South Korea vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Korea Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1114
$914
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2777
$2348
🏠 One person rent
$477
$414
🏘️ Family rent
$804
$715
🍽️ Food expenses
$437
$288
🚐 Transport expenses
$94.8
$112
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2268
$561
💸 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
56
🏙️ Population
51.8M
71.7M

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1114) is 22% more expensive than in Thailand ($914). South Korea ranked 80th vs 110th 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 0.6 months in Thailand. Ranked 23rd and 78th 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
$6.72
$3.07
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$36.3
$30.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.73
$6.83
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.31
$2.86
 Cappuccino
$3.51
$2.62
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.48
$0.78
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$495
$553
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$325
$283
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1123
$1776
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$705
$717
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$98.9
$58.7
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$153
$90.6
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$19.8
$20.2
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.17%
5.72%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$11512
$4946
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6605
$2732
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.03
$1.09
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$43.1
$35.7
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$8.65
$11.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.15
$1.25
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2
$1.92
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.71
$1.67
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.62
$1.43
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.96
$2.48
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.9
$16.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.68
$3.37
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$20
$11.3
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.24
$3.45
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.17
$1.72
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.72
$2.19
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.38
$1.99
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.24
$1.68
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.31
$1.42
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.76
$0.39
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.19
$1.31
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$15.5
$16.8
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.9
$1.88
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.07
$4.64
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.3
$2.56
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.54
$4.07
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.44
$1.8
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.64
$1.87
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$47.6
$62.4
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$9.68
$7.78
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$53.5
$34
💇 Haircut, simple
$9.42
$7.35
👖 Brand Jeans
$57.3
$58
👟 Brand Sneakers
$72.6
$102
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$404
$590
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$17691
$15181

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
$1363
9.67M
Busan
$1114
3.45M
Incheon
$1057
3.05M
Daegu
$1043
2.38M
Gwangju
$1062
1.41M
Daejeon
$922
1.48M
Ulsan
$1020
1.13M
Suwon
$1030
1.23M
Seongnam
$1425
919K
Yongin
$1102
1.08M
Cheongju
$903
848K
Hwaseong
$1076
1M
Changwon
$1032
1.01M
Namyangju
$1120
732K
Goyang
$1092
1.06M
Gimhae
$946
534K
Jeju
$1064
698K
Siheung
$1292
514K
Pyeongtaek
$1095
607K
Pohang
$1030
504K
Cheonan
$1121
657K
Bucheon
$1167
772K
Uijeongbu
$913
463K
Jeju Island
$1079
666K
Paju
$1049
498K
Ansan
$1044
623K
Gwangju
$1179
397K
Hanam
$1162
330K
Gunsan
$1002
275K
Sejong
$986
392K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$1027
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$780
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$789
256K
Pak Kret
$788
190K
Surat Thani
$612
131K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$610
134K
Udon Thani
$581
130K
Hat Yai
$622
159K
Chaophraya Surasak
$823
133K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$834
106K
Khon Kaen
$621
116K
Klaeng
$768
130K
Phuket
$1059
77.6K
Rangsit
$656
79.3K
Pattaya
$874
120K
Lat Luang
$833
73.9K
Nakhon Pathom
$658
78.8K
Tha Khlong
$710
72.8K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$829
76.7K
Ko Samui
$782
69K
Nakhon Sawan
$730
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$838
77.8K
Phitsanulok
$585
70.9K
Hua Hin
$784
59.4K
Krabi
$891
30.5K
Nong Prue
$846
70.6K
Chiang Rai
$626
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$583
79K
Ko Lanta
$846
33.4K
Ao Nang
$808
14K