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South Korea Cities: Cost of Living Compared 2026
Monthly cost, daily budget and everyday prices โ meals, coffee, taxis, rent โ for 6 cities in one table. ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฐ๐ท SeoulSouth Korea
๐ฐ๐ท BusanSouth Korea
๐ฐ๐ท JejuSouth Korea
๐ฐ๐ท DaejeonSouth Korea
๐ฐ๐ท GwangjuSouth Korea
๐ฐ๐ท UlsanSouth KoreaGwangju has the lowest monthly cost
A month in Seoul pays for about 51 days in Gwangju
1๐ฐ๐ท Gwangju$1,626/mo$108/daylowest2๐ฐ๐ท Daejeon$1,769/mo$119/day+9%3๐ฐ๐ท Ulsan$1,942/mo$113/day+19%4๐ฐ๐ท Busan$1,973/mo$135/day+21%5๐ฐ๐ท Jeju$2,168/mo$133/day+33%6๐ฐ๐ท Seoul$2,762/mo$150/day+70%Ranked by monthly cost (stay + living) ยท % vs the cheapest ยท tap a city for its price guide
Prices item by item
| ๐ฐ๐ท Seoul | ๐ฐ๐ท Busan | ๐ฐ๐ท Jeju | ๐ฐ๐ท Daejeon | ๐ฐ๐ท Gwangju | ๐ฐ๐ท Ulsan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per day | $150 | $135 | $133 | $119 | $108 | $113 |
| Per month | $2,762 | $1,973 | $2,168 | $1,769 | $1,626 | $1,942 |
| Local meal | $7.25โฉ 10,000 | $7.25โฉ 10,000 | $7.25โฉ 10,000 | $7.25โฉ 10,000 | $6.52โฉ 9,000 | $7.25โฉ 10,000 |
| Restaurant dinner | $21.7โฉ 30,000 | $20.3โฉ 28,000 | $21.7โฉ 30,000 | $18.1โฉ 25,000 | $15.9โฉ 22,000 | $18.1โฉ 25,000 |
| Coffee | $3.99โฉ 5,500 | $3.62โฉ 5,000 | $3.99โฉ 5,500 | $3.41โฉ 4,700 | $3.26โฉ 4,500 | $3.48โฉ 4,800 |
| Beer | $3.99โฉ 5,500 | $3.99โฉ 5,500 | $3.99โฉ 5,500 | $3.26โฉ 4,500 | $3.26โฉ 4,500 | $3.62โฉ 5,000 |
| Water 500 ml | $0.72โฉ 1,000 | $0.8โฉ 1,100 | $0.72โฉ 1,000 | $0.72โฉ 1,000 | $0.72โฉ 1,000 | $0.8โฉ 1,100 |
| Taxi 5 km | $6.16โฉ 8,500 | $5.8โฉ 8,000 | $5.43โฉ 7,500 | $5.07โฉ 7,000 | $5.43โฉ 7,500 | $5.43โฉ 7,500 |
| Transit ride | $1.12โฉ 1,550 | $1.12โฉ 1,550 | $0.87โฉ 1,200 | $1.09โฉ 1,500 | $0.87โฉ 1,200 | $1.09โฉ 1,500 |
| Hotel night | $79.7โฉ 110,000 | $68.8โฉ 95,000 | $65.2โฉ 90,000 | $58โฉ 80,000 | $50.7โฉ 70,000 | $50.7โฉ 70,000 |
| Studio rent / mo | $725โฉ 1,000,000 | $399โฉ 550,000 | $399โฉ 550,000 | $326โฉ 450,000 | $290โฉ 400,000 | $399โฉ 550,000 |
| Massage 1 h | $50.7โฉ 70,000 | $43.5โฉ 60,000 | $50.7โฉ 70,000 | $39.9โฉ 55,000 | $36.2โฉ 50,000 | $43.5โฉ 60,000 |
| SIM 1 week | $21.7โฉ 30,000 | $19.6โฉ 27,000 | $21.7โฉ 30,000 | $23.2โฉ 32,000 | $23.2โฉ 32,000 | $21.7โฉ 30,000 |
Green = cheapest for that item ยท top: US$, below: local price
Change or add cities and compare yourself โบCompare on my lifestyle in the appCheapest city for each item
- Local meal: ๐ฐ๐ท Gwangju ($6.52)
- Restaurant dinner: ๐ฐ๐ท Gwangju ($15.9)
- Coffee: ๐ฐ๐ท Gwangju ($3.26)
- Beer: ๐ฐ๐ท Daejeon ($3.26)
- Water 500 ml: ๐ฐ๐ท Seoul ($0.72)
- Taxi 5 km: ๐ฐ๐ท Daejeon ($5.07)
- Transit ride: ๐ฐ๐ท Jeju ($0.87)
- Hotel night: ๐ฐ๐ท Gwangju ($50.7)
- Studio rent / mo: ๐ฐ๐ท Gwangju ($290)
- Massage 1 h: ๐ฐ๐ท Gwangju ($36.2)
- SIM 1 week: ๐ฐ๐ท Busan ($19.6)
Gwangju is cheapest on 6 of 11 items.
Head-to-head comparisons
๐ฐ๐ท Busan vs ๐ฐ๐ท Seoul๐ฐ๐ท Jeju vs ๐ฐ๐ท Seoul๐ฐ๐ท Daejeon vs ๐ฐ๐ท Seoul๐ฐ๐ท Gwangju vs ๐ฐ๐ท Seoul๐ฐ๐ท Seoul vs ๐ฐ๐ท Ulsan๐ฐ๐ท Busan vs ๐ฐ๐ท Jeju๐ฐ๐ท Busan vs ๐ฐ๐ท Daejeon๐ฐ๐ท Busan vs ๐ฐ๐ท Gwangju๐ฐ๐ท Busan vs ๐ฐ๐ท Ulsan๐ฐ๐ท Daejeon vs ๐ฐ๐ท Jeju
FAQ
Which of these 6 cities is cheapest?
By monthly cost, Gwangju is lowest at about $1,626 and Seoul highest at about $2,762. For a travel day, Gwangju is $108 and Seoul $150.
How big is the monthly cost gap?
A month's spending in Seoul lasts about 51 days in Gwangju. Figures combine a short-term studio with food, transport and daily costs.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports.
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