South Korea vs Vietnam - Cost of Living Comparison

South Korea Vietnam
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1117
$643
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3072
$1808
🏠 One person rent
$460
$301
🏘️ Family rent
$992
$663
🍽️ Food expenses
$445
$211
🚐 Transport expenses
$111
$52.3
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2141
$459
💸 GDP per capita
$34998
$3756
😃 Human freedom index
8.11
5.64
❤️ Life expectancy
83.4
75.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
63
42
🌐 English speaking %
20%
16%
🎓 Higher education
88
54
😀 Quality of life
86
49
🏙️ Population
51.5M
96.2M

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1117) is 74% more expensive than in Vietnam ($643). South Korea ranked 53rd vs 139th 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 1.9 months in South Korea compared to 0.7 months in Vietnam. Ranked 23rd and 88th 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
$6.1
$2.12
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$28.7
$20.6
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.25
$4.78
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.23
$0.92
 Cappuccino
$3.84
$2.09
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.47
$0.54
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$484
$359
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$322
$225
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1222
$818
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$747
$536
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$84.1
$39.6
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$130
$60.8
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$21.2
$9.94
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.53%
9.99%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$7596
$2710
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6206
$1366
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.07
$0.33
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$43.1
$7.45
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$11.8
$5.46
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.38
$1.04
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.08
$1.46
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.67
$1.04
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.03
$1.01
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.39
$1.56
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$14.9
$12
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.26
$3.67
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$27.4
$10.8
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.51
$2.88
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.43
$1.14
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.64
$1.6
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.14
$1.11
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.31
$1.27
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.54
$1.3
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.71
$0.43
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.41
$1.01
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$15.1
$10.3
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.1
$0.86
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.52
$1.33
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$5.17
$2.08
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$5.42
$3.03
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.46
$1.14
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.21
$1.02
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$45.9
$25.1
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$9.15
$4.39
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$45.6
$39.1
💇 Haircut, simple
$8.68
$2.8
👖 Brand Jeans
$60.4
$40.8
👟 Brand Sneakers
$76.4
$98.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$379
$221
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$21827
$13484

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
$1625
9.67M
Busan
$1088
3.45M
Incheon
$985
2.94M
Daegu
$1000
2.44M
Gwangju
$973
1.49M
Daejeon
$982
1.48M
Suwon
$1021
1.23M
Ulsan
$1145
1.15M
Seongnam
$1068
921K
Changwon
$998
1.05M
Yongin
$1074
971K
Goyang
$1030
1.06M
Hwaseong
$1016
904K
Cheongju
$867
849K
Bucheon
$1151
793K
Namyangju
$998
713K
Anyang
$1075
548K
Jeju Island
$994
678K
Pohang
$848
504K
Ansan
$924
653K
Uijeongbu
$933
463K
Jeonju
$807
653K
Cheonan
$1021
652K
Gimhae
$904
534K
Pyeongtaek
$862
458K
Masan
$967
430K
Siheung
$966
425K
Paju
$961
415K
Gumi
$948
421K
Jeju
$1081
435K

In Vietnam

City Cost of living Population
Ho Chi Minh
$743
10.4M
Hanoi
$651
8.25M
Haiphong
$714
2.1M
Bien Hoa
$527
1.1M
Da Nang
$600
1.23M
Can Tho
$559
1.24M
Nam Dinh
$531
352K
Bac Ninh
$531
520K
Hai Duong
$555
507K
Vinh
$584
490K
Vung Tau
$568
327K
Hue
$469
653K
Thu Dau Mot
$544
417K
Thanh Hoa
$645
393K
Thai Nguyen
$529
330K
Ca Mau
$509
315K
Phan Thiet
$433
205K
Qui Nhon
$541
311K
Ha Long
$566
300K
Nha Trang
$628
392K
Long Xuyen
$548
279K
Viet Tri
$583
278K
Thai Binh
$520
268K
Quang Ngai
$475
260K
Rach Gia
$538
251K
Bac Lieu
$502
240K
Da Lat
$557
238K
Soc Trang
$546
221K
Sa Dec
$526
214K
Ha Tinh
$488
202K