Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and South Korea Reverse

For major cities in those countries you get more relevant data by specifying cities.
City in United States:
City in South Korea:
Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in South Korea is 12.8% lower than in United States (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in South Korea is 28.9% lower than in United States
Rent Prices in South Korea are 62.3% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in South Korea are 51.5% lower than in United States
Groceries Prices in South Korea are 1.9% higher than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in South Korea is 24.8% 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 $
(29,476.21 ₩)		 6.79 $
(10,000.00 ₩)		      -66.1 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 75.00 $
(110,535.80 ₩)		 40.71 $
(60,000.00 ₩)		      -45.7 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 12.00 $
(17,685.73 ₩)		 5.43 $
(8,000.00 ₩)		      -54.8 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 6.00 $
(8,842.86 ₩)		 3.39 $
(5,000.00 ₩)		      -43.5 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 7.50 $
(11,053.58 ₩)		 4.29 $
(6,318.69 ₩)		      -42.8 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) 5.31 $
(7,830.41 ₩)		 3.51 $
(5,176.20 ₩)		      -33.9 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 2.61 $
(3,839.58 ₩)		 1.47 $
(2,164.45 ₩)		      -43.6 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) 2.11 $
(3,112.31 ₩)		 0.73 $
(1,069.26 ₩)		      -65.6 %
Markets
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 1.06 $
(1,568.96 ₩)		 1.98 $
(2,913.25 ₩)		      +85.7 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 3.32 $
(4,893.23 ₩)		 2.48 $
(3,662.21 ₩)		      -25.2 %
White Rice (1 lb) 2.09 $
(3,079.78 ₩)		 1.30 $
(1,916.52 ₩)		      -37.8 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) 4.41 $
(6,502.15 ₩)		 2.74 $
(4,037.34 ₩)		      -37.9 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 5.91 $
(8,707.20 ₩)		 5.77 $
(8,508.33 ₩)		      -2.3 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 5.57 $
(8,203.42 ₩)		 3.81 $
(5,619.92 ₩)		      -31.5 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 7.53 $
(11,104.35 ₩)		 11.73 $
(17,293.64 ₩)		      +55.7 %
Apples (1 lb) 2.37 $
(3,500.25 ₩)		 3.37 $
(4,962.48 ₩)		      +41.8 %
Bananas (1 lb) 0.76 $
(1,126.50 ₩)		 1.42 $
(2,096.78 ₩)		      +86.1 %
Oranges (1 lb) 2.02 $
(2,976.73 ₩)		 2.56 $
(3,767.67 ₩)		      +26.6 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) 2.22 $
(3,278.12 ₩)		 2.49 $
(3,673.50 ₩)		      +12.1 %
Potatoes (1 lb) 1.32 $
(1,945.97 ₩)		 1.56 $
(2,304.96 ₩)		      +18.4 %
Onions (1 lb) 1.39 $
(2,050.86 ₩)		 1.21 $
(1,788.09 ₩)		      -12.8 %
Lettuce (1 Head) 2.22 $
(3,268.15 ₩)		 2.37 $
(3,495.12 ₩)		      +6.9 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) 2.26 $
(3,323.95 ₩)		 1.09 $
(1,603.23 ₩)		      -51.8 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 15.00 $
(22,107.16 ₩)		 16.96 $
(25,000.00 ₩)		      +13.1 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 2.01 $
(2,967.51 ₩)		 1.90 $
(2,805.94 ₩)		      -5.4 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 3.62 $
(5,335.56 ₩)		 2.64 $
(3,886.39 ₩)		      -27.2 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 10.40 $
(15,327.63 ₩)		 3.05 $
(4,500.00 ₩)		      -70.6 %
Transportation
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 2.50 $
(3,684.53 ₩)		 1.02 $
(1,500.00 ₩)		      -59.3 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 65.00 $
(95,797.69 ₩)		 44.10 $
(65,000.00 ₩)		      -32.1 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 3.50 $
(5,158.34 ₩)		 3.05 $
(4,500.00 ₩)		      -12.8 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 2.82 $
(4,150.77 ₩)		 0.98 $
(1,448.41 ₩)		      -65.1 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 30.00 $
(44,214.32 ₩)		 8.14 $
(12,000.00 ₩)		      -72.9 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) 0.88 $
(1,302.05 ₩)		 1.13 $
(1,658.78 ₩)		      +27.4 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 35,699.74 $
(52,614,657.69 ₩)		 25,692.24 $
(37,865,500.00 ₩)		      -28.0 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 25,873.91 $
(38,133,245.80 ₩)		 26,318.64 $
(38,788,695.65 ₩)		      +1.7 %
Utilities (Monthly)
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 210.40 $
(310,083.51 ₩)		 165.88 $
(244,475.44 ₩)		      -21.2 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 60.90 $
(89,756.53 ₩)		 36.39 $
(53,632.43 ₩)		      -40.2 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 72.40 $
(106,702.95 ₩)		 21.11 $
(31,115.64 ₩)		      -70.8 %
Sports And Leisure
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership 45.46 $
(67,006.78 ₩)		 51.13 $
(75,350.77 ₩)		      +12.5 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) 22.86 $
(33,692.89 ₩)		 15.96 $
(23,517.86 ₩)		      -30.2 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) 15.00 $
(22,107.16 ₩)		 10.18 $
(15,000.00 ₩)		      -32.1 %
Childcare
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 1,379.59 $
(2,033,247.87 ₩)		 357.22 $
(526,474.07 ₩)		      -74.1 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 23,267.96 $
(34,292,560.36 ₩)		 21,448.64 $
(31,611,237.44 ₩)		      -7.8 %
Clothing And Shoes
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) 52.41 $
(77,237.88 ₩)		 51.50 $
(75,900.11 ₩)		      -1.7 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) 42.82 $
(63,112.68 ₩)		 42.32 $
(62,365.79 ₩)		      -1.2 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 90.71 $
(133,684.52 ₩)		 75.58 $
(111,396.96 ₩)		      -16.7 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes 113.64 $
(167,477.69 ₩)		 95.81 $
(141,205.88 ₩)		      -15.7 %
Rent Per Month
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 1,743.65 $
(2,569,807.53 ₩)		 577.48 $
(851,091.67 ₩)		      -66.9 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 1,415.01 $
(2,085,451.23 ₩)		 372.39 $
(548,830.57 ₩)		      -73.7 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 2,868.26 $
(4,227,274.54 ₩)		 1,382.30 $
(2,037,249.19 ₩)		      -51.8 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 2,356.62 $
(3,473,209.77 ₩)		 831.91 $
(1,226,076.39 ₩)		      -64.7 %
Buy Apartment Price
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 311.05 $
(458,435.04 ₩)		 1,241.35 $
(1,829,514.32 ₩)		      +299.1 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 246.68 $
(363,559.92 ₩)		 776.89 $
(1,144,986.73 ₩)		      +214.9 %
Salaries And Financing
 United States Edit South Korea Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 4,272.67 $
(6,297,102.35 ₩)		 2,283.28 $
(3,365,118.52 ₩)		      -46.6 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 6.33 4.12      -35.0 %
Last update: 8 December 20258 December 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:13426386
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