Cost of Living Comparison Between China and South Korea 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Korea is 91.4% higher than in China (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Korea is 81.0% higher than in China | |
| Rent Prices in South Korea are 44.2% higher than in China | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Korea are 57.1% higher than in China | |
| Groceries Prices in South Korea are 123.7% higher than in China | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Korea is 25.0% higher than in China | |
Restaurants | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
22.50 ¥ (4,562.20 ₩) |
49.32 ¥ (10,000.00 ₩) |
+119.2 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
180.00 ¥ (36,497.62 ₩) |
295.91 ¥ (60,000.00 ₩) |
+64.4 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
35.00 ¥ (7,096.76 ₩) |
39.45 ¥ (8,000.00 ₩) |
+12.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
7.00 ¥ (1,419.35 ₩) |
24.66 ¥ (5,000.00 ₩) |
+252.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
15.00 ¥ (3,041.47 ₩) |
34.52 ¥ (7,000.00 ₩) |
+130.2 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
22.31 ¥ (4,523.43 ₩) |
24.69 ¥ (5,006.81 ₩) |
+10.7 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
3.29 ¥ (667.37 ₩) |
10.53 ¥ (2,134.22 ₩) |
+219.8 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
2.06 ¥ (418.33 ₩) |
5.26 ¥ (1,067.53 ₩) |
+155.2 % |
Markets | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
49.00 ¥ (9,935.62 ₩) |
55.60 ¥ (11,273.20 ₩) |
+13.5 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
10.83 ¥ (2,195.39 ₩) |
18.95 ¥ (3,841.67 ₩) |
+75.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
3.08 ¥ (625.00 ₩) |
9.29 ¥ (1,884.36 ₩) |
+201.5 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
11.69 ¥ (2,371.29 ₩) |
21.01 ¥ (4,259.58 ₩) |
+79.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
42.87 ¥ (8,691.59 ₩) |
42.01 ¥ (8,519.02 ₩) |
-2.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
10.80 ¥ (2,190.32 ₩) |
28.20 ¥ (5,718.33 ₩) |
+161.1 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
35.75 ¥ (7,248.92 ₩) |
91.43 ¥ (18,538.24 ₩) |
+155.7 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
5.84 ¥ (1,183.75 ₩) |
23.87 ¥ (4,840.41 ₩) |
+308.9 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
4.19 ¥ (849.52 ₩) |
10.56 ¥ (2,142.09 ₩) |
+152.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
4.92 ¥ (998.39 ₩) |
18.10 ¥ (3,670.77 ₩) |
+267.7 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
3.86 ¥ (781.93 ₩) |
18.71 ¥ (3,792.89 ₩) |
+385.1 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
2.47 ¥ (500.08 ₩) |
11.77 ¥ (2,387.45 ₩) |
+377.4 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
2.94 ¥ (596.27 ₩) |
8.86 ¥ (1,797.15 ₩) |
+201.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
4.37 ¥ (885.33 ₩) |
16.64 ¥ (3,373.78 ₩) |
+281.1 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
3.98 ¥ (807.19 ₩) |
7.99 ¥ (1,620.59 ₩) |
+100.8 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
80.00 ¥ (16,221.17 ₩) |
123.30 ¥ (25,000.00 ₩) |
+54.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
5.80 ¥ (1,176.09 ₩) |
14.66 ¥ (2,973.01 ₩) |
+152.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
11.98 ¥ (2,430.08 ₩) |
19.97 ¥ (4,049.65 ₩) |
+66.6 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
25.00 ¥ (5,069.11 ₩) |
22.19 ¥ (4,500.00 ₩) |
-11.2 % |
Transportation | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
3.00 ¥ (608.29 ₩) |
7.40 ¥ (1,500.00 ₩) |
+146.6 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
200.00 ¥ (40,552.91 ₩) |
320.57 ¥ (65,000.00 ₩) |
+60.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
10.00 ¥ (2,027.65 ₩) |
22.19 ¥ (4,500.00 ₩) |
+121.9 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
4.02 ¥ (815.80 ₩) |
6.35 ¥ (1,287.48 ₩) |
+57.8 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
48.00 ¥ (9,732.70 ₩) |
59.18 ¥ (12,000.00 ₩) |
+23.3 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
31.24 ¥ (6,333.65 ₩) |
30.91 ¥ (6,267.07 ₩) |
-1.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
140,000.00 ¥ (28,387,039.30 ₩) |
186,082.81 ¥ (37,731,000.00 ₩) |
+32.9 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
122,191.46 ¥ (24,776,098.63 ₩) |
157,739.35 ¥ (31,983,950.12 ₩) |
+29.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
373.83 ¥ (75,799.16 ₩) |
1,135.09 ¥ (230,155.33 ₩) |
+203.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
72.36 ¥ (14,671.61 ₩) |
271.45 ¥ (55,041.43 ₩) |
+275.2 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
84.05 ¥ (17,042.99 ₩) |
144.81 ¥ (29,363.23 ₩) |
+72.3 % |
Sports And Leisure | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
293.63 ¥ (59,537.97 ₩) |
350.27 ¥ (71,021.70 ₩) |
+19.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
106.97 ¥ (21,689.01 ₩) |
144.19 ¥ (29,236.84 ₩) |
+34.8 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
47.00 ¥ (9,529.93 ₩) |
73.98 ¥ (15,000.00 ₩) |
+57.4 % |
Childcare | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
3,030.02 ¥ (614,380.08 ₩) |
2,669.84 ¥ (541,349.81 ₩) |
-11.9 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
127,949.08 ¥ (25,943,540.01 ₩) |
150,031.02 ¥ (30,420,975.22 ₩) |
+17.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
339.42 ¥ (68,821.58 ₩) |
398.63 ¥ (80,828.89 ₩) |
+17.4 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
235.91 ¥ (47,835.10 ₩) |
333.18 ¥ (67,556.48 ₩) |
+41.2 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
524.23 ¥ (106,295.52 ₩) |
560.73 ¥ (113,695.39 ₩) |
+7.0 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
543.59 ¥ (110,220.01 ₩) |
742.02 ¥ (150,454.55 ₩) |
+36.5 % |
Rent Per Month | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
3,385.18 ¥ (686,395.35 ₩) |
3,938.98 ¥ (798,685.49 ₩) |
+16.4 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
1,947.63 ¥ (394,910.20 ₩) |
2,477.29 ¥ (502,306.76 ₩) |
+27.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
6,955.15 ¥ (1,410,257.88 ₩) |
10,670.90 ¥ (2,163,680.24 ₩) |
+53.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
4,021.00 ¥ (815,317.15 ₩) |
6,431.88 ¥ (1,304,156.96 ₩) |
+60.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
4,555.05 ¥ (923,602.36 ₩) |
8,270.60 ¥ (1,676,985.37 ₩) |
+81.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
2,247.82 ¥ (455,777.49 ₩) |
5,563.12 ¥ (1,128,002.86 ₩) |
+147.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | China Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
6,759.03 ¥ (1,370,491.40 ₩) |
15,297.57 ¥ (3,101,804.94 ₩) |
+126.3 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.16 | 4.51 | +8.6 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | March 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 1277 | 315 |
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