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Seoul vs Tokyo cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇰🇷 Seoul
🇯🇵 TokyoSeoul is 24% cheaper than Tokyo
Living on $2,887 a month in Seoul feels like about $3,667 in Tokyo — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$165 vs $201
Per month
$2,887 vs $3,667
Local meal
₩ 10,000 vs ¥ 1,000
$7.25 vs $6.76
Taxi 5 km
₩ 9,000 vs ¥ 2,500
$6.52 vs $16.9
At a glance
Foodsimilar
Cafés & drinksSeoul 9% cheaper
TransportSeoul 42% cheaper
StaySeoul 15% cheaper
FunSeoul 7% cheaper
- Where Seoul is clearly cheaper: Taxi (61%↓), Transit (23%↓), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (21%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Seoul | Tokyo | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₩ 10,000$7.25 | ¥ 1,000$6.76 | Tokyo −7% |
| Street food1 item | ₩ 4,500$3.26 | ¥ 450$3.04 | Tokyo −7% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₩ 30,000$21.7 | ¥ 3,500$23.6 | Seoul −8% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₩ 5,000$3.62 | ¥ 550$3.72 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | ₩ 5,000$3.62 | ¥ 600$4.05 | Seoul −11% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₩ 13,000$9.42 | ¥ 1,600$10.8 | Seoul −13% |
| Bottled water | ₩ 1,000$0.72 | ¥ 120$0.81 | Seoul −11% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₩ 2,500$1.81 | ¥ 300$2.03 | Seoul −11% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₩ 9,000$6.52 | ¥ 2,500$16.9 | Seoul −61% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₩ 11,000$7.97 | ¥ 1,500$10.1 | Seoul −21% |
| Transitone ride | ₩ 1,500$1.09 | ¥ 210$1.42 | Seoul −23% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₩ 36,000$26.1 | ¥ 4,400$29.7 | Seoul −12% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₩ 130,000$94.2 | ¥ 15,000$101 | Seoul −7% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₩ 1,100,000$797 | ¥ 150,000$1,014 | Seoul −21% |
| Laundry | ₩ 5,700$4.13 | ¥ 740$5 | Seoul −17% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₩ 22,000$15.9 | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | Seoul −21% |
| Haircutcut | ₩ 25,000$18.1 | ¥ 3,100$20.9 | Seoul −14% |
| Massage1 hour | ₩ 72,000$52.2 | ¥ 8,900$60.1 | Seoul −13% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₩ 86,000$62.3 | ¥ 10,000$67.6 | Seoul −8% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₩ 17,000$12.3 | ¥ 1,800$12.2 | similar |
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, Seoul or Tokyo?
Seoul is 24% cheaper than Tokyo. Daily budget $165 vs $201; a month $2,887 vs $3,667.
How do monthly costs compare between Seoul and Tokyo?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Seoul is about $2,887 and Tokyo about $3,667 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.