are 20.4% lower than in Seoul | |
| Groceries Prices in Tokyo are 20.8% lower than in Seoul | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Tokyo is 5.9% lower than in Seoul | |
Restaurants | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
13,000.00 ₩ (1,377.67 ¥) |
11,087.53 ₩ (1,175.00 ¥) |
-14.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
90,000.00 ₩ (9,537.74 ¥) |
61,807.09 ₩ (6,550.00 ¥) |
-31.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
9,900.00 ₩ (1,049.15 ¥) |
7,548.96 ₩ (800.00 ¥) |
-23.7 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
5,000.00 ₩ (529.87 ¥) |
4,718.10 ₩ (500.00 ¥) |
-5.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
8,000.00 ₩ (847.80 ¥) |
7,548.96 ₩ (800.00 ¥) |
-5.6 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
5,303.85 ₩ (562.07 ¥) |
4,795.99 ₩ (508.25 ¥) |
-9.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
2,252.17 ₩ (238.67 ¥) |
1,797.25 ₩ (190.46 ¥) |
-20.2 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
1,152.27 ₩ (122.11 ¥) |
1,148.85 ₩ (121.75 ¥) |
-0.3 % |
Markets | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
2,934.12 ₩ (310.94 ¥) |
2,151.98 ₩ (228.06 ¥) |
-26.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
4,288.34 ₩ (454.46 ¥) |
1,802.74 ₩ (191.05 ¥) |
-58.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
2,094.77 ₩ (221.99 ¥) |
3,857.88 ₩ (408.84 ¥) |
+84.2 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
4,278.46 ₩ (453.41 ¥) |
3,373.68 ₩ (357.53 ¥) |
-21.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
9,068.38 ₩ (961.02 ¥) |
8,039.63 ₩ (852.00 ¥) |
-11.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6,268.25 ₩ (664.28 ¥) |
5,084.42 ₩ (538.82 ¥) |
-18.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
19,025.88 ₩ (2,016.27 ¥) |
14,093.86 ₩ (1,493.60 ¥) |
-25.9 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
4,874.47 ₩ (516.57 ¥) |
3,287.69 ₩ (348.41 ¥) |
-32.6 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
2,170.33 ₩ (230.00 ¥) |
1,591.76 ₩ (168.69 ¥) |
-26.7 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
3,620.71 ₩ (383.70 ¥) |
3,018.31 ₩ (319.87 ¥) |
-16.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
4,071.59 ₩ (431.49 ¥) |
3,692.91 ₩ (391.36 ¥) |
-9.3 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
2,369.71 ₩ (251.13 ¥) |
2,124.14 ₩ (225.11 ¥) |
-10.4 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1,850.94 ₩ (196.15 ¥) |
2,154.14 ₩ (228.29 ¥) |
+16.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
3,574.21 ₩ (378.78 ¥) |
1,917.44 ₩ (203.20 ¥) |
-46.4 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
1,693.18 ₩ (179.43 ¥) |
1,215.12 ₩ (128.77 ¥) |
-28.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
29,000.00 ₩ (3,073.27 ¥) |
14,154.29 ₩ (1,500.00 ¥) |
-51.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
3,093.64 ₩ (327.85 ¥) |
2,758.38 ₩ (292.32 ¥) |
-10.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
4,423.92 ₩ (468.82 ¥) |
3,956.46 ₩ (419.29 ¥) |
-10.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
4,500.00 ₩ (476.89 ¥) |
5,756.08 ₩ (610.00 ¥) |
+27.9 % |
Transportation | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
1,550.00 ₩ (164.26 ¥) |
1,981.60 ₩ (210.00 ¥) |
+27.8 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
65,000.00 ₩ (6,888.37 ¥) |
113,234.36 ₩ (12,000.00 ¥) |
+74.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
4,800.00 ₩ (508.68 ¥) |
4,718.10 ₩ (500.00 ¥) |
-1.7 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
1,367.94 ₩ (144.97 ¥) |
7,593.05 ₩ (804.67 ¥) |
+455.1 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
12,000.00 ₩ (1,271.70 ¥) |
27,742.42 ₩ (2,940.00 ¥) |
+131.2 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
1,686.17 ₩ (178.69 ¥) |
1,663.52 ₩ (176.29 ¥) |
-1.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
39,370,000.00 ₩ (4,172,231.97 ¥) |
32,177,429.52 ₩ (3,410,000.00 ¥) |
-18.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
38,315,000.00 ₩ (4,060,428.44 ¥) |
22,665,162.92 ₩ (2,401,938.46 ¥) |
-40.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
220,787.29 ₩ (23,397.91 ¥) |
233,970.50 ₩ (24,795.00 ¥) |
+6.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
45,050.69 ₩ (4,774.24 ¥) |
34,746.17 ₩ (3,682.22 ¥) |
-22.9 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
29,420.83 ₩ (3,117.87 ¥) |
44,291.15 ₩ (4,693.75 ¥) |
+50.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
82,159.60 ₩ (8,706.86 ¥) |
100,902.96 ₩ (10,693.18 ¥) |
+22.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
28,625.00 ₩ (3,033.53 ¥) |
40,361.19 ₩ (4,277.27 ¥) |
+41.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
15,000.00 ₩ (1,589.62 ¥) |
18,872.39 ₩ (2,000.00 ¥) |
+25.8 % |
Childcare | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,822,155.71 ₩ (193,102.78 ¥) |
1,599,940.91 ₩ (169,553.58 ¥) |
-12.2 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
31,324,072.21 ₩ (3,319,565.54 ¥) |
23,941,727.04 ₩ (2,537,222.22 ¥) |
-23.6 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
79,300.00 ₩ (8,403.81 ¥) |
74,893.60 ₩ (7,936.84 ¥) |
-5.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
55,766.67 ₩ (5,909.87 ¥) |
53,605.39 ₩ (5,680.83 ¥) |
-3.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
118,404.76 ₩ (12,547.93 ¥) |
80,087.05 ₩ (8,487.22 ¥) |
-32.4 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
138,153.85 ₩ (14,640.84 ¥) |
120,855.90 ₩ (12,807.69 ¥) |
-12.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
1,244,090.91 ₩ (131,842.41 ¥) |
1,737,054.75 ₩ (184,084.21 ¥) |
+39.6 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
801,380.95 ₩ (84,926.27 ¥) |
961,233.87 ₩ (101,866.67 ¥) |
+19.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
2,973,523.81 ₩ (315,118.90 ¥) |
3,126,975.73 ₩ (331,380.95 ¥) |
+5.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
1,583,500.00 ₩ (167,811.26 ¥) |
1,840,592.36 ₩ (195,056.60 ¥) |
+16.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
3,233,170.93 ₩ (342,634.98 ¥) |
1,502,075.18 ₩ (159,182.27 ¥) |
-53.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,610,858.95 ₩ (170,710.62 ¥) |
698,831.40 ₩ (74,058.59 ¥) |
-56.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
4,645,535.12 ₩ (492,310.14 ¥) |
3,857,288.40 ₩ (408,775.77 ¥) |
-17.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.00 | 1.70 | -57.4 % |
| Last update: | 9 February 2026 | 12 February 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 143 | 155 | |
Moving to Seoul? Explore:
Moving to Tokyo? Explore:
Cities near Seoul: | Cost of Living in Bucheon | 14.63 miles |
| Cost of Living in Anyang | 16.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Namyangju | 16.74 miles |
| Cost of Living in Seongnam | 17.54 miles |
| Cost of Living in Uijeongbu | 17.54 miles |
| Cost of Living in Goyang | 18.79 miles |
| Cost of Living in Incheon | 19.09 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ilsan | 19.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hanam | 19.15 miles |
| Cost of Living in Gunpo | 19.35 miles |
Cities near Tokyo: | Cost of Living in Matsudo | 17.80 miles |
| Cost of Living in Yokohama | 21.92 miles |
| Cost of Living in Saitama | 22.56 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chiba | 29.30 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kamakura | 32.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in Yokosuka | 37.13 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hiratsuka | 37.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ome | 40.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sammu | 56.81 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ashikaga | 72.03 miles |