South Korea vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Korea Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1134
$855
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2805
$2208
🏠 One person rent
$487
$379
🏘️ Family rent
$821
$654
🍽️ Food expenses
$443
$271
🚐 Transport expenses
$97.9
$111
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1998
$662
💸 GDP per capita
$33121
$7345
😃 Human freedom index
8.23
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
83.4
76.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
64
34
🌐 English speaking %
20%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
87
78
😀 Quality of life
85
58
🏙️ Population
51.8M
71.7M

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1134) is 33% more expensive than in Thailand ($855). South Korea ranked 74th vs 120th 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 1.8 months in South Korea compared to 0.8 months in Thailand. Ranked 24th and 71st 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
$6.71
$2.92
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35.2
$28.4
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.72
$6.53
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.29
$2.53
 Cappuccino
$3.56
$2.37
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.52
$0.77
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$483
$527
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$336
$254
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1135
$1542
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$721
$672
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$101
$52.9
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$154
$81.2
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$20.6
$17.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.18%
5.69%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$10906
$4569
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6575
$2392
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.03
$1.06
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$44.6
$31.3
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$9.04
$11.6
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.15
$1.25
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.06
$1.85
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.83
$1.44
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.6
$1.37
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.1
$2.23
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.6
$15.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.76
$3.08
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$22.7
$10.3
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.94
$3.24
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.14
$1.57
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.93
$2.11
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.15
$1.76
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.67
$1.55
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.63
$1.36
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.75
$0.35
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.23
$1.29
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$15.5
$17.3
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.88
$1.78
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.11
$4.32
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.39
$2.48
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.78
$3.95
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.51
$1.79
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.68
$1.81
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$48.3
$53.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$9.93
$7.26
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$54.5
$33.3
💇 Haircut, simple
$9.46
$7.39
👖 Brand Jeans
$60.7
$52.6
👟 Brand Sneakers
$71.4
$98.4
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$351
$514
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$15508
$13266

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
$1383
9.67M
Busan
$1108
3.45M
Incheon
$1088
2.94M
Daegu
$1062
2.38M
Gwangju
$1081
1.49M
Suwon
$1066
1.23M
Daejeon
$959
1.48M
Ulsan
$1076
1.13M
Seongnam
$1435
919K
Yongin
$1120
1.08M
Cheongju
$924
852K
Hwaseong
$1098
941K
Changwon
$1084
1.01M
Namyangju
$1138
732K
Gimhae
$975
534K
Siheung
$1307
520K
Pyeongtaek
$1141
590K
Pohang
$1024
504K
Goyang
$1097
1.06M
Cheonan
$1153
657K
Bucheon
$1175
772K
Jeju Island
$1100
678K
Uijeongbu
$918
463K
Ansan
$1049
623K
Jeju
$1069
492K
Gwangju
$1196
397K
Paju
$1065
498K
Gunsan
$1020
275K
Hanam
$1178
330K
Sejong
$1020
386K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$958
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$727
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$737
256K
Surat Thani
$593
131K
Pak Kret
$736
185K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$588
134K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$810
106K
Udon Thani
$578
130K
Hat Yai
$592
159K
Phuket
$1014
77.6K
Klaeng
$718
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$770
133K
Khon Kaen
$590
116K
Rangsit
$635
79.3K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$774
76.7K
Nakhon Pathom
$623
78.8K
Pattaya
$812
120K
Lat Luang
$774
73.9K
Ko Samui
$741
69K
Tha Khlong
$675
72.8K
Phitsanulok
$558
70.9K
Hua Hin
$724
59.4K
Nakhon Sawan
$680
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$779
77.8K
Krabi
$854
30.5K
Nong Prue
$787
70.6K
Chiang Rai
$603
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$558
79K
Ko Lanta
$807
33.4K
Ao Nang
$773
14K