Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and Japan 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Japan is 16.8% lower than in South Korea (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Japan is 14.5% lower than in South Korea | |
| Rent Prices in Japan are 3.7% lower than in South Korea | |
| Restaurant Prices in Japan are 9.0% lower than in South Korea | |
| Groceries Prices in Japan are 23.4% lower than in South Korea | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Japan is 21.4% higher than in South Korea | |
Restaurants | South Korea Edit |
Japan Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
10,000.00 ₩ (1,013.45 ¥) |
9,867.28 ₩ (1,000.00 ¥) |
-1.3 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
60,000.00 ₩ (6,080.70 ¥) |
49,336.42 ₩ (5,000.00 ¥) |
-17.8 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
8,000.00 ₩ (810.76 ¥) |
7,893.83 ₩ (800.00 ¥) |
-1.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
5,000.00 ₩ (506.73 ¥) |
4,933.64 ₩ (500.00 ¥) |
-1.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
7,000.00 ₩ (709.42 ¥) |
5,920.37 ₩ (600.00 ¥) |
-15.4 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
5,006.81 ₩ (507.42 ¥) |
4,700.58 ₩ (476.38 ¥) |
-6.1 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
2,134.22 ₩ (216.29 ¥) |
1,530.48 ₩ (155.11 ¥) |
-28.3 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
1,067.53 ₩ (108.19 ¥) |
1,141.62 ₩ (115.70 ¥) |
+6.9 % |
Markets | South Korea Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
11,273.20 ₩ (1,142.48 ¥) |
8,242.28 ₩ (835.31 ¥) |
-26.9 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
3,841.67 ₩ (389.33 ¥) |
2,023.13 ₩ (205.03 ¥) |
-47.3 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
1,884.36 ₩ (190.97 ¥) |
2,729.99 ₩ (276.67 ¥) |
+44.9 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
4,259.58 ₩ (431.69 ¥) |
3,150.55 ₩ (319.29 ¥) |
-26.0 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
8,519.02 ₩ (863.36 ¥) |
7,624.57 ₩ (772.71 ¥) |
-10.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
5,718.33 ₩ (579.52 ¥) |
4,363.59 ₩ (442.23 ¥) |
-23.7 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
18,538.24 ₩ (1,878.76 ¥) |
12,311.47 ₩ (1,247.71 ¥) |
-33.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
4,840.41 ₩ (490.55 ¥) |
3,415.44 ₩ (346.14 ¥) |
-29.4 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
2,142.09 ₩ (217.09 ¥) |
1,675.68 ₩ (169.82 ¥) |
-21.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
3,670.77 ₩ (372.01 ¥) |
3,132.32 ₩ (317.45 ¥) |
-14.7 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
3,792.89 ₩ (384.39 ¥) |
3,116.46 ₩ (315.84 ¥) |
-17.8 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
2,387.45 ₩ (241.96 ¥) |
1,821.53 ₩ (184.60 ¥) |
-23.7 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
1,797.15 ₩ (182.13 ¥) |
1,674.21 ₩ (169.67 ¥) |
-6.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
3,373.78 ₩ (341.92 ¥) |
1,938.90 ₩ (196.50 ¥) |
-42.5 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,620.59 ₩ (164.24 ¥) |
1,311.46 ₩ (132.91 ¥) |
-19.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
25,000.00 ₩ (2,533.63 ¥) |
11,840.74 ₩ (1,200.00 ¥) |
-52.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
2,973.01 ₩ (301.30 ¥) |
3,068.35 ₩ (310.96 ¥) |
+3.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
4,049.65 ₩ (410.41 ¥) |
4,184.04 ₩ (424.03 ¥) |
+3.3 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
4,500.00 ₩ (456.05 ¥) |
5,920.37 ₩ (600.00 ¥) |
+31.6 % |
Transportation | South Korea Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
1,500.00 ₩ (152.02 ¥) |
2,170.80 ₩ (220.00 ¥) |
+44.7 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
65,000.00 ₩ (6,587.43 ¥) |
78,938.28 ₩ (8,000.00 ¥) |
+21.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
4,500.00 ₩ (456.05 ¥) |
5,920.37 ₩ (600.00 ¥) |
+31.6 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,287.48 ₩ (130.48 ¥) |
6,987.14 ₩ (708.11 ¥) |
+442.7 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
12,000.00 ₩ (1,216.14 ¥) |
33,548.77 ₩ (3,400.00 ¥) |
+179.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
6,267.07 ₩ (635.14 ¥) |
6,473.34 ₩ (656.04 ¥) |
+3.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
37,731,000.00 ₩ (3,823,848.31 ¥) |
32,976,465.57 ₩ (3,342,000.00 ¥) |
-12.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
31,983,950.12 ₩ (3,241,413.52 ¥) |
25,344,075.75 ₩ (2,568,495.43 ¥) |
-20.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | South Korea Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
230,155.33 ₩ (23,325.09 ¥) |
253,417.79 ₩ (25,682.63 ¥) |
+10.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
55,041.43 ₩ (5,578.17 ¥) |
38,456.44 ₩ (3,897.37 ¥) |
-30.1 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
29,363.23 ₩ (2,975.82 ¥) |
49,926.59 ₩ (5,059.81 ¥) |
+70.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | South Korea Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
71,021.70 ₩ (7,197.69 ¥) |
84,377.80 ₩ (8,551.27 ¥) |
+18.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
29,236.84 ₩ (2,963.01 ¥) |
23,054.66 ₩ (2,336.47 ¥) |
-21.1 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
15,000.00 ₩ (1,520.18 ¥) |
18,747.84 ₩ (1,900.00 ¥) |
+25.0 % |
Childcare | South Korea Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
541,349.81 ₩ (54,863.10 ¥) |
551,970.30 ₩ (55,939.43 ¥) |
+2.0 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
30,420,975.22 ₩ (3,083,013.82 ¥) |
19,678,410.81 ₩ (1,994,308.60 ¥) |
-35.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | South Korea Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
80,828.89 ₩ (8,191.60 ¥) |
66,871.22 ₩ (6,777.06 ¥) |
-17.3 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
67,556.48 ₩ (6,846.51 ¥) |
46,771.50 ₩ (4,740.06 ¥) |
-30.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
113,695.39 ₩ (11,522.46 ¥) |
86,514.81 ₩ (8,767.84 ¥) |
-23.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
150,454.55 ₩ (15,247.82 ¥) |
121,132.60 ₩ (12,276.18 ¥) |
-19.5 % |
Rent Per Month | South Korea Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
798,685.49 ₩ (80,942.78 ¥) |
879,779.62 ₩ (89,161.27 ¥) |
+10.2 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
502,306.76 ₩ (50,906.28 ¥) |
594,379.52 ₩ (60,237.39 ¥) |
+18.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
2,163,680.24 ₩ (219,278.18 ¥) |
1,938,183.38 ₩ (196,425.20 ¥) |
-10.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
1,304,156.96 ₩ (132,169.79 ¥) |
1,178,490.41 ₩ (119,434.11 ¥) |
-9.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | South Korea Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,676,985.37 ₩ (169,954.09 ¥) |
909,738.58 ₩ (92,197.46 ¥) |
-45.8 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,128,002.86 ₩ (114,317.45 ¥) |
502,298.14 ₩ (50,905.41 ¥) |
-55.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | South Korea Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
3,101,804.94 ₩ (314,352.43 ¥) |
3,217,381.44 ₩ (326,065.53 ¥) |
+3.7 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.51 | 1.82 | -59.7 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | March 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 315 | 482 |
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