Seoul, South Korea
Estimated monthly cost
$2,660
Local average wage
$3,509
what locals earn — not what you need
Monthly cost breakdown
| 1-bed apartment (city center) | $891 |
| 1-bed apartment (outside center) | $605 |
| Utilities (monthly) | $199 |
| Internet | $20 |
| Mobile plan | $35 |
| Monthly transit pass | $46 |
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $10 |
| Meal for two, mid-range | $69 |
| Cappuccino | $4 |
| Domestic draft beer (1 pint) | $4 |
Source: Numbeo, in USD, fetched 2026-09-15. These are raw market prices — see the estimate box for how they roll up into a monthly budget.
Seoul vs. a mid-size US city
You'd keep about $1,760/month in your pocket — roughly 40% lower than the same lifestyle costs in the US.
Baseline is $4,420/mo — the median of 4 mid-size US metros run through this exact same budget model, so both bars are measured the same way.
How we estimate $2,660/mo
One person living a modest Western lifestyle in Seoul — not a local subsistence budget. Prices are real Numbeo data; the assumptions on top of them are listed at the bottom.
Housing
Living costs
Health cover
An estimate, not a scraped price — premiums swing hard with age and plan. Budget more if you're over 60 or want US coverage included.
Still excluded: visa and residency fees, flights, shipping your belongings, and one-time setup costs — these vary far too much by nationality and route to average. See the country guide for those.
Thinking about Seoul?
Tell us where you're up to and we'll point you at the guide, the numbers, or the specialist that fits. Takes a minute.
Ready to actually move to Seoul?
Our move-abroad guides walk you through visas, banking, healthcare and taxes — start with The Complete Move-Abroad Bundle 2026.
Set up your move to Seoul
The tools expats actually use to handle insurance, money, staying connected and the paperwork.
Compare international moving quotes from vetted shippers in 60+ countries. Costs nothing to ask, and it's the number people underestimate most.
Compare moving quotes →Nomad health insurance built for people living abroad. Subscribe monthly, cancel anytime, covers 180+ countries.
Get covered →Comprehensive international health plans for retirees and long-stay expats who want hospital-grade coverage.
Compare plans →Hold 40+ currencies and move money abroad at the real exchange rate. The account every expat ends up opening.
Open an account →Instant eSIM data plans in 200+ countries. Land with working internet before you even leave the airport.
Get an eSIM →Skip the embassy queues. iVisa handles visas, residency paperwork, and travel authorizations online.
Check requirements →US expat tax returns done by specialists. You file with the IRS every year abroad — this is the part people put off and then panic about.
Get your taxes handled →Bank securely, stream your home shows, and protect your data on foreign Wi-Fi.
Secure your connection →