Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Tokyo 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Tokyo is 16.1% lower than in Seoul (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Tokyo is 9.9% lower than in Seoul | |
| Rent Prices in Tokyo are 10.7% higher than in Seoul | |
| Restaurant Prices in Tokyo are 8.2% lower than in Seoul | |
| Groceries Prices in Tokyo are 19.6% lower than in Seoul | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Tokyo is 11.7% lower than in Seoul | |
Restaurants | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
12,000.00 ₩ (1,252.56 ¥) |
11,496.44 ₩ (1,200.00 ¥) |
-4.2 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
75,000.00 ₩ (7,828.51 ¥) |
65,146.50 ₩ (6,800.00 ¥) |
-13.1 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
8,000.00 ₩ (835.04 ¥) |
7,664.29 ₩ (800.00 ¥) |
-4.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
5,000.00 ₩ (521.90 ¥) |
5,748.22 ₩ (600.00 ¥) |
+15.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
8,000.00 ₩ (835.04 ¥) |
6,945.77 ₩ (725.00 ¥) |
-13.2 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
5,289.47 ₩ (552.12 ¥) |
4,948.19 ₩ (516.49 ¥) |
-6.5 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
2,362.30 ₩ (246.58 ¥) |
1,611.95 ₩ (168.26 ¥) |
-31.8 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
1,125.59 ₩ (117.49 ¥) |
1,180.68 ₩ (123.24 ¥) |
+4.9 % |
Markets | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
11,252.92 ₩ (1,174.58 ¥) |
8,357.10 ₩ (872.31 ¥) |
-25.7 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
4,212.20 ₩ (439.67 ¥) |
1,997.49 ₩ (208.50 ¥) |
-52.6 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
2,007.77 ₩ (209.57 ¥) |
3,291.72 ₩ (343.59 ¥) |
+63.9 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
4,458.60 ₩ (465.39 ¥) |
3,106.52 ₩ (324.26 ¥) |
-30.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
8,639.09 ₩ (901.75 ¥) |
10,026.87 ₩ (1,046.61 ¥) |
+16.1 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6,695.46 ₩ (698.87 ¥) |
5,113.89 ₩ (533.79 ¥) |
-23.6 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
21,214.22 ₩ (2,214.34 ¥) |
14,232.94 ₩ (1,485.64 ¥) |
-32.9 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
4,922.24 ₩ (513.78 ¥) |
3,430.75 ₩ (358.10 ¥) |
-30.3 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
2,181.13 ₩ (227.67 ¥) |
1,623.28 ₩ (169.44 ¥) |
-25.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
3,328.49 ₩ (347.43 ¥) |
3,681.29 ₩ (384.25 ¥) |
+10.6 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
3,909.74 ₩ (408.10 ¥) |
3,638.72 ₩ (379.81 ¥) |
-6.9 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
2,474.85 ₩ (258.33 ¥) |
1,950.91 ₩ (203.64 ¥) |
-21.2 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
1,793.82 ₩ (187.24 ¥) |
2,035.36 ₩ (212.45 ¥) |
+13.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
3,492.27 ₩ (364.52 ¥) |
2,020.21 ₩ (210.87 ¥) |
-42.2 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,742.00 ₩ (181.83 ¥) |
1,359.68 ₩ (141.92 ¥) |
-21.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
29,000.00 ₩ (3,027.02 ¥) |
11,496.44 ₩ (1,200.00 ¥) |
-60.4 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
3,423.27 ₩ (357.32 ¥) |
2,946.52 ₩ (307.56 ¥) |
-13.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
4,525.98 ₩ (472.42 ¥) |
3,948.12 ₩ (412.11 ¥) |
-12.8 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
4,500.00 ₩ (469.71 ¥) |
5,748.22 ₩ (600.00 ¥) |
+27.7 % |
Transportation | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
1,500.00 ₩ (156.57 ¥) |
1,959.19 ₩ (204.50 ¥) |
+30.6 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
64,000.00 ₩ (6,680.33 ¥) |
114,964.41 ₩ (12,000.00 ¥) |
+79.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
4,800.00 ₩ (501.02 ¥) |
4,790.18 ₩ (500.00 ¥) |
-0.2 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,609.34 ₩ (167.98 ¥) |
7,246.51 ₩ (756.39 ¥) |
+350.3 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
12,000.00 ₩ (1,252.56 ¥) |
36,304.52 ₩ (3,789.47 ¥) |
+202.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
6,260.10 ₩ (653.43 ¥) |
6,457.31 ₩ (674.01 ¥) |
+3.2 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
37,731,000.00 ₩ (3,938,366.61 ¥) |
32,017,588.60 ₩ (3,342,000.00 ¥) |
-15.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
33,398,333.33 ₩ (3,486,122.31 ¥) |
23,848,728.48 ₩ (2,489,333.33 ¥) |
-28.6 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
222,928.05 ₩ (23,269.26 ¥) |
249,874.69 ₩ (26,081.95 ¥) |
+12.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
47,663.99 ₩ (4,975.17 ¥) |
38,110.46 ₩ (3,977.97 ¥) |
-20.0 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
30,420.83 ₩ (3,175.33 ¥) |
47,421.32 ₩ (4,949.84 ¥) |
+55.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
77,357.22 ₩ (8,074.56 ¥) |
96,665.91 ₩ (10,090.00 ¥) |
+25.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
31,863.64 ₩ (3,325.93 ¥) |
26,241.90 ₩ (2,739.13 ¥) |
-17.6 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
15,000.00 ₩ (1,565.70 ¥) |
18,202.70 ₩ (1,900.00 ¥) |
+21.4 % |
Childcare | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
584,493.32 ₩ (61,009.49 ¥) |
695,942.07 ₩ (72,642.52 ¥) |
+19.1 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
31,600,000.00 ₩ (3,298,412.05 ¥) |
21,749,829.60 ₩ (2,270,250.00 ¥) |
-31.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
79,188.80 ₩ (8,265.74 ¥) |
84,329.01 ₩ (8,802.27 ¥) |
+6.5 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
66,235.99 ₩ (6,913.72 ¥) |
54,267.20 ₩ (5,664.42 ¥) |
-18.1 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
114,851.29 ₩ (11,988.19 ¥) |
91,673.25 ₩ (9,568.87 ¥) |
-20.2 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
153,326.64 ₩ (16,004.25 ¥) |
128,019.84 ₩ (13,362.73 ¥) |
-16.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
1,289,865.43 ₩ (134,636.32 ¥) |
1,666,299.65 ₩ (173,928.57 ¥) |
+29.2 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
767,869.96 ₩ (80,150.36 ¥) |
859,079.58 ₩ (89,670.84 ¥) |
+11.9 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
3,516,037.15 ₩ (367,004.41 ¥) |
3,819,881.47 ₩ (398,719.72 ¥) |
+8.6 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
1,878,275.86 ₩ (196,054.68 ¥) |
1,900,875.87 ₩ (198,413.67 ¥) |
+1.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
2,739,332.72 ₩ (285,931.90 ¥) |
1,252,924.94 ₩ (130,780.47 ¥) |
-54.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,529,611.49 ₩ (159,661.04 ¥) |
655,895.08 ₩ (68,462.41 ¥) |
-57.1 % |
Salaries And Financing | Seoul Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
4,345,517.77 ₩ (453,585.70 ¥) |
3,456,001.62 ₩ (360,737.89 ¥) |
-20.5 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.35 | 1.75 | -59.7 % |
| Last update: | 22 May 2025 | 23 May 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 240 | 238 |
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 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 |
| Cost of Living in Suji-gu | 20.07 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 Ashikaga | 72.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Numazu | 78.58 miles |