South Korea vs Vietnam - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Korea Vietnam
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1116
$617
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3042
$1777
🏠 One person rent
$466
$289
🏘️ Family rent
$1019
$679
🍽️ Food expenses
$454
$204
🚐 Transport expenses
$93.9
$52.4
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2217
$448
💸 GDP per capita
$33121
$4282
😃 Human freedom index
8.23
5.43
❤️ Life expectancy
82.7
74.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
64
40
🌐 English speaking %
20%
16%
🎓 Higher education
87
56
😀 Quality of life
84
45
🏙️ Population
51.5M
96.2M

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1116) is 81% more expensive than in Vietnam ($617). South Korea ranked 64th vs 160th for Vietnam 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 Vietnam. Ranked 23rd and 93rd best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in South Korea vs Vietnam infographic

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Prices in South Korea vs Vietnam

We calculate prices for South Korea and Vietnam as a population-weighted mean of 87 and 38 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 Vietnam
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$6.8
$1.94
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35.8
$23.2
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.46
$4.74
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.21
$1
 Cappuccino
$3.5
$1.7
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.53
$0.48
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$484
$329
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$320
$215
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1204
$832
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$767
$547
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$93.7
$42.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$145
$65.9
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$20.1
$9.05
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.52%
9.44%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$10274
$2799
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6790
$1454
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.02
$0.31
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$42
$8.69
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$8.77
$5.68
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.15
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.01
$1.44
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.89
$0.96
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.8
$0.94
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.01
$1.5
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.8
$11.3
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.28
$3.63
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$26.5
$10.1
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.94
$2.93
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.23
$1.04
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.68
$1.43
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.28
$1.08
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.8
$1.08
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.78
$1.07
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.72
$0.34
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.32
$0.95
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$16.7
$10.8
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.03
$0.85
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.12
$1.32
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.67
$1.75
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$5.24
$2.95
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.2
$1.16
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.07
$1.03
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$48.6
$23
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$9.93
$3.87
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$42.5
$28.9
💇 Haircut, simple
$7.71
$5.75
👖 Brand Jeans
$64.9
$38.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$78.9
$92
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$407
$244
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$18055
$12649

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in South Korea vs Vietnam

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1334
9.67M
Busan
$1060
3.45M
Incheon
$1092
2.94M
Daegu
$995
2.38M
Suwon
$1022
1.23M
Daejeon
$992
1.48M
Gwangju
$1101
1.49M
Ulsan
$1059
1.13M
Cheongju
$936
852K
Seongnam
$1400
919K
Yongin
$1127
1.08M
Changwon
$1075
1.01M
Hwaseong
$1089
941K
Goyang
$1171
1.06M
Namyangju
$1129
732K
Gimhae
$959
534K
Siheung
$1283
520K
Jeju Island
$1080
678K
Bucheon
$1163
772K
Pyeongtaek
$984
590K
Cheonan
$1151
657K
Pohang
$988
504K
Uijeongbu
$955
463K
Ansan
$1070
623K
Paju
$1075
498K
Gwangju
$1165
397K
Jeju
$1037
492K
Hanam
$1161
330K
Sejong
$1019
386K
Gunsan
$1005
275K

In Vietnam

City Cost of living Population
Ho Chi Minh
$735
9.39M
Hanoi
$647
8.44M
Haiphong
$591
2.09M
Da Nang
$593
1.22M
Bien Hoa
$425
1.1M
Nam Dinh
$496
352K
Hai Duong
$554
507K
Vinh
$579
490K
Thanh Hoa
$563
393K
Vung Tau
$494
357K
Can Tho
$454
1.25M
Bac Ninh
$513
520K
Hue
$393
653K
Thai Binh
$513
268K
Ha Tinh
$558
380K
Ha Long
$582
270K
Thai Nguyen
$570
330K
Nha Trang
$535
392K
Thu Dau Mot
$530
322K
Buon Ma Thuot
$531
340K
Viet Tri
$592
278K
Qui Nhon
$516
311K
Ca Mau
$516
315K
Phan Thiet
$506
205K
Cam Pha
$569
156K
Da Lat
$577
204K
Long Xuyen
$508
279K
Phan Rang-Thap Cham
$534
196K
Rach Gia
$526
251K
Dong Hoi
$500
160K