Guangzhou vs Seoul Cost of Living
Guangzhou (China) · Overall index 40.1 — Seoul (South Korea) · Overall index 53.3
Summary
- Overall, Seoul is 33% more expensive than Guangzhou.
- Transport in Seoul is 41% more expensive than in Guangzhou.
- Dining out in Seoul is 40% more expensive than in Guangzhou.
| Item | Guangzhou | Seoul | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | +38% | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly) | $970 | $1,128 | +16% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly) | $560 | $885 | +58% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly) | $1,686 | $2,631 | +56% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly) | $1,258 | $1,576 | +25% |
| Groceries | +30% | ||
| Milk (1L) | $0.63 | $0.97 | +54% |
| White bread (500g) | $2.19 | $3.03 | +38% |
| Rice (1kg) | $2.72 | $3.33 | +22% |
| Eggs (12) | $2.68 | $3.32 | +24% |
| Local cheese (1kg) | $7.55 | $9.47 | +25% |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | $7.12 | $8.39 | +18% |
| Beef round (1kg) | $9.09 | $14.8 | +63% |
| Apples (1kg) | $2.88 | $4.15 | +44% |
| Bananas (1kg) | $1.03 | $1.53 | +49% |
| Oranges (1kg) | $2.61 | $3.36 | +29% |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | $3.22 | $3.73 | +16% |
| Potatoes (1kg) | $1.67 | $2.22 | +33% |
| Onions (1kg) | $1.64 | $1.86 | +13% |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $1.53 | $1.71 | +12% |
| Water (1.5L bottle) | $1.42 | $1.67 | +18% |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | $8.17 | $11.7 | +43% |
| Transport | +41% | ||
| Public transport, one-way ticket | $1.13 | $1.68 | +49% |
| Public transport, monthly pass | $52.5 | $68.9 | +31% |
| Taxi, base fare | $1.8 | $2.76 | +53% |
| Taxi, per km | $0.83 | $1.34 | +61% |
| Gasoline (1L) | $0.46 | $0.53 | +15% |
| New compact car (e.g., VW Golf) | $13,269 | $18,844 | +42% |
| Dining out | +40% | ||
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $10.2 | $14.8 | +45% |
| Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant (3 courses) | $57.2 | $84.8 | +48% |
| Fast food combo meal | $6.1 | $7.96 | +30% |
| Cappuccino | $2.47 | $3.11 | +26% |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33L, restaurant) | $1.19 | $1.89 | +59% |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3.34 | $4.53 | +36% |
| Imported beer (0.33L, restaurant) | $4.2 | $5.53 | +32% |
| Water (0.33L, restaurant) | $0.92 | $1.43 | +55% |
| Telecom | +20% | ||
| Mobile plan, calls + 10GB+ data (monthly) | $33 | $45.1 | +37% |
| Broadband internet 60Mbps+ (monthly) | $40.5 | $47.3 | +17% |
| Prepaid mobile tariff (1 min) | $0.2 | $0.22 | +10% |
| Video streaming subscription (monthly) | $9.49 | $11.3 | +19% |
| Utilities & household | +33% | ||
| Basic utilities, 85m² apartment (monthly) | $84.8 | $130 | +53% |
| Electricity (1 kWh) | $0.11 | $0.16 | +45% |
| Tap water (1m³) | $2.63 | $3.13 | +19% |
| Natural gas (1m³) | $0.84 | $1.03 | +23% |
| Waste collection (monthly) | $11.3 | $15.9 | +41% |
| Fitness club (monthly) | $42.5 | $60.9 | +43% |
| Cinema ticket (1 seat) | $8.11 | $9.46 | +17% |
| Men's haircut | $15.9 | $22.9 | +44% |
| Domestic cleaning (1 hour) | $14.7 | $16.6 | +13% |
| Private kindergarten (monthly) | $1,077 | $1,561 | +45% |
3,051 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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