Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Tokyo 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Tokyo is 21.8% lower than in Seoul (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Tokyo is 14.4% lower than in Seoul | |
| Rent Prices in Tokyo are 13.6% higher than in Seoul | |
| Restaurant Prices in Tokyo are 22.6% lower than in Seoul | |
| Groceries Prices in Tokyo are 23.3% lower than in Seoul | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Tokyo is 6.2% lower than in Seoul | |
Restaurants | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
12,500.00 ₩ (1,347.89 ¥) |
10,664.85 ₩ (1,150.00 ¥) |
-14.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
90,000.00 ₩ (9,704.78 ¥) |
57,961.12 ₩ (6,250.00 ¥) |
-35.6 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
9,450.00 ₩ (1,019.00 ¥) |
7,419.02 ₩ (800.00 ¥) |
-21.5 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
5,000.00 ₩ (539.15 ¥) |
4,636.89 ₩ (500.00 ¥) |
-7.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
8,000.00 ₩ (862.65 ¥) |
7,419.02 ₩ (800.00 ¥) |
-7.3 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
5,285.19 ₩ (569.91 ¥) |
4,638.88 ₩ (500.21 ¥) |
-12.2 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
2,273.08 ₩ (245.11 ¥) |
1,626.90 ₩ (175.43 ¥) |
-28.4 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
1,134.00 ₩ (122.28 ¥) |
1,139.94 ₩ (122.92 ¥) |
+0.5 % |
Markets | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
2,966.38 ₩ (319.87 ¥) |
2,084.54 ₩ (224.78 ¥) |
-29.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
4,187.01 ₩ (451.49 ¥) |
1,771.71 ₩ (191.05 ¥) |
-57.7 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
2,032.85 ₩ (219.20 ¥) |
3,738.55 ₩ (403.13 ¥) |
+83.9 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
4,251.36 ₩ (458.43 ¥) |
3,316.96 ₩ (357.67 ¥) |
-22.0 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
8,785.11 ₩ (947.31 ¥) |
7,639.04 ₩ (823.72 ¥) |
-13.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6,390.14 ₩ (689.06 ¥) |
4,897.59 ₩ (528.11 ¥) |
-23.4 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
19,328.64 ₩ (2,084.22 ¥) |
12,755.77 ₩ (1,375.47 ¥) |
-34.0 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
4,879.48 ₩ (526.16 ¥) |
3,366.90 ₩ (363.06 ¥) |
-31.0 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
2,143.85 ₩ (231.17 ¥) |
1,586.91 ₩ (171.12 ¥) |
-26.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
3,544.74 ₩ (382.23 ¥) |
3,092.44 ₩ (333.46 ¥) |
-12.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
4,143.21 ₩ (446.77 ¥) |
3,670.58 ₩ (395.80 ¥) |
-11.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
2,315.61 ₩ (249.69 ¥) |
1,997.05 ₩ (215.34 ¥) |
-13.8 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1,799.90 ₩ (194.08 ¥) |
2,049.17 ₩ (220.96 ¥) |
+13.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
3,590.95 ₩ (387.22 ¥) |
1,860.66 ₩ (200.64 ¥) |
-48.2 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
1,693.18 ₩ (182.58 ¥) |
1,194.21 ₩ (128.77 ¥) |
-29.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
29,160.30 ₩ (3,144.38 ¥) |
13,910.67 ₩ (1,500.00 ¥) |
-52.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
3,146.27 ₩ (339.27 ¥) |
2,846.22 ₩ (306.91 ¥) |
-9.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
4,673.92 ₩ (503.99 ¥) |
4,039.89 ₩ (435.62 ¥) |
-13.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
4,500.00 ₩ (485.24 ¥) |
5,564.27 ₩ (600.00 ¥) |
+23.7 % |
Transportation | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
1,525.00 ₩ (164.44 ¥) |
2,040.23 ₩ (220.00 ¥) |
+33.8 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
65,000.00 ₩ (7,009.01 ¥) |
92,737.80 ₩ (10,000.00 ¥) |
+42.7 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
4,800.00 ₩ (517.59 ¥) |
4,636.89 ₩ (500.00 ¥) |
-3.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
1,448.41 ₩ (156.18 ¥) |
7,313.11 ₩ (788.58 ¥) |
+404.9 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
12,000.00 ₩ (1,293.97 ¥) |
27,264.91 ₩ (2,940.00 ¥) |
+127.2 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
1,690.05 ₩ (182.24 ¥) |
1,641.83 ₩ (177.04 ¥) |
-2.9 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
39,370,000.00 ₩ (4,245,302.51 ¥) |
31,628,225.50 ₩ (3,410,500.00 ¥) |
-19.7 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
39,998,000.00 ₩ (4,313,020.31 ¥) |
22,275,048.03 ₩ (2,401,938.46 ¥) |
-44.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
211,603.78 ₩ (22,817.43 ¥) |
224,739.36 ₩ (24,233.85 ¥) |
+6.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
47,521.54 ₩ (5,124.29 ¥) |
33,465.10 ₩ (3,608.57 ¥) |
-29.6 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
29,830.43 ₩ (3,216.64 ¥) |
41,835.05 ₩ (4,511.11 ¥) |
+40.2 % |
Sports And Leisure | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
82,898.72 ₩ (8,939.04 ¥) |
95,448.59 ₩ (10,292.31 ¥) |
+15.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
28,625.00 ₩ (3,086.66 ¥) |
38,748.27 ₩ (4,178.26 ¥) |
+35.4 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
15,000.00 ₩ (1,617.46 ¥) |
18,547.56 ₩ (2,000.00 ¥) |
+23.7 % |
Childcare | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,741,685.47 ₩ (187,807.51 ¥) |
1,525,989.17 ₩ (164,548.78 ¥) |
-12.4 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
31,438,357.93 ₩ (3,390,026.41 ¥) |
23,023,378.22 ₩ (2,482,631.58 ¥) |
-26.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
75,312.50 ₩ (8,121.01 ¥) |
72,209.02 ₩ (7,786.36 ¥) |
-4.1 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
56,111.76 ₩ (6,050.58 ¥) |
46,240.11 ₩ (4,986.11 ¥) |
-17.6 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
114,595.24 ₩ (12,356.91 ¥) |
77,778.79 ₩ (8,386.96 ¥) |
-32.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
141,333.33 ₩ (15,240.10 ¥) |
114,813.99 ₩ (12,380.50 ¥) |
-18.8 % |
Rent Per Month | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
1,291,614.97 ₩ (139,276.00 ¥) |
1,680,585.52 ₩ (181,219.05 ¥) |
+30.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
833,136.36 ₩ (89,837.84 ¥) |
960,995.42 ₩ (103,625.00 ¥) |
+15.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
3,001,441.81 ₩ (323,648.17 ¥) |
3,073,153.93 ₩ (331,380.95 ¥) |
+2.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
1,535,263.16 ₩ (165,548.81 ¥) |
1,854,205.69 ₩ (199,940.67 ¥) |
+20.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
3,071,670.53 ₩ (331,221.00 ¥) |
1,403,796.78 ₩ (151,372.67 ¥) |
-54.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,579,338.54 ₩ (170,301.49 ¥) |
641,924.86 ₩ (69,219.34 ¥) |
-59.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
4,651,886.16 ₩ (501,617.07 ¥) |
3,733,550.18 ₩ (402,592.07 ¥) |
-19.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 3.99 | 1.50 | -62.5 % |
| Last update: | 13 January 2026 | 9 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 148 | 153 | |
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 |