South Korea vs Vietnam - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Korea Vietnam
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1074
$637
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2688
$1661
🏠 One person rent
$470
$309
🏘️ Family rent
$787
$533
🍽️ Food expenses
$417
$201
🚐 Transport expenses
$89.7
$55
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2138
$428
💸 GDP per capita
$36239
$4717
😃 Human freedom index
8.15
5.29
❤️ Life expectancy
83.4
74.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
63
41
🌐 English speaking %
20%
16%
🎓 Higher education
87
57
😀 Quality of life
87
50
🏙️ Population
51.8M
101M

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1074) is 69% more expensive than in Vietnam ($637). South Korea ranked 86th vs 163rd 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

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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
$6.41
$1.95
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35.3
$19
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.45
$4.42
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.16
$1.04
 Cappuccino
$3.29
$1.71
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.41
$0.5
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$486
$383
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$319
$215
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1137
$892
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$698
$589
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$98.8
$48
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$152
$74.6
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$19.2
$9.05
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.19%
8.41%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$11577
$3704
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6055
$1880
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.99
$0.32
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$40.7
$9.08
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$8.06
$5.59
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.14
$0.87
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.88
$1.46
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.54
$0.97
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.51
$0.92
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.65
$1.49
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.9
$11.3
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.7
$3.65
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$17.8
$9.7
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.64
$2.97
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.08
$1.18
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.66
$1.46
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.93
$1.15
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3
$1.04
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.35
$1.08
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.69
$0.34
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.03
$0.89
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$15.1
$11.6
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.9
$0.86
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.95
$1.35
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.01
$1.74
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.25
$2.86
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.09
$1.15
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.52
$1.21
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$45.7
$22
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$9.37
$3.47
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$45.2
$34.3
💇 Haircut, simple
$8.07
$4.81
👖 Brand Jeans
$57
$43.2
👟 Brand Sneakers
$68.9
$86.5
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$465
$319
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$18682
$14961

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in South Korea vs Vietnam

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Cost of Living in Popular cities

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1296
9.67M
Busan
$1084
3.45M
Incheon
$1032
3.05M
Daegu
$992
2.38M
Gwangju
$957
1.41M
Daejeon
$905
1.48M
Suwon
$985
1.23M
Ulsan
$957
1.13M
Goyang
$1052
1.06M
Yongin
$1061
1.08M
Cheongju
$865
848K
Seongnam
$1455
919K
Hwaseong
$1045
1M
Changwon
$1013
1.01M
Namyangju
$1094
732K
Gimhae
$1014
534K
Jeju
$1020
698K
Pyeongtaek
$1048
607K
Pohang
$989
504K
Jeju Island
$1037
666K
Cheonan
$1128
657K
Bucheon
$1090
772K
Uijeongbu
$868
463K
Siheung
$1313
514K
Paju
$1010
498K
Ansan
$1001
623K
Gwangju
$1179
397K
Jeonju
$771
342K
Gunsan
$964
275K
Sejong
$971
392K

In Vietnam

City Cost of living Population
Ho Chi Minh
$726
14M
Hanoi
$694
8.72M
Haiphong
$564
2.12M
Da Nang
$699
2.82M
Can Tho
$455
3.21M
Bien Hoa
$414
1.1M
Hai Duong
$586
507K
Bac Ninh
$594
520K
Vinh
$583
490K
Hue
$375
653K
Thanh Hoa
$593
393K
Nam Dinh
$599
352K
Thu Dau Mot
$522
373K
Ha Tinh
$560
380K
Thai Nguyen
$467
340K
Vung Tau
$503
357K
Buon Ma Thuot
$528
340K
Ha Long
$579
270K
Viet Tri
$582
278K
Thai Binh
$583
268K
Nha Trang
$540
392K
Qui Nhon
$515
311K
Da Lat
$563
204K
Ca Mau
$517
315K
Phan Rang-Thap Cham
$533
196K
Cam Pha
$574
156K
Long Xuyen
$508
279K
Rach Gia
$530
251K
Quang Ngai
$407
260K
Dong Hoi
$495
134K