Saudi Arabia vs South Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Saudi Arabia South Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1259
$1074
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2869
$2688
🏠 One person rent
$653
$470
🏘️ Family rent
$1020
$787
🍽️ Food expenses
$328
$417
🚐 Transport expenses
$160
$89.7
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1834
$2138
💸 GDP per capita
$35122
$36239
😃 Human freedom index
4.97
8.15
❤️ Life expectancy
78.7
83.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
57
63
🌐 English speaking %
55%
20%
🎓 Higher education
80
87
😀 Quality of life
67
87
🏙️ Population
35.3M
51.8M

The average cost of living in Saudi Arabia ($1259) is 17% more expensive than in South Korea ($1074). Saudi Arabia ranked 58th vs 86th for South Korea in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.5 months in Saudi Arabia compared to 2 months in South Korea. Ranked 58th and 23rd best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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Prices in Saudi Arabia vs South Korea

We calculate prices for Saudi Arabia and South Korea as a population-weighted mean of 22 and 87 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.

Saudi Arabia South Korea
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$6.48
$6.41
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$42.4
$35.3
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$7.54
$5.45
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.78
$3.16
 Cappuccino
$3.51
$3.29
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.8
$1.41
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$659
$486
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$489
$319
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1339
$1137
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$791
$698
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$57.9
$98.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$88.8
$152
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$70.5
$19.2
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
5.31%
4.19%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2688
$11577
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1469
$6055
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.13
$0.99
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$48.7
$40.7
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$17.9
$8.06
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.6
$1.14
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.63
$1.88
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1
$2.54
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.14
$2.51
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.52
$2.65
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.79
$11.9
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.31
$7.7
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.6
$17.8
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.17
$6.64
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.73
$3.08
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.78
$5.66
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.57
$4.93
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.21
$3
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$2.35
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.36
$0.69
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.19
$2.03
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$5.09
$15.1
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.74
$1.9
🚬 Cigarette pack
$6.96
$2.95
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.84
$4.01
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.15
$4.25
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.08
$2.09
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$3.46
$1.52
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$87.1
$45.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$14
$9.37
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$42.1
$45.2
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.33
$8.07
👖 Brand Jeans
$49.7
$57
👟 Brand Sneakers
$93.9
$68.9
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$492
$465
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$10085
$18682

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Saudi Arabia vs South Korea

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Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Saudi Arabia

City Cost of living Population
Riyadh
$1628
7.01M
Jeddah
$1210
4.7M
Mecca
$1031
2.43M
Medina
$1164
1.41M
Dammam
$1059
903K
Tabuk
$1036
886K
Qatif
$778
625K
Yanbu
$791
299K
Unaizah
$938
250K
Jubail
$917
379K
Abha
$871
236K
Dhahran
$965
138K
Ha'il
$738
311K
Al-Mubarraz
$821
299K
Sakakah
$753
150K
Ar Rass
$834
92.5K
Bareq
$873
75.4K
Najran
$864
72K
Dumat al-Jandal
$771
45.3K
Bisha
$890
31.5K
Al Wajh
$919
30.5K
As Sulayyil
$993
8.21K

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1296
9.67M
Busan
$1084
3.45M
Incheon
$1032
3.05M
Daegu
$992
2.38M
Gwangju
$957
1.41M
Daejeon
$905
1.48M
Suwon
$985
1.23M
Ulsan
$957
1.13M
Goyang
$1052
1.06M
Yongin
$1061
1.08M
Cheongju
$865
848K
Seongnam
$1455
919K
Hwaseong
$1045
1M
Changwon
$1013
1.01M
Namyangju
$1094
732K
Gimhae
$1014
534K
Jeju
$1020
698K
Pyeongtaek
$1048
607K
Pohang
$989
504K
Jeju Island
$1037
666K
Cheonan
$1128
657K
Bucheon
$1090
772K
Uijeongbu
$868
463K
Siheung
$1313
514K
Paju
$1010
498K
Ansan
$1001
623K
Gwangju
$1179
397K
Jeonju
$771
342K
Gunsan
$964
275K
Sejong
$971
392K