Cost of living: Tokyo, Japan vs Seoul, South Korea

This page compares the estimated monthly cost of living in Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea.

Use the table to compare salary, rent, food, utilities, transport and the amount left after basic monthly costs.

Cost of living comparison

Item Tokyo, Japan Seoul, South Korea
Average salary $3 760 $4 250
Budget with rent $2 330 $2 640
Budget without rent $1 200 $1 360
One-bedroom rent $1 130 $1 280
Food basket $680 $770
Utilities and internet $300 $340
Transport $230 $260
After basic costs $1 430 $1 620

Quick reading of the comparison

Tokyo, Japan has a lower estimated monthly budget with rent.

Seoul, South Korea has the higher average salary in this comparison.

Seoul, South Korea leaves more after basic monthly costs in this estimate.

Detailed comparison pages

Open separate comparison tables for salary, population, rent and food prices to understand the difference in more detail.

Salaries Population Rent Food prices

Cost of living comparison FAQ

Which is cheaper, Tokyo, Japan or Seoul, South Korea?

The comparison table shows the estimated budget with rent for both countries. The lower value is usually the cheaper option for basic monthly expenses.

Does a cheaper country always mean better value?

Not always. Salary level, rent, food prices and the amount left after basic costs should be considered together.

How accurate is this comparison?

The comparison is an approximate reference based on BDEEX salary and cost models. Real expenses depend on city, lifestyle, housing and current prices.

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