Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and South Korea 
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| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Korea is 20.9% higher than in Japan (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Korea is 17.6% higher than in Japan | |
| Rent Prices in South Korea are 4.4% higher than in Japan | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Korea are 10.5% higher than in Japan | |
| Groceries Prices in South Korea are 31.4% higher than in Japan | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Korea is 17.6% lower than in Japan | |
Restaurants | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
1,000.00 ¥ (9,811.92 ₩) |
1,019.17 ¥ (10,000.00 ₩) |
+1.9 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
5,000.00 ¥ (49,059.58 ₩) |
6,115.01 ¥ (60,000.00 ₩) |
+22.3 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
800.00 ¥ (7,849.53 ₩) |
815.34 ¥ (8,000.00 ₩) |
+1.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
500.00 ¥ (4,905.96 ₩) |
509.58 ¥ (5,000.00 ₩) |
+1.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
600.00 ¥ (5,887.15 ₩) |
713.42 ¥ (7,000.00 ₩) |
+18.9 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
476.50 ¥ (4,675.34 ₩) |
511.29 ¥ (5,016.77 ₩) |
+7.3 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
155.14 ¥ (1,522.20 ₩) |
217.65 ¥ (2,135.59 ₩) |
+40.3 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
115.73 ¥ (1,135.56 ₩) |
109.07 ¥ (1,070.16 ₩) |
-5.8 % |
Markets | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
835.34 ¥ (8,196.33 ₩) |
1,148.91 ¥ (11,272.99 ₩) |
+37.5 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
205.04 ¥ (2,011.80 ₩) |
391.53 ¥ (3,841.65 ₩) |
+91.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
276.68 ¥ (2,714.76 ₩) |
192.05 ¥ (1,884.34 ₩) |
-30.6 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
319.29 ¥ (3,132.89 ₩) |
434.12 ¥ (4,259.52 ₩) |
+36.0 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
772.71 ¥ (7,581.79 ₩) |
868.22 ¥ (8,518.93 ₩) |
+12.4 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
442.20 ¥ (4,338.84 ₩) |
582.79 ¥ (5,718.33 ₩) |
+31.8 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
1,247.81 ¥ (12,243.38 ₩) |
1,889.35 ¥ (18,538.14 ₩) |
+51.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
346.16 ¥ (3,396.49 ₩) |
493.32 ¥ (4,840.41 ₩) |
+42.5 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
169.83 ¥ (1,666.41 ₩) |
218.32 ¥ (2,142.09 ₩) |
+28.5 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
317.45 ¥ (3,114.74 ₩) |
374.11 ¥ (3,670.74 ₩) |
+17.9 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
315.86 ¥ (3,099.16 ₩) |
386.56 ¥ (3,792.87 ₩) |
+22.4 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
184.63 ¥ (1,811.54 ₩) |
243.32 ¥ (2,387.41 ₩) |
+31.8 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
169.68 ¥ (1,664.93 ₩) |
183.16 ¥ (1,797.15 ₩) |
+7.9 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
196.50 ¥ (1,928.02 ₩) |
343.84 ¥ (3,373.78 ₩) |
+75.0 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
132.92 ¥ (1,304.18 ₩) |
165.16 ¥ (1,620.58 ₩) |
+24.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
1,200.00 ¥ (11,774.30 ₩) |
2,547.92 ¥ (25,000.00 ₩) |
+112.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
310.96 ¥ (3,051.13 ₩) |
303.00 ¥ (2,972.99 ₩) |
-2.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
424.03 ¥ (4,160.56 ₩) |
412.73 ¥ (4,049.63 ₩) |
-2.7 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
600.00 ¥ (5,887.15 ₩) |
458.63 ¥ (4,500.00 ₩) |
-23.6 % |
Transportation | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
220.00 ¥ (2,158.62 ₩) |
152.88 ¥ (1,500.00 ₩) |
-30.5 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
8,000.00 ¥ (78,495.33 ₩) |
6,624.60 ¥ (65,000.00 ₩) |
-17.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
600.00 ¥ (5,887.15 ₩) |
458.63 ¥ (4,500.00 ₩) |
-23.6 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
708.11 ¥ (6,947.93 ₩) |
131.22 ¥ (1,287.48 ₩) |
-81.5 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,400.00 ¥ (33,360.52 ₩) |
1,223.00 ¥ (12,000.00 ₩) |
-64.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
656.04 ¥ (6,437.01 ₩) |
638.72 ¥ (6,267.07 ₩) |
-2.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
3,342,000.00 ¥ (32,791,425.23 ₩) |
3,845,426.09 ¥ (37,731,000.00 ₩) |
+15.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
2,568,495.43 ¥ (25,201,862.92 ₩) |
3,259,656.67 ¥ (31,983,479.37 ₩) |
+26.9 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
25,682.63 ¥ (251,995.79 ₩) |
23,456.56 ¥ (230,153.78 ₩) |
-8.7 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
3,897.37 ¥ (38,240.65 ₩) |
5,609.59 ¥ (55,040.83 ₩) |
+43.9 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
5,059.81 ¥ (49,646.44 ₩) |
2,992.61 ¥ (29,363.23 ₩) |
-40.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
8,551.27 ¥ (83,904.33 ₩) |
7,238.26 ¥ (71,021.20 ₩) |
-15.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
2,336.47 ¥ (22,925.29 ₩) |
2,979.73 ¥ (29,236.84 ₩) |
+27.5 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
1,900.00 ¥ (18,642.64 ₩) |
1,528.75 ¥ (15,000.00 ₩) |
-19.5 % |
Childcare | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
55,950.35 ¥ (548,980.13 ₩) |
55,170.99 ¥ (541,333.10 ₩) |
-1.4 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
1,994,478.74 ¥ (19,569,659.06 ₩) |
3,100,355.63 ¥ (30,420,430.82 ₩) |
+55.4 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
6,777.86 ¥ (66,503.77 ₩) |
8,237.53 ¥ (80,825.98 ₩) |
+21.5 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
4,741.37 ¥ (46,521.91 ₩) |
6,885.08 ¥ (67,555.84 ₩) |
+45.2 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
8,768.86 ¥ (86,039.37 ₩) |
11,587.43 ¥ (113,694.94 ₩) |
+32.1 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
12,276.88 ¥ (120,459.74 ₩) |
15,333.86 ¥ (150,454.55 ₩) |
+24.9 % |
Rent Per Month | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
89,180.93 ¥ (875,035.84 ₩) |
81,403.11 ¥ (798,720.53 ₩) |
-8.7 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
60,242.41 ¥ (591,093.48 ₩) |
51,192.78 ¥ (502,299.33 ₩) |
-15.0 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
196,451.93 ¥ (1,927,569.98 ₩) |
220,511.80 ¥ (2,163,643.42 ₩) |
+12.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
119,449.97 ¥ (1,172,033.13 ₩) |
132,914.56 ¥ (1,304,146.55 ₩) |
+11.3 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
92,212.69 ¥ (904,783.20 ₩) |
170,903.35 ¥ (1,676,889.44 ₩) |
+85.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
50,905.41 ¥ (499,479.60 ₩) |
114,955.25 ¥ (1,127,931.36 ₩) |
+125.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Japan Edit |
South Korea Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
326,085.46 ¥ (3,199,523.37 ₩) |
316,125.56 ¥ (3,101,797.58 ₩) |
-3.1 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 1.82 | 4.51 | +148.1 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | March 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 482 | 314 |
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