Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and South Korea Reverse

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Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in South Korea is 11.1% lower than in United States (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in South Korea is 26.5% lower than in United States
Rent Prices in South Korea are 59.8% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in South Korea are 51.1% lower than in United States
Groceries Prices in South Korea are 4.0% higher than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in South Korea is 26.2% lower than in United States
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
 United States Edit South Korea Edit Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant 20.00 $
(29,015.80 ₩)		 6.89 $
(10,000.00 ₩)		      -65.5 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 75.82 $
(109,998.90 ₩)		 41.36 $
(60,000.00 ₩)		      -45.5 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 12.00 $
(17,409.48 ₩)		 5.51 $
(8,000.00 ₩)		      -54.0 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 6.00 $
(8,704.74 ₩)		 3.45 $
(5,000.00 ₩)		      -42.6 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 7.50 $
(10,880.92 ₩)		 4.22 $
(6,119.20 ₩)		      -43.8 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) 5.35 $
(7,762.14 ₩)		 3.56 $
(5,160.03 ₩)		      -33.5 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 2.63 $
(3,820.96 ₩)		 1.48 $
(2,151.83 ₩)		      -43.7 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) 2.12 $
(3,077.37 ₩)		 0.74 $
(1,070.64 ₩)		      -65.2 %
Markets
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 1.06 $
(1,540.57 ₩)		 2.01 $
(2,921.33 ₩)		      +89.6 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 3.31 $
(4,803.00 ₩)		 2.55 $
(3,703.16 ₩)		      -22.9 %
White Rice (1 lb) 2.08 $
(3,024.24 ₩)		 1.32 $
(1,910.35 ₩)		      -36.8 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) 4.40 $
(6,379.01 ₩)		 2.83 $
(4,105.18 ₩)		      -35.6 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 5.89 $
(8,542.77 ₩)		 5.84 $
(8,473.49 ₩)		      -0.8 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 5.56 $
(8,060.23 ₩)		 3.87 $
(5,617.53 ₩)		      -30.3 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 7.56 $
(10,967.90 ₩)		 11.95 $
(17,338.73 ₩)		      +58.1 %
Apples (1 lb) 2.37 $
(3,441.81 ₩)		 3.43 $
(4,971.88 ₩)		      +44.5 %
Bananas (1 lb) 0.76 $
(1,108.20 ₩)		 1.46 $
(2,115.04 ₩)		      +90.9 %
Oranges (1 lb) 2.01 $
(2,920.96 ₩)		 2.58 $
(3,737.24 ₩)		      +27.9 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) 2.22 $
(3,216.07 ₩)		 2.58 $
(3,748.80 ₩)		      +16.6 %
Potatoes (1 lb) 1.31 $
(1,907.19 ₩)		 1.60 $
(2,315.21 ₩)		      +21.4 %
Onions (1 lb) 1.39 $
(2,015.18 ₩)		 1.26 $
(1,822.12 ₩)		      -9.6 %
Lettuce (1 Head) 2.22 $
(3,223.54 ₩)		 2.43 $
(3,523.81 ₩)		      +9.3 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) 2.26 $
(3,284.32 ₩)		 1.11 $
(1,610.10 ₩)		      -51.0 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 15.00 $
(21,761.85 ₩)		 17.23 $
(25,000.00 ₩)		      +14.9 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 2.05 $
(2,973.46 ₩)		 1.97 $
(2,864.88 ₩)		      -3.7 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 3.64 $
(5,275.24 ₩)		 2.72 $
(3,947.14 ₩)		      -25.2 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 10.40 $
(15,088.22 ₩)		 3.10 $
(4,500.00 ₩)		      -70.2 %
Transportation
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 2.50 $
(3,626.97 ₩)		 1.03 $
(1,500.00 ₩)		      -58.6 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 65.00 $
(94,301.35 ₩)		 44.80 $
(65,000.00 ₩)		      -31.1 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 3.50 $
(5,077.76 ₩)		 3.10 $
(4,500.00 ₩)		      -11.4 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 2.82 $
(4,085.94 ₩)		 1.00 $
(1,448.41 ₩)		      -64.6 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 30.00 $
(43,523.70 ₩)		 8.27 $
(12,000.00 ₩)		      -72.4 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) 0.89 $
(1,286.06 ₩)		 1.16 $
(1,679.11 ₩)		      +30.6 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 35,699.74 $
(51,792,825.79 ₩)		 27,136.94 $
(39,370,000.00 ₩)		      -24.0 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 25,893.93 $
(37,566,649.40 ₩)		 26,264.37 $
(38,104,090.91 ₩)		      +1.4 %
Utilities (Monthly)
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 212.00 $
(307,564.09 ₩)		 172.13 $
(249,720.13 ₩)		      -18.8 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 61.27 $
(88,892.85 ₩)		 36.65 $
(53,170.15 ₩)		      -40.2 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 72.69 $
(105,460.23 ₩)		 21.54 $
(31,248.70 ₩)		      -70.4 %
Sports And Leisure
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership 45.43 $
(65,908.87 ₩)		 51.48 $
(74,681.14 ₩)		      +13.3 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) 23.17 $
(33,618.99 ₩)		 17.32 $
(25,129.63 ₩)		      -25.3 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) 15.00 $
(21,761.85 ₩)		 10.34 $
(15,000.00 ₩)		      -31.1 %
Childcare
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 1,469.12 $
(2,131,384.86 ₩)		 647.16 $
(938,895.87 ₩)		      -55.9 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 25,452.17 $
(36,925,755.00 ₩)		 22,027.88 $
(31,957,829.54 ₩)		      -13.5 %
Clothing And Shoes
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) 52.67 $
(76,416.93 ₩)		 53.89 $
(78,182.93 ₩)		      +2.3 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) 42.99 $
(62,374.87 ₩)		 43.56 $
(63,200.00 ₩)		      +1.3 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 91.44 $
(132,656.69 ₩)		 77.40 $
(112,295.18 ₩)		      -15.3 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes 114.59 $
(166,242.98 ₩)		 97.38 $
(141,277.78 ₩)		      -15.0 %
Rent Per Month
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 1,689.30 $
(2,450,825.09 ₩)		 599.24 $
(869,373.15 ₩)		      -64.5 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 1,370.32 $
(1,988,045.96 ₩)		 384.20 $
(557,390.84 ₩)		      -72.0 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 2,731.43 $
(3,962,731.79 ₩)		 1,399.20 $
(2,029,942.94 ₩)		      -48.8 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 2,254.13 $
(3,270,273.47 ₩)		 849.24 $
(1,232,066.04 ₩)		      -62.3 %
Buy Apartment Price
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 309.82 $
(449,489.66 ₩)		 1,289.87 $
(1,871,323.85 ₩)		      +316.3 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 246.61 $
(357,772.46 ₩)		 799.79 $
(1,160,320.13 ₩)		      +224.3 %
Salaries And Financing
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 4,254.68 $
(6,172,645.37 ₩)		 2,306.95 $
(3,346,899.96 ₩)		      -45.8 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 6.34 4.12      -35.1 %
Last update: 1 February 202631 January 2026
Contributors in the past 12 months:6614200
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