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Kyoto vs Seoul cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇯🇵 Kyoto
🇰🇷 SeoulSeoul is 8% cheaper than Kyoto
Living on $2,759 a month in Kyoto feels like about $2,887 in Seoul — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$209 vs $165
Per month
$2,759 vs $2,887
Local meal
¥ 1,000 vs ₩ 10,000
$6.76 vs $7.25
Taxi 5 km
¥ 2,600 vs ₩ 9,000
$17.6 vs $6.52
At a glance
Foodsimilar
Cafés & drinksSeoul 9% cheaper
TransportSeoul 36% cheaper
StayKyoto 8% cheaper
FunKyoto 19% cheaper
- Where Seoul is clearly cheaper: Taxi (63%↓), Transit (30%↓), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (16%↓)
- Where Kyoto is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (45%↓), Studio rent (month) (24%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Kyoto | Seoul | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ¥ 1,000$6.76 | ₩ 10,000$7.25 | Kyoto −7% |
| Street food1 item | ¥ 450$3.04 | ₩ 4,500$3.26 | Kyoto −7% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ¥ 3,500$23.6 | ₩ 30,000$21.7 | Seoul −8% |
| Coffeeone cup | ¥ 550$3.72 | ₩ 5,000$3.62 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | ¥ 600$4.05 | ₩ 5,000$3.62 | Seoul −11% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ¥ 1,600$10.8 | ₩ 13,000$9.42 | Seoul −13% |
| Bottled water | ¥ 120$0.81 | ₩ 1,000$0.72 | Seoul −11% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ¥ 300$2.03 | ₩ 2,500$1.81 | Seoul −11% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ¥ 2,600$17.6 | ₩ 9,000$6.52 | Seoul −63% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ¥ 1,400$9.46 | ₩ 11,000$7.97 | Seoul −16% |
| Transitone ride | ¥ 230$1.55 | ₩ 1,500$1.09 | Seoul −30% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ¥ 4,000$27 | ₩ 36,000$26.1 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ¥ 16,000$108 | ₩ 130,000$94.2 | Seoul −13% |
| Studio rent (month) | ¥ 90,000$608 | ₩ 1,100,000$797 | Kyoto −24% |
| Laundry | ¥ 700$4.73 | ₩ 5,700$4.13 | Seoul −13% |
| SIM card1 week data | ¥ 2,800$18.9 | ₩ 22,000$15.9 | Seoul −16% |
| Haircutcut | ¥ 2,800$18.9 | ₩ 25,000$18.1 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ¥ 8,000$54.1 | ₩ 72,000$52.2 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | ¥ 10,000$67.6 | ₩ 86,000$62.3 | Seoul −8% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ¥ 1,000$6.76 | ₩ 17,000$12.3 | Kyoto −45% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Kyoto or Seoul?
Seoul is 8% cheaper than Kyoto. Daily budget $209 vs $165; a month $2,759 vs $2,887.
How do monthly costs compare between Kyoto and Seoul?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Kyoto is about $2,759 and Seoul about $2,887 per month.
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. Live reports are in the app.