South Korea vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Korea Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1116
$832
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3042
$2461
🏠 One person rent
$466
$365
🏘️ Family rent
$1019
$948
🍽️ Food expenses
$454
$266
🚐 Transport expenses
$93.9
$108
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2217
$715
💸 GDP per capita
$33121
$7182
😃 Human freedom index
8.23
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
82.7
79.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
64
34
🌐 English speaking %
20%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
87
78
😀 Quality of life
84
57
🏙️ Population
51.5M
66.2M

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1116) is 34% more expensive than in Thailand ($832). South Korea ranked 64th vs 114th for Thailand in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 2 months in South Korea compared to 0.9 months in Thailand. Ranked 23rd and 67th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in South Korea vs Thailand infographic

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Prices in South Korea vs Thailand

We calculate prices for South Korea and Thailand as a population-weighted mean of 87 and 35 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.

South Korea Thailand
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$6.8
$2.79
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35.8
$27.5
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.46
$6.14
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.21
$2.49
 Cappuccino
$3.5
$2.27
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.53
$0.65
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$484
$497
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$320
$251
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1204
$1457
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$767
$707
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$93.7
$49.4
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$145
$75.8
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$20.1
$15.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.52%
5.89%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$10274
$4500
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6790
$2279
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.02
$1
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$42
$32.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$8.77
$10.8
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.15
$1.21
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.01
$1.84
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.89
$1.35
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.8
$1.33
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.01
$2.14
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.8
$18.4
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.28
$2.88
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$26.5
$9.52
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.94
$3.12
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.23
$1.53
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.68
$2.03
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.28
$1.79
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.8
$1.55
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.78
$1.31
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.72
$0.33
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.32
$1.29
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$16.7
$17.7
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.03
$1.78
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.12
$4.2
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.67
$2.41
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$5.24
$4.27
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.2
$1.77
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.07
$1.83
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$48.6
$49.9
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$9.93
$6.9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$42.5
$34.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$7.71
$8.47
👖 Brand Jeans
$64.9
$48.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$78.9
$95.8
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$407
$478
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$18055
$12855

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in South Korea vs Thailand

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1334
9.67M
Busan
$1060
3.45M
Incheon
$1092
2.94M
Daegu
$995
2.38M
Suwon
$1022
1.23M
Daejeon
$992
1.48M
Gwangju
$1101
1.49M
Ulsan
$1059
1.13M
Cheongju
$936
852K
Seongnam
$1400
919K
Yongin
$1127
1.08M
Changwon
$1075
1.01M
Hwaseong
$1089
941K
Goyang
$1171
1.06M
Namyangju
$1129
732K
Gimhae
$959
534K
Siheung
$1283
520K
Jeju Island
$1080
678K
Bucheon
$1163
772K
Pyeongtaek
$984
590K
Cheonan
$1151
657K
Pohang
$988
504K
Uijeongbu
$955
463K
Ansan
$1070
623K
Paju
$1075
498K
Gwangju
$1165
397K
Jeju
$1037
492K
Hanam
$1161
330K
Sejong
$1019
386K
Gunsan
$1005
275K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$941
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$691
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$717
256K
Pak Kret
$715
185K
Surat Thani
$563
131K
Nakhon Pathom
$548
78.8K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$763
106K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$588
134K
Klaeng
$685
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$739
133K
Hat Yai
$570
159K
Udon Thani
$543
130K
Rangsit
$595
79.3K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$748
76.7K
Phuket
$940
77.6K
Pattaya
$781
120K
Lat Luang
$753
73.9K
Ko Samui
$705
69K
Tha Khlong
$641
72.8K
Nakhon Sawan
$654
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$743
77.8K
Hua Hin
$656
59.4K
Nong Prue
$752
70.6K
Krabi
$782
30.5K
Phitsanulok
$537
70.9K
Ko Lanta
$772
33.4K
Khon Kaen
$568
116K
Ubon Ratchathani
$545
79K
Chiang Rai
$584
70.6K
Ao Nang
$792
14K