South Korea
A hyper-modern, K-culture powerhouse with palatial history, 24-hour nightlife, and a food scene ranging from street tteokbokki to Michelin-starred Korean BBQ.
#102 of 250
8% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 1 566
Based on NYC = 100 index
Seoul is the 102. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 1 566 for one adult.
Most of that goes on basic grocery basket, which runs 60% above the median city and adds $ 87 a month: chicken breast (1kg) $ 4, pork (1kg) $ 18.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is restaurants, 65% below the median: mcmeal at mcdonalds $ 6, cappuccino $ 3. You also get off lightly on healthcare.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
37 prices on this page come from live scrapers (10 sources, observed October 12, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Seoul, South Korea. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/seoul. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (city-wide) | 892.36 / month | 1 | 2026-10-12 | Zigbang + 한국부동산원 |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 4.48 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Pork (1kg) | 17.66 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea, 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Beef (1kg) | 42.32 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea, 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 26.24 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 8.24 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Milk (1 liter) | 2.35 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea, 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.31 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Cheese (1kg) | 18.52 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Butter (200g) | 3.46 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Eggs (12) | 4.18 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea, 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Bread (500g) | 3.52 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Pasta (500g) | 2.22 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Rice (1kg) | 2.65 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea, 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 2.15 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea, 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 5.28 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Bell Peppers (1kg) | 12.03 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Carrots (1kg) | 2.72 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea, 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Onions (1kg) | 1.62 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea, 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Garlic (1kg) | 6.54 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 2.67 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Banana (1kg) | 2.08 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 4.20 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Flour (1kg) | 1.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Sugar (1kg) | 1.69 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 0.54 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 2.67 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Cappuccino | 3.01 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Café Menus (Named Venues) |
| Monthly Transit Pass | 50.70 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | City Transit Fares |
| One-way Ticket | 1.15 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | City Transit Fares |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.41 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | National fuel price sources |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 30.66 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Gym Chains |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | 7.43 / hour | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Tennis Court Hire Prices |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 42.02 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores, Uniqlo |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 37.89 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores, Uniqlo |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 74.46 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 57.74 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
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Monthly average costs by category
$ 892
per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
$ 152
per month
$ 66
per month
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per month
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per month