Bangkok vs Seoul Cost of Living
Bangkok (Thailand) · Overall index 36.1 — Seoul (South Korea) · Overall index 53.3
Summary
- Overall, Seoul is 48% more expensive than Bangkok.
- Transport in Seoul is 65% more expensive than in Bangkok.
- Dining out in Seoul is 59% more expensive than in Bangkok.
| Item | Bangkok | Seoul | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | +51% | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly) | $785 | $1,128 | +44% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly) | $630 | $885 | +40% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly) | $1,512 | $2,631 | +74% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly) | $1,069 | $1,576 | +47% |
| Groceries | +44% | ||
| Milk (1L) | $0.61 | $0.97 | +59% |
| White bread (500g) | $2.14 | $3.03 | +42% |
| Rice (1kg) | $2.56 | $3.33 | +30% |
| Eggs (12) | $2.53 | $3.32 | +31% |
| Local cheese (1kg) | $6.93 | $9.47 | +37% |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | $6.15 | $8.39 | +36% |
| Beef round (1kg) | $10.3 | $14.8 | +44% |
| Apples (1kg) | $2.84 | $4.15 | +46% |
| Bananas (1kg) | $0.93 | $1.53 | +65% |
| Oranges (1kg) | $2.4 | $3.36 | +40% |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | $2.38 | $3.73 | +57% |
| Potatoes (1kg) | $1.38 | $2.22 | +61% |
| Onions (1kg) | $1.39 | $1.86 | +34% |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $1.2 | $1.71 | +43% |
| Water (1.5L bottle) | $1.22 | $1.67 | +37% |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | $7.66 | $11.7 | +53% |
| Transport | +65% | ||
| Public transport, one-way ticket | $1.01 | $1.68 | +66% |
| Public transport, monthly pass | $44.6 | $68.9 | +54% |
| Taxi, base fare | $1.59 | $2.76 | +74% |
| Taxi, per km | $0.81 | $1.34 | +65% |
| Gasoline (1L) | $0.37 | $0.53 | +43% |
| New compact car (e.g., VW Golf) | $10,133 | $18,844 | +86% |
| Dining out | +59% | ||
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $8.84 | $14.8 | +67% |
| Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant (3 courses) | $47.5 | $84.8 | +79% |
| Fast food combo meal | $5.21 | $7.96 | +53% |
| Cappuccino | $2.15 | $3.11 | +45% |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33L, restaurant) | $1.11 | $1.89 | +70% |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3.3 | $4.53 | +37% |
| Imported beer (0.33L, restaurant) | $3.74 | $5.53 | +48% |
| Water (0.33L, restaurant) | $0.78 | $1.43 | +83% |
| Telecom | +29% | ||
| Mobile plan, calls + 10GB+ data (monthly) | $33.4 | $45.1 | +35% |
| Broadband internet 60Mbps+ (monthly) | $37.1 | $47.3 | +27% |
| Prepaid mobile tariff (1 min) | $0.19 | $0.22 | +16% |
| Video streaming subscription (monthly) | $8.29 | $11.3 | +36% |
| Utilities & household | +48% | ||
| Basic utilities, 85m² apartment (monthly) | $81.5 | $130 | +60% |
| Electricity (1 kWh) | $0.09 | $0.16 | +78% |
| Tap water (1m³) | $2.32 | $3.13 | +35% |
| Natural gas (1m³) | $0.67 | $1.03 | +54% |
| Waste collection (monthly) | $10.8 | $15.9 | +47% |
| Fitness club (monthly) | $37.2 | $60.9 | +64% |
| Cinema ticket (1 seat) | $7.95 | $9.46 | +19% |
| Men's haircut | $15.5 | $22.9 | +48% |
| Domestic cleaning (1 hour) | $12.7 | $16.6 | +31% |
| Private kindergarten (monthly) | $991 | $1,561 | +58% |
3,067 total data points · Price data as of 2026-07-01 · Exchange rates as of 2026-07-15
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Estimates for reference only — not official statistics.
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