Cost of Living in South Korea

If you've ever considered moving to South Korea, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in South Korea?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in South Korea and whether the reported $1993 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $2010.65.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
South Korea
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

5.56 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

34.75 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

4.86 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

2.78 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

4.17 $

Cappuccino (regular)

3.25 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

1.24 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.65 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.82 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

2.3 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

3.22 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

2.91 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

12.49 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

8.13 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

28.53 $

Apples (1 lb)

5.73 $

Banana (1 lb)

3.09 $

Oranges (1 lb)

4.92 $

Tomato (1 lb)

5.04 $

Potato (1 lb)

3.18 $

Onion (1 lb)

2.36 $

Lettuce (1 head)

2.05 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.96 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

13.9 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

1.85 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

2.19 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

3.13 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

0.9 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

38.22 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

2.43 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

0.69 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

8.34 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.22 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

24545.84 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

21911.65 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

127.06 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

0.15 $

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

19.3 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

42.31 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

16.69 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

8.34 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

325.01 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

18484.27 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

50.47 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

36.18 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

65.02 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

95.42 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

445.59 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

309.71 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

1100.29 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

723.08 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

13976.44 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

7599.99 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

2010.65 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

3.52 %

South Korea

How Safe Is South Korea for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in South Korea

OVERALL RISK: LOW

South Korea is overall, very safe and you will probably encounter no problems when traveling there. Still, do not let your guard down and be vigilant at all times.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Tourists are exposed to risk whenever crossing the street since in South Korea risky behavior is common when it comes to traffic. The Republic of Korea has one of the highest rates of traffic deaths for a developed country. Check the road twice before crossing the street. Also, watch out for taxi drivers trying to overcharge you: it is recommended to refrain from using unofficial taxes.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Since South Korea is a somewhat popular tourist destination, it is expected that pickpockets operate in larger cities. Petty theft is the most common form of crime in South Korea, but following basic precautions, rules should take care of this issue.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH

When it comes to natural disasters, South Korea has had a history of earthquakes, but most of them caused little damage. Another issue when it comes to natural disasters is typhoons that may occur in August and September, as well as tsunamis.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

South Korea is safe when it comes to mugging or kidnapping, though precaution is still advised. Avoid poorly lit streets and areas, and people offering you free drinks.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Even though there haven't been any terrorist attacks in South Korea's recent history, there is heightened tension between South and North Korea, so precaution is recommended.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

There is a risk of someone scamming you in South Korea since there are a lot of scammers and con artists on the streets of this country. The most notable among them is the Teahouse scam with girls saying to tourists that they want to practice conversing in English, which usually ends in a teahouse with a huge bill. Other forms of scams are mostly overcharging in cafes and restaurants, with a separate menu just for tourists.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

South Korea is a safe destination for women traveling solo, but it is still advised that unaccompanied women take extra precaution measures, avoid poorly lit and secluded areas, etc.

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

Regulations and conditions concerning visa and entry into the state of South Korea regularly change, so it is best to get informed at the moment of planning a trip to this country. Foreigners are finger-printed upon arrival in the Republic of Korea. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your intended date of departure from South Korea. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

currency_exchange

Currency

South Korean Won is the official currency of South Korea. It may not be the best idea to exchange money in the street exchange offices. Your best bet when exchanging money is either an official bank office or withdrawing money from an ATM.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

South Korea has a temperate climate characterized by four distinct seasons. Winters are usually long, cold and dry, summers are very short and hot, with lots of humidity, and spring is actually the most pleasant time to visit South Korea. Autumn is also pleasant but like spring and summer, short in duration.

flight_takeoff

Airports

Incheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea and also one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. It is located west of Incheon's city center, on an artificially created piece of land between Yeongjong and Yongyu Islands.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to South Korea, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Comparison of the Cost Of Living in South Korea with other countries

Cost of living in countries