South Korea vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Korea Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1074
$882
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2688
$2288
🏠 One person rent
$470
$390
🏘️ Family rent
$787
$673
🍽️ Food expenses
$417
$288
🚐 Transport expenses
$89.7
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2138
$620
💸 GDP per capita
$36239
$7347
😃 Human freedom index
8.15
6.79
❤️ Life expectancy
83.4
76.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
63
33
🌐 English speaking %
20%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
87
78
😀 Quality of life
87
57
🏙️ Population
51.8M
71.7M

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1074) is 22% more expensive than in Thailand ($882). South Korea ranked 86th vs 117th 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 0.7 months in Thailand. Ranked 23rd and 77th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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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
$6.41
$3.11
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35.3
$32.2
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.45
$6.93
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.16
$2.72
 Cappuccino
$3.29
$2.58
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.41
$0.67
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$486
$519
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$319
$264
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1137
$1698
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$698
$672
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$98.8
$55
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$152
$84.2
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$19.2
$18.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.19%
5.55%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$11577
$4955
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6055
$2717
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.99
$1.09
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$40.7
$34.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$8.06
$10.3
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.14
$1.34
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.88
$1.91
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.54
$1.54
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.51
$1.43
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.65
$2.46
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.9
$17.1
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.7
$3.41
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$17.8
$12.9
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.64
$3.49
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.08
$1.56
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.66
$2.23
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.93
$2.06
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3
$1.65
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.35
$1.41
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.69
$0.36
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.03
$1.25
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$15.1
$16
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.9
$1.78
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.95
$4.47
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.01
$2.18
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.25
$3.92
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.09
$1.74
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.52
$1.81
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$45.7
$57.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$9.37
$7.23
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$45.2
$33
💇 Haircut, simple
$8.07
$7.36
👖 Brand Jeans
$57
$63.9
👟 Brand Sneakers
$68.9
$95.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$465
$559
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$18682
$15039

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in South Korea vs Thailand

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Cost of Living in Popular cities

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

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$996
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$750
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$761
256K
Pak Kret
$762
190K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$586
134K
Udon Thani
$564
130K
Surat Thani
$582
131K
Hat Yai
$588
159K
Klaeng
$724
130K
Khon Kaen
$590
116K
Chaophraya Surasak
$784
133K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$788
106K
Pattaya
$839
120K
Rangsit
$616
79.3K
Nakhon Pathom
$603
78.8K
Tha Khlong
$671
72.8K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$789
76.7K
Lat Luang
$794
73.9K
Chiang Rai
$581
70.6K
Nakhon Sawan
$707
86.4K
Ko Samui
$735
69K
Phuket
$1010
77.6K
Laem Chabang
$799
77.8K
Phitsanulok
$554
70.9K
Nong Prue
$809
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$543
79K
Hua Hin
$787
59.4K
Krabi
$836
30.5K
Ko Lanta
$806
33.4K
Ao Nang
$784
14K