South Korea vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Korea Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1118
$790
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3093
$2327
🏠 One person rent
$471
$352
🏘️ Family rent
$1095
$908
🍽️ Food expenses
$454
$249
🚐 Transport expenses
$98.5
$102
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2392
$608
💸 GDP per capita
$32423
$6910
😃 Human freedom index
8.12
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
83.5
78.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
63
35
🌐 English speaking %
20%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
87
78
😀 Quality of life
87
58
🏙️ Population
51.5M
66.2M

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1118) is 42% more expensive than in Thailand ($790). South Korea ranked 62nd 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 2.1 months in South Korea compared to 0.8 months in Thailand. Ranked 20th and 66th 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
$6.47
$2.43
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35
$22.7
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.62
$5.58
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.31
$2.11
 Cappuccino
$3.63
$2.17
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.46
$0.58
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$466
$493
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$323
$230
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1256
$1228
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$839
$707
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$99.4
$51.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$153
$80.5
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$20.9
$15.7
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.46%
5.43%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$10104
$4099
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6925
$2095
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.06
$1
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$44.3
$31.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$9.06
$9.94
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.24
$1.11
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.07
$1.65
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.86
$1.49
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.19
$1.42
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.26
$2.15
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.8
$17.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.08
$2.88
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$31.2
$10.7
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.08
$2.76
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.32
$1.32
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.58
$2.03
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.12
$1.52
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.6
$1.44
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.97
$1.19
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.68
$0.3
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.53
$1.22
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$15.3
$17.2
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.1
$1.67
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.35
$4.02
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.94
$2.26
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$5.38
$3.82
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.37
$1.6
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.13
$1.76
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$51.9
$49
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$9.9
$6.65
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$28.1
$28.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$8.02
$7.8
👖 Brand Jeans
$62.1
$48.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$78
$88.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$385
$493
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$17694
$11420

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
$1444
9.67M
Busan
$1029
3.45M
Incheon
$1020
2.94M
Daegu
$1113
2.44M
Daejeon
$924
1.48M
Gwangju
$1147
1.49M
Suwon
$987
1.23M
Ulsan
$1078
1.15M
Seongnam
$1121
949K
Changwon
$1073
1.05M
Cheongju
$903
849K
Yongin
$1256
971K
Jeju Island
$1056
678K
Goyang
$1144
1.06M
Hwaseong
$1088
904K
Namyangju
$1106
713K
Bucheon
$1152
793K
Gimhae
$907
534K
Jeju
$1003
435K
Cheonan
$940
652K
Ansan
$1127
653K
Siheung
$1081
425K
Uijeongbu
$986
463K
Anyang
$1097
548K
Gunsan
$975
275K
Pohang
$989
504K
Masan
$1006
430K
Jeonju
$787
653K
Pyeongtaek
$924
458K
Paju
$1072
415K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$902
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$659
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$704
256K
Pak Kret
$677
185K
Nakhon Pathom
$481
78.8K
Surat Thani
$554
131K
Klaeng
$619
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$647
133K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$518
134K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$642
106K
Udon Thani
$500
130K
Hat Yai
$520
159K
Rangsit
$594
79.3K
Pattaya
$665
116K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$714
76.7K
Tha Khlong
$617
72.8K
Nakhon Sawan
$615
86.4K
Lat Luang
$716
73.9K
Khon Kaen
$532
116K
Phuket
$870
77.6K
Ko Samui
$642
69K
Laem Chabang
$648
77.8K
Hua Hin
$614
59.4K
Nong Prue
$653
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$534
79K
Phitsanulok
$496
70.9K
Chiang Rai
$462
70.6K
Krabi
$739
30.5K
Ko Lanta
$697
33.4K
Ao Nang
$653
14K