South Korea vs United Arab Emirates - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Korea United Arab Emirates
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1139
$1904
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3162
$4462
🏠 One person rent
$478
$1238
🏘️ Family rent
$1088
$2399
🍽️ Food expenses
$463
$406
🚐 Transport expenses
$101
$127
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2364
$3280
💸 GDP per capita
$33121
$52977
😃 Human freedom index
8.12
5.73
❤️ Life expectancy
82.7
79.2
👮 Corruption perceptions index
63
68
🌐 English speaking %
20%
65%
🎓 Higher education
87
68
😀 Quality of life
85
78
🏙️ Population
51.5M
9.89M

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1139) is 40% less expensive than in the United Arab Emirates ($1904). South Korea ranked 67th vs 19th for the United Arab Emirates 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 1.7 months in the United Arab Emirates. Ranked 22nd and 30th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in South Korea vs United Arab Emirates infographic

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Prices in South Korea vs the United Arab Emirates

We calculate prices for South Korea and the United Arab Emirates as a population-weighted mean of 87 and 9 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 United Arab Emirates
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$6.98
$8.86
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$34.6
$58.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.9
$8.96
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.27
$10.8
 Cappuccino
$3.63
$5.46
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.53
$1.11
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$493
$1420
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$328
$943
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1283
$2605
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$827
$2024
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$97.5
$110
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$150
$170
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$19.9
$89
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.19%
4.56%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$10513
$5331
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$7053
$3494
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.1
$1.71
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$45.5
$59.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$9.17
$9.6
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.24
$0.81
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.14
$1.77
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.92
$1.35
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.82
$1.93
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.24
$2.86
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.1
$9.76
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.02
$8.14
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$25.1
$9.89
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.3
$2.16
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.62
$1.73
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.97
$1.7
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.27
$1.43
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.43
$1.08
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.82
$1.21
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.79
$0.38
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.56
$2.2
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$17
$12.5
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.22
$2.26
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.38
$6.07
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$5
$7.01
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$5.39
$5.21
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.39
$3.18
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.16
$3.55
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$50.5
$76.2
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$10.8
$13
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$27.9
$77.6
💇 Haircut, simple
$8.35
$9.01
👖 Brand Jeans
$64
$54.9
👟 Brand Sneakers
$80.3
$94.5
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$392
$614
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$21622
$10203

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in South Korea vs the United Arab Emirates

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1461
9.67M
Busan
$1122
3.45M
Incheon
$1067
2.94M
Daegu
$1114
2.38M
Daejeon
$975
1.48M
Suwon
$970
1.23M
Gwangju
$1178
1.49M
Ulsan
$1099
1.13M
Cheongju
$997
852K
Seongnam
$1127
919K
Yongin
$1142
971K
Changwon
$1083
1.01M
Hwaseong
$1049
941K
Goyang
$1008
1.06M
Namyangju
$1084
732K
Bucheon
$1068
781K
Gimhae
$901
534K
Siheung
$1087
520K
Jeju Island
$1165
678K
Pyeongtaek
$1053
590K
Cheonan
$1222
652K
Pohang
$1000
504K
Ansan
$990
653K
Uijeongbu
$936
463K
Anyang
$1025
548K
Paju
$1020
498K
Jeju
$1157
492K
Sejong
$1043
386K
Hanam
$1074
330K
Gunsan
$1007
275K

In the United Arab Emirates

City Cost of living Population
Dubai
$2309
3.33M
Abu Dhabi
$1802
1.48M
Al Ain
$1050
767K
Sharjah
$1503
1.25M
Ajman
$2084
490K
Ras al-Khaimah
$1603
116K
Fujairah
$1232
119K
Umm al-Quwain
$1768
44.4K
Madinat Zayed
$1630
29.1K