Beijing vs Seoul - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Beijing Seoul
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1067
$1461
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3071
$4186
🏠 One person rent
$596
$677
🏘️ Family rent
$1354
$1788
🍽️ Food expenses
$258
$526
🚐 Transport expenses
$112
$155
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1802
$2981
😷 Air quality
Moderate
Moderate
✈️ Airport proximity
13 km
18 km
🎓 Higher education
100
100
😀 Quality of life
77
94
🏙️ Population
21.9M
9.67M

The cost of living in Beijing is 27% less expensive than in Seoul. Cities ranked 5141st and 3861st ($1067 vs $1461) in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and ranked 7th and 1st in China and South Korea, respectively. Check China vs South Korea comparison.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.7 months in Beijing compared to 2 months in Seoul. Beijing ranked 5th best city to live in China vs Seoul ranked 2nd in South Korea, while ranked 763rd and 43rd among best cities to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Beijing vs Seoul infographic

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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
$4.04
$7.68
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$30.4
$40.5
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.94
$5.99
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.25
$3.79
 Cappuccino
$3.75
$3.91
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.53
$1.63
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$851
$827
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$473
$460
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$2126
$2513
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1079
$1348
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$34.1
$120
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$53.1
$184
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$13.1
$23.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.04%
5.14%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$14636
$21201
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$7425
$11781
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.71
$1.14
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$37.3
$47.5
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$5.07
$9.05
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.2
$1.27
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.94
$2.29
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.44
$3.23
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.29
$3.3
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.91
$3.68
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$15.6
$13.3
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.37
$9.23
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$10.6
$38.3
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.08
$7.91
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.59
$3.75
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.96
$5.86
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.28
$6.13
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.84
$4.03
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.09
$3.25
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.36
$0.9
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.38
$2.43
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$9.28
$22.4
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$0.91
$2.76
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.57
$3.42
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.63
$5.05
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.6
$5.98
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.37
$2.35
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.02
$3.13
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$61.6
$54.1
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$8.51
$11.5
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$34.9
$25.1
💇 Haircut, simple
$9.52
$10.4
👖 Brand Jeans
$63.8
$62.6
👟 Brand Sneakers
$85.6
$91
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$782
$410
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$23714
$21834

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
$734
58 km or 36 mi Zhuozhou
$769
58 km or 36 mi Sanhe
$786
78 km or 49 mi Gaobeidian
$675
87 km or 54 mi Bazhou
$679
109 km or 68 mi Tianjin
$710
135 km or 84 mi Renqiu
$611
137 km or 85 mi Zunhua
$714
139 km or 87 mi Baoding
$482
151 km or 94 mi Binhai
$700
155 km or 97 mi Tangshan
$742
163 km or 101 mi Zhangjiakou
$657
164 km or 102 mi Hejian
$620
176 km or 110 mi Chengde
$760
182 km or 113 mi Cangzhou
$720
189 km or 117 mi Huanghua
$693
189 km or 118 mi Anguo
$572
196 km or 122 mi Dingzhou
$614
197 km or 122 mi Qian'an
$684
198 km or 123 mi Luanzhou
$677
204 km or 127 mi Botou
$649
224 km or 139 mi Shenzhou
$605
228 km or 142 mi Xinle
$555
229 km or 142 mi Pingquan
$670
239 km or 148 mi Jinzhou
$568
241 km or 150 mi Xinji
$588
249 km or 155 mi Gaocheng
$547
249 km or 155 mi Hengshui
$677
252 km or 156 mi Laoling
$668
263 km or 164 mi Shijiazhuang
$507
265 km or 165 mi Datong
$729
272 km or 169 mi Jizhou
$616
273 km or 169 mi Qinhuangdao
$720
273 km or 170 mi Dezhou
$670
281 km or 175 mi Fengzhen
$637
282 km or 175 mi Huairen
$648
294 km or 183 mi Lingyuan
$661
296 km or 184 mi Nangong
$632
302 km or 187 mi Ulanqab
$644
314 km or 195 mi Binzhou
$869

Cities near Seoul

Distance City Cost of living
13 km or 7.9 mi Guri
$1085
17 km or 10 mi Goyang
$1008
17 km or 10 mi Gwangmyeong
$1038
17 km or 11 mi Gwacheon
$1005
19 km or 12 mi Uijeongbu
$936
20 km or 12 mi Hanam
$1074
20 km or 12 mi Namyangju
$1084
20 km or 13 mi Seongnam
$1127
21 km or 13 mi Siheung
$1087
21 km or 13 mi Bucheon
$1068
22 km or 14 mi Anyang
$1025
23 km or 14 mi Yangju
$941
24 km or 15 mi Gunpo
$1003
26 km or 16 mi Gimpo
$966
27 km or 17 mi Uiwang
$988
30 km or 19 mi Gwangju
$1057
32 km or 20 mi Paju
$1020
33 km or 20 mi Ansan
$990
33 km or 21 mi Suwon
$970
34 km or 21 mi Incheon
$1067
37 km or 23 mi Dongducheon
$968
39 km or 24 mi Pocheon
$989
42 km or 26 mi Yongin
$1142
47 km or 29 mi Hwaseong
$1049
49 km or 31 mi Osan
$1025
52 km or 32 mi Icheon
$1077
58 km or 36 mi Kaesong
$1567
65 km or 40 mi Yeoju
$1036
66 km or 41 mi Pyeongtaek
$1053
69 km or 43 mi Anseong
$1041
72 km or 45 mi Chuncheon
$839
83 km or 52 mi Dangjin
$1025
86 km or 53 mi Wonju
$1140
87 km or 54 mi Cheonan
$1222
101 km or 63 mi Seosan
$1027
107 km or 66 mi Chungju
$1098
114 km or 71 mi Cheongju
$997
118 km or 73 mi Jecheon
$1111
123 km or 77 mi Haeju
$1562
124 km or 77 mi Sejong
$1043