Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and South Korea 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Korea is 19.4% higher than in Japan (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Korea is 16.4% higher than in Japan | |
| Rent Prices in South Korea are 4.2% higher than in Japan | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Korea are 8.1% higher than in Japan | |
| Groceries Prices in South Korea are 28.9% higher than in Japan | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Korea is 14.5% lower than in Japan | |
Restaurants | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
1,000.00 ¥ (10,011.23 ₩) |
998.88 ¥ (10,000.00 ₩) |
-0.1 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
5,000.00 ¥ (50,056.16 ₩) |
5,993.27 ¥ (60,000.00 ₩) |
+19.9 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
800.00 ¥ (8,008.99 ₩) |
799.10 ¥ (8,000.00 ₩) |
-0.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
500.00 ¥ (5,005.62 ₩) |
499.44 ¥ (5,000.00 ₩) |
-0.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
600.00 ¥ (6,006.74 ₩) |
674.24 ¥ (6,750.00 ₩) |
+12.4 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
477.05 ¥ (4,775.89 ₩) |
502.01 ¥ (5,025.78 ₩) |
+5.2 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
157.63 ¥ (1,578.04 ₩) |
214.70 ¥ (2,149.43 ₩) |
+36.2 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
117.04 ¥ (1,171.72 ₩) |
107.38 ¥ (1,075.01 ₩) |
-8.3 % |
Markets | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
838.15 ¥ (8,390.94 ₩) |
1,127.82 ¥ (11,290.90 ₩) |
+34.6 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
204.58 ¥ (2,048.06 ₩) |
382.81 ¥ (3,832.41 ₩) |
+87.1 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
277.39 ¥ (2,776.98 ₩) |
186.62 ¥ (1,868.33 ₩) |
-32.7 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
319.70 ¥ (3,200.59 ₩) |
421.24 ¥ (4,217.10 ₩) |
+31.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
775.20 ¥ (7,760.69 ₩) |
850.20 ¥ (8,511.55 ₩) |
+9.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
443.41 ¥ (4,439.06 ₩) |
565.61 ¥ (5,662.48 ₩) |
+27.6 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
1,262.05 ¥ (12,634.69 ₩) |
1,866.26 ¥ (18,683.58 ₩) |
+47.9 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
342.32 ¥ (3,427.05 ₩) |
483.51 ¥ (4,840.53 ₩) |
+41.2 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
168.27 ¥ (1,684.60 ₩) |
213.28 ¥ (2,135.18 ₩) |
+26.7 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
310.20 ¥ (3,105.50 ₩) |
364.85 ¥ (3,652.55 ₩) |
+17.6 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
316.81 ¥ (3,171.63 ₩) |
378.70 ¥ (3,791.26 ₩) |
+19.5 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
182.11 ¥ (1,823.10 ₩) |
238.18 ¥ (2,384.44 ₩) |
+30.8 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
166.93 ¥ (1,671.17 ₩) |
179.51 ¥ (1,797.15 ₩) |
+7.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
198.10 ¥ (1,983.27 ₩) |
337.00 ¥ (3,373.78 ₩) |
+70.1 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
132.82 ¥ (1,329.72 ₩) |
161.40 ¥ (1,615.78 ₩) |
+21.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
1,200.00 ¥ (12,013.48 ₩) |
2,497.20 ¥ (25,000.00 ₩) |
+108.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
309.30 ¥ (3,096.47 ₩) |
296.80 ¥ (2,971.32 ₩) |
-4.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
423.66 ¥ (4,241.37 ₩) |
404.30 ¥ (4,047.51 ₩) |
-4.6 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
600.00 ¥ (6,006.74 ₩) |
449.50 ¥ (4,500.00 ₩) |
-25.1 % |
Transportation | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
220.00 ¥ (2,202.47 ₩) |
149.83 ¥ (1,500.00 ₩) |
-31.9 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
8,000.00 ¥ (80,089.85 ₩) |
6,492.71 ¥ (65,000.00 ₩) |
-18.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
600.00 ¥ (6,006.74 ₩) |
449.50 ¥ (4,500.00 ₩) |
-25.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
708.11 ¥ (7,089.07 ₩) |
128.60 ¥ (1,287.48 ₩) |
-81.8 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,400.00 ¥ (34,038.19 ₩) |
1,198.65 ¥ (12,000.00 ₩) |
-64.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
656.64 ¥ (6,573.73 ₩) |
625.10 ¥ (6,258.07 ₩) |
-4.8 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
3,342,000.00 ¥ (33,457,534.93 ₩) |
3,768,867.08 ¥ (37,731,000.00 ₩) |
+12.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
2,583,855.05 ¥ (25,867,570.47 ₩) |
3,191,074.37 ¥ (31,946,583.53 ₩) |
+23.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
25,789.57 ¥ (258,185.36 ₩) |
22,977.48 ¥ (230,032.89 ₩) |
-10.9 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
3,870.02 ¥ (38,743.64 ₩) |
5,492.81 ¥ (54,989.79 ₩) |
+41.9 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
5,063.38 ¥ (50,690.69 ₩) |
2,948.68 ¥ (29,519.89 ₩) |
-41.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
8,560.70 ¥ (85,703.17 ₩) |
7,044.93 ¥ (70,528.40 ₩) |
-17.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
2,275.25 ¥ (22,778.05 ₩) |
2,854.29 ¥ (28,575.00 ₩) |
+25.4 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
1,900.00 ¥ (19,021.34 ₩) |
1,498.32 ¥ (15,000.00 ₩) |
-21.1 % |
Childcare | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
54,238.07 ¥ (542,989.91 ₩) |
54,419.43 ¥ (544,805.52 ₩) |
+0.3 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
1,967,518.17 ¥ (19,697,279.47 ₩) |
3,091,446.98 ¥ (30,949,190.74 ₩) |
+57.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
6,826.84 ¥ (68,345.09 ₩) |
7,970.98 ¥ (79,799.35 ₩) |
+16.8 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
4,551.81 ¥ (45,569.19 ₩) |
6,826.18 ¥ (68,338.51 ₩) |
+50.0 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
8,912.90 ¥ (89,229.11 ₩) |
11,480.38 ¥ (114,932.76 ₩) |
+28.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
12,227.37 ¥ (122,411.04 ₩) |
15,174.13 ¥ (151,911.76 ₩) |
+24.1 % |
Rent Per Month | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
87,644.99 ¥ (877,434.25 ₩) |
80,674.05 ¥ (807,646.55 ₩) |
-8.0 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
59,757.51 ¥ (598,246.29 ₩) |
50,770.42 ¥ (508,274.38 ₩) |
-15.0 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
194,891.42 ¥ (1,951,103.12 ₩) |
215,763.36 ¥ (2,160,056.91 ₩) |
+10.7 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
116,881.19 ¥ (1,170,124.64 ₩) |
131,192.40 ¥ (1,313,397.44 ₩) |
+12.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
86,593.62 ¥ (866,908.80 ₩) |
174,539.78 ¥ (1,747,358.06 ₩) |
+101.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
48,332.61 ¥ (483,868.90 ₩) |
116,121.18 ¥ (1,162,516.01 ₩) |
+140.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
313,607.90 ¥ (3,139,601.21 ₩) |
312,042.45 ¥ (3,123,929.13 ₩) |
-0.5 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 1.82 | 4.50 | +147.2 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 493 | 320 |
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