Beijing vs Seoul - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Beijing Seoul
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1044
$1363
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2705
$3382
🏠 One person rent
$596
$622
🏘️ Family rent
$1053
$1071
🍽️ Food expenses
$250
$483
🚐 Transport expenses
$102
$143
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$711
$2256
😷 Air quality
Moderate
Moderate
✈️ Airport proximity
13 km
18 km
🎓 Higher education
100
99
😀 Quality of life
73
93
🏙️ Population
21.9M
9.67M

The cost of living in Beijing is 23% less expensive than in Seoul. Cities ranked 5341st and 4438th ($1044 vs $1363) in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and ranked 6th and 2nd in China and South Korea, respectively. Check China vs South Korea comparison.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 0.7 months in Beijing compared to 1.7 months in Seoul. Beijing ranked 11th best city to live in China vs Seoul ranked 2nd in South Korea, while ranked 2718th and 70th among best cities to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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Prices in Beijing vs Seoul

Prices for goods and services in Beijing and Seoul are partly crowdsourced by our visitors, just like yourself. Please consider telling us about your city.

Beijing Seoul
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$4.36
$7.62
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$26.1
$47.8
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.05
$6.35
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.02
$3.42
 Cappuccino
$3.03
$3.68
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.57
$1.55
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$861
$736
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$471
$450
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1589
$1316
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$839
$799
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$32.4
$97
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$50.2
$152
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$13.9
$17
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.39%
4.01%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$12544
$23840
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6280
$11978
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.58
$1.08
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$33.4
$43.9
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$4.68
$8.43
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.1
$1.14
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.95
$1.99
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.81
$2.74
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.12
$2.66
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.89
$3.28
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.7
$15.2
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.38
$9.26
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.2
$29.4
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.22
$6.92
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.75
$3.29
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.83
$5.56
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.44
$5.27
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.82
$3.59
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.91
$2.82
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.37
$0.79
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.21
$1.74
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$9.65
$17.3
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$0.86
$1.93
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.61
$3.13
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.71
$3.5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$3.89
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.73
$3.38
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.02
$1.26
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$63.8
$48
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$8
$9.99
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$34.7
$61.2
💇 Haircut, simple
$8.08
$16.9
👖 Brand Jeans
$59
$53.3
👟 Brand Sneakers
$81.3
$73.2
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$725
$414
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$25165
$21825

Cost of living in other countries

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Cost of Living in the nearest cities

Cities near Beijing

Distance City Cost of living
50 km or 31 mi Langfang
$716
58 km or 36 mi Zhuozhou
$734
58 km or 36 mi Sanhe
$767
78 km or 49 mi Gaobeidian
$645
87 km or 54 mi Bazhou
$646
109 km or 68 mi Tianjin
$663
135 km or 84 mi Renqiu
$572
137 km or 85 mi Zunhua
$673
139 km or 87 mi Baoding
$468
151 km or 94 mi Binhai
$656
155 km or 97 mi Tangshan
$697
163 km or 101 mi Zhangjiakou
$657
164 km or 102 mi Hejian
$562
176 km or 110 mi Chengde
$709
182 km or 113 mi Cangzhou
$621
189 km or 117 mi Huanghua
$630
189 km or 118 mi Anguo
$528
196 km or 122 mi Dingzhou
$558
197 km or 122 mi Qian'an
$632
198 km or 123 mi Luanzhou
$626
204 km or 127 mi Botou
$564
224 km or 139 mi Shenzhou
$512
228 km or 142 mi Xinle
$524
229 km or 142 mi Pingquan
$629
239 km or 148 mi Jinzhou
$521
241 km or 150 mi Xinji
$525
249 km or 155 mi Gaocheng
$519
249 km or 155 mi Hengshui
$466
252 km or 156 mi Laoling
$584
263 km or 164 mi Shijiazhuang
$493
265 km or 165 mi Datong
$770
272 km or 169 mi Jizhou
$508
273 km or 169 mi Qinhuangdao
$574
273 km or 170 mi Dezhou
$492
281 km or 175 mi Fengzhen
$655
282 km or 175 mi Huairen
$666
294 km or 183 mi Lingyuan
$618
296 km or 184 mi Nangong
$562
302 km or 187 mi Ulanqab
$640
314 km or 195 mi Binzhou
$748

Cities near Seoul

Distance City Cost of living
13 km or 7.9 mi Guri
$1117
17 km or 10 mi Goyang
$1092
17 km or 10 mi Gwangmyeong
$1071
17 km or 11 mi Gwacheon
$1061
19 km or 12 mi Uijeongbu
$913
20 km or 12 mi Hanam
$1162
20 km or 12 mi Namyangju
$1120
20 km or 13 mi Seongnam
$1425
21 km or 13 mi Siheung
$1292
21 km or 13 mi Bucheon
$1167
22 km or 14 mi Anyang
$988
23 km or 14 mi Yangju
$937
24 km or 15 mi Gunpo
$1112
26 km or 16 mi Gimpo
$1068
27 km or 17 mi Uiwang
$1063
30 km or 19 mi Gwangju
$1179
32 km or 20 mi Paju
$1049
33 km or 20 mi Ansan
$1044
33 km or 21 mi Suwon
$1030
34 km or 21 mi Incheon
$1057
37 km or 23 mi Dongducheon
$1007
39 km or 24 mi Pocheon
$1008
42 km or 26 mi Yongin
$1102
47 km or 29 mi Hwaseong
$1076
49 km or 31 mi Osan
$1050
52 km or 32 mi Icheon
$1134
58 km or 36 mi Kaesong
$1563
65 km or 40 mi Yeoju
$1053
66 km or 41 mi Pyeongtaek
$1095
69 km or 43 mi Anseong
$1046
72 km or 45 mi Chuncheon
$867
83 km or 52 mi Dangjin
$984
86 km or 53 mi Wonju
$1073
87 km or 54 mi Cheonan
$1121
101 km or 63 mi Seosan
$986
107 km or 66 mi Chungju
$892
114 km or 71 mi Cheongju
$903
118 km or 73 mi Jecheon
$1003
123 km or 77 mi Haeju
$1568
124 km or 77 mi Sejong
$986