Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and South Korea 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Korea is 39.6% higher than in Japan (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Korea is 34.7% higher than in Japan | |
| Rent Prices in South Korea are 15.5% higher than in Japan | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Korea are 28.5% higher than in Japan | |
| Groceries Prices in South Korea are 43.0% higher than in Japan | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Korea is 16.9% lower than in Japan | |
Restaurants | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
¥1,000.00 (₩8,407.27) |
¥1,189.45 (₩10,000.00) |
+18.9 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
¥5,000.00 (₩42,036.33) |
¥7,136.68 (₩60,000.00) |
+42.7 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
¥800.00 (₩6,725.81) |
¥1,022.92 (₩8,600.00) |
+27.9 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
¥500.00 (₩4,203.63) |
¥594.72 (₩5,000.00) |
+18.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
¥600.00 (₩5,044.36) |
¥713.67 (₩6,000.00) |
+18.9 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
¥496.00 (₩4,169.97) |
¥616.96 (₩5,186.97) |
+24.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
¥178.93 (₩1,504.27) |
¥258.51 (₩2,173.36) |
+44.5 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
¥121.02 (₩1,017.47) |
¥125.98 (₩1,059.18) |
+4.1 % |
Markets | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
¥231.32 (₩1,944.77) |
¥343.45 (₩2,887.45) |
+48.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
¥213.36 (₩1,793.77) |
¥427.35 (₩3,592.88) |
+100.3 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
¥345.66 (₩2,906.02) |
¥249.92 (₩2,101.10) |
-27.7 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
¥325.30 (₩2,734.91) |
¥499.77 (₩4,201.73) |
+53.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
¥838.88 (₩7,052.69) |
¥959.78 (₩8,069.15) |
+14.4 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
¥444.41 (₩3,736.24) |
¥647.81 (₩5,446.34) |
+45.8 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
¥1,249.80 (₩10,507.38) |
¥1,856.71 (₩15,609.85) |
+48.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
¥344.17 (₩2,893.57) |
¥613.21 (₩5,155.41) |
+78.2 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
¥169.46 (₩1,424.66) |
¥242.71 (₩2,040.49) |
+43.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
¥302.96 (₩2,547.04) |
¥449.55 (₩3,779.45) |
+48.4 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
¥317.49 (₩2,669.22) |
¥430.93 (₩3,622.93) |
+35.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
¥195.87 (₩1,646.75) |
¥285.54 (₩2,400.62) |
+45.8 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
¥183.74 (₩1,544.75) |
¥198.41 (₩1,668.05) |
+8.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
¥204.58 (₩1,719.99) |
¥427.30 (₩3,592.41) |
+108.9 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
¥136.99 (₩1,151.75) |
¥187.64 (₩1,577.50) |
+37.0 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
¥1,200.00 (₩10,088.72) |
¥2,572.18 (₩21,625.00) |
+114.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
¥305.88 (₩2,571.61) |
¥331.72 (₩2,788.83) |
+8.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
¥406.24 (₩3,415.33) |
¥452.12 (₩3,801.05) |
+11.3 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
¥620.00 (₩5,212.50) |
¥535.25 (₩4,500.00) |
-13.7 % |
Transportation | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
¥220.00 (₩1,849.60) |
¥178.42 (₩1,500.00) |
-18.9 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
¥9,185.67 (₩77,226.41) |
¥7,374.57 (₩62,000.00) |
-19.7 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
¥600.00 (₩5,044.36) |
¥570.93 (₩4,800.00) |
-4.8 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
¥804.67 (₩6,765.09) |
¥172.28 (₩1,448.41) |
-78.6 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
¥3,200.00 (₩26,903.25) |
¥1,427.34 (₩12,000.00) |
-55.4 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
¥171.66 (₩1,443.22) |
¥216.21 (₩1,817.73) |
+25.9 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
¥3,434,000.00 (₩28,870,551.39) |
¥4,682,854.10 (₩39,370,000.00) |
+36.4 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
¥2,468,031.23 (₩20,749,394.99) |
¥4,814,963.24 (₩40,480,676.68) |
+95.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
¥24,327.46 (₩204,527.46) |
¥32,897.29 (₩276,576.23) |
+35.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
¥3,896.77 (₩32,761.17) |
¥6,229.40 (₩52,372.21) |
+59.9 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
¥5,214.89 (₩43,843.00) |
¥3,742.80 (₩31,466.71) |
-28.2 % |
Sports And Leisure | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
¥8,291.27 (₩69,706.92) |
¥8,587.54 (₩72,197.76) |
+3.6 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
¥2,871.19 (₩24,138.83) |
¥2,607.86 (₩21,925.00) |
-9.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
¥2,000.00 (₩16,814.53) |
¥1,784.17 (₩15,000.00) |
-10.8 % |
Childcare | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
¥85,324.58 (₩717,346.40) |
¥147,322.36 (₩1,238,578.23) |
+72.7 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
¥1,869,427.91 (₩15,716,777.65) |
¥3,702,775.72 (₩31,130,220.32) |
+98.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
¥7,257.41 (₩61,014.99) |
¥9,106.23 (₩76,558.46) |
+25.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
¥4,643.39 (₩39,038.23) |
¥7,020.19 (₩59,020.59) |
+51.2 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
¥9,658.71 (₩81,203.37) |
¥12,543.16 (₩105,453.67) |
+29.9 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
¥12,392.52 (₩104,187.22) |
¥15,623.74 (₩131,352.94) |
+26.1 % |
Rent Per Month | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
¥88,355.02 (₩742,824.11) |
¥94,906.72 (₩797,906.01) |
+7.4 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
¥61,688.87 (₩518,634.72) |
¥67,129.16 (₩564,372.69) |
+8.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
¥210,732.37 (₩1,771,683.05) |
¥245,997.15 (₩2,068,163.50) |
+16.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
¥121,850.41 (₩1,024,428.82) |
¥149,563.96 (₩1,257,424.00) |
+22.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
¥79,402.95 (₩667,561.72) |
¥241,884.95 (₩2,033,591.15) |
+204.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
¥40,812.04 (₩343,117.69) |
¥125,713.34 (₩1,056,905.48) |
+208.0 % |
Salaries And Financing | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
¥327,943.19 (₩2,757,105.65) |
¥367,020.41 (₩3,085,638.23) |
+11.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 2.13 | 4.23 | +99.0 % |
| Last update: | 19 October 2026 | 17 October 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 482 | 224 | |
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