Seoul Cost of Living 2026

Seoul’s price level was 73% of the United States in 2023, so everyday spending sits below the US benchmark. That measure helps compare overall costs, but it does not tell you a monthly rent, food, or transport budget.

Student life → Working & jobs →

Price level, against the United States

73%

A basket of goods costing $100 in the United States costs about $73 in South Korea, at market exchange rates. This is a whole-economy average from the World Bank (2023), not a student budget — rent near a university and a student's own habits move it a long way in both directions.

For a student planning a move to Seoul, the clearest starting point is the price level against the United States. At 73%, Seoul sits below the US level, which suggests a lower general cost base than many students may be used to in the United States.

This measure is useful for broad comparison, not for building a full budget line by line. It gives a snapshot of how Seoul compares overall, but it does not cover every expense a student will face, and it does not replace item-by-item planning for housing, meals, transport, or university costs.

The biggest pressure on a student budget usually comes from the costs that are not captured by a single comparison figure. That is why it helps to pair the price level with the practical details of your study plan, including the D-2 Student Visa and the institutions you are considering, such as Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University.

Seoul is in South Korea, uses KRW, and the city is the capital. English is also listed alongside Korean, which may matter when you are working through study arrangements and daily life, but your final budget still depends on your own housing, spending habits, and university choice.