Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and China 
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| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in China is 49.9% lower than in South Korea (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in China is 47.0% lower than in South Korea | |
| Rent Prices in China are 33.5% lower than in South Korea | |
| Restaurant Prices in China are 39.1% lower than in South Korea | |
| Groceries Prices in China are 56.8% lower than in South Korea | |
| Local Purchasing Power in China is 19.6% lower than in South Korea | |
Restaurants | South Korea Edit |
China Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
10,000.00 ₩ (50.67 ¥) |
3,947.37 ₩ (20.00 ¥) |
-60.5 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
60,000.00 ₩ (304.00 ¥) |
35,526.35 ₩ (180.00 ¥) |
-40.8 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
8,000.00 ₩ (40.53 ¥) |
6,907.90 ₩ (35.00 ¥) |
-13.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
5,000.00 ₩ (25.33 ¥) |
1,381.58 ₩ (7.00 ¥) |
-72.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
6,750.00 ₩ (34.20 ¥) |
2,960.53 ₩ (15.00 ¥) |
-56.1 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
5,025.78 ₩ (25.46 ¥) |
4,382.41 ₩ (22.20 ¥) |
-12.8 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
2,149.43 ₩ (10.89 ¥) |
650.82 ₩ (3.30 ¥) |
-69.7 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
1,075.01 ₩ (5.45 ¥) |
407.16 ₩ (2.06 ¥) |
-62.1 % |
Markets | South Korea Edit |
China Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
11,290.90 ₩ (57.21 ¥) |
9,705.72 ₩ (49.18 ¥) |
-14.0 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
3,832.41 ₩ (19.42 ¥) |
2,146.19 ₩ (10.87 ¥) |
-44.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
1,868.33 ₩ (9.47 ¥) |
603.62 ₩ (3.06 ¥) |
-67.7 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
4,217.10 ₩ (21.37 ¥) |
2,293.80 ₩ (11.62 ¥) |
-45.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
8,511.55 ₩ (43.13 ¥) |
8,387.84 ₩ (42.50 ¥) |
-1.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
5,662.48 ₩ (28.69 ¥) |
2,126.26 ₩ (10.77 ¥) |
-62.4 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
18,683.58 ₩ (94.66 ¥) |
6,957.64 ₩ (35.25 ¥) |
-62.8 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
4,840.53 ₩ (24.53 ¥) |
1,144.85 ₩ (5.80 ¥) |
-76.3 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
2,135.18 ₩ (10.82 ¥) |
818.25 ₩ (4.15 ¥) |
-61.7 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
3,652.55 ₩ (18.51 ¥) |
960.22 ₩ (4.87 ¥) |
-73.7 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
3,791.26 ₩ (19.21 ¥) |
754.51 ₩ (3.82 ¥) |
-80.1 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
2,384.44 ₩ (12.08 ¥) |
482.05 ₩ (2.44 ¥) |
-79.8 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
1,797.15 ₩ (9.11 ¥) |
583.93 ₩ (2.96 ¥) |
-67.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
3,373.78 ₩ (17.09 ¥) |
859.06 ₩ (4.35 ¥) |
-74.5 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,615.78 ₩ (8.19 ¥) |
783.69 ₩ (3.97 ¥) |
-51.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
25,000.00 ₩ (126.67 ¥) |
15,789.49 ₩ (80.00 ¥) |
-36.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
2,971.32 ₩ (15.05 ¥) |
1,141.62 ₩ (5.78 ¥) |
-61.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
4,047.51 ₩ (20.51 ¥) |
2,331.04 ₩ (11.81 ¥) |
-42.4 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
4,500.00 ₩ (22.80 ¥) |
4,934.22 ₩ (25.00 ¥) |
+9.6 % |
Transportation | South Korea Edit |
China Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
1,500.00 ₩ (7.60 ¥) |
592.11 ₩ (3.00 ¥) |
-60.5 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
65,000.00 ₩ (329.33 ¥) |
35,526.35 ₩ (180.00 ¥) |
-45.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
4,500.00 ₩ (22.80 ¥) |
1,973.69 ₩ (10.00 ¥) |
-56.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,287.48 ₩ (6.52 ¥) |
794.09 ₩ (4.02 ¥) |
-38.3 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
12,000.00 ₩ (60.80 ¥) |
9,473.69 ₩ (48.00 ¥) |
-21.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
6,258.07 ₩ (31.71 ¥) |
6,161.27 ₩ (31.22 ¥) |
-1.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
37,731,000.00 ₩ (191,170.21 ¥) |
27,631,606.34 ₩ (140,000.00 ¥) |
-26.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
31,946,583.53 ₩ (161,862.53 ¥) |
24,010,159.58 ₩ (121,651.35 ¥) |
-24.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | South Korea Edit |
China Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
230,032.89 ₩ (1,165.50 ¥) |
73,105.52 ₩ (370.40 ¥) |
-68.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
54,989.79 ₩ (278.61 ¥) |
14,199.52 ₩ (71.94 ¥) |
-74.2 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
29,519.89 ₩ (149.57 ¥) |
16,508.30 ₩ (83.64 ¥) |
-44.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | South Korea Edit |
China Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
70,528.40 ₩ (357.34 ¥) |
57,874.49 ₩ (293.23 ¥) |
-17.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
28,575.00 ₩ (144.78 ¥) |
21,320.74 ₩ (108.02 ¥) |
-25.4 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
15,000.00 ₩ (76.00 ¥) |
8,881.59 ₩ (45.00 ¥) |
-40.8 % |
Childcare | South Korea Edit |
China Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
544,805.52 ₩ (2,760.35 ¥) |
594,961.18 ₩ (3,014.47 ¥) |
+9.2 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
30,949,190.74 ₩ (156,809.08 ¥) |
25,328,541.14 ₩ (128,331.15 ¥) |
-18.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | South Korea Edit |
China Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
79,799.35 ₩ (404.32 ¥) |
66,165.59 ₩ (335.24 ¥) |
-17.1 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
68,338.51 ₩ (346.25 ¥) |
46,596.67 ₩ (236.09 ¥) |
-31.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
114,932.76 ₩ (582.33 ¥) |
103,519.65 ₩ (524.50 ¥) |
-9.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
151,911.76 ₩ (769.69 ¥) |
107,882.88 ₩ (546.61 ¥) |
-29.0 % |
Rent Per Month | South Korea Edit |
China Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
807,675.28 ₩ (4,092.22 ¥) |
631,223.18 ₩ (3,198.19 ¥) |
-21.8 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
508,274.38 ₩ (2,575.25 ¥) |
385,130.66 ₩ (1,951.33 ¥) |
-24.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
2,160,056.91 ₩ (10,944.28 ¥) |
1,377,796.65 ₩ (6,980.83 ¥) |
-36.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
1,313,397.44 ₩ (6,654.54 ¥) |
791,892.59 ₩ (4,012.25 ¥) |
-39.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | South Korea Edit |
China Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,747,358.06 ₩ (8,853.27 ¥) |
883,621.25 ₩ (4,477.01 ¥) |
-49.4 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,162,516.01 ₩ (5,890.08 ¥) |
433,293.52 ₩ (2,195.35 ¥) |
-62.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | South Korea Edit |
China Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
3,123,929.13 ₩ (15,827.89 ¥) |
1,331,612.11 ₩ (6,746.83 ¥) |
-57.4 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.50 | 4.13 | -8.1 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 319 | 1317 |
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