Seoul is the most expensive of South Korea's 5 priced cities — $1,215 a month in essentials, 40% above Incheon at $870. The average net salary of $3,180 covers that 2.6×. 88.5 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at eup/myeon/dong level. PM2.5 averages 26.4 µg/m³ a year, 5× the WHO guideline of 5. Jan averages -2°C, Aug 27°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $551 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $805 |
| Groceries | $206 |
| Dining out | $226 |
| Utilities | $189 |
| Local transport | $43 |
| Essentials / mo | $1,215 |
| Avg net salary | $3,180 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $1,153 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $2,358 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 27, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Seoul, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $8.82 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $62.74 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $6.78 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $3.80 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $3.39 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $5.43 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $1.52 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $0.76 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $1.93 |
| White bread, 500 g | $2.82 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $3.80 |
| Eggs, 12 | $2.88 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $14.21 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $9.12 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $7.04 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $3.17 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $5.82 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $3.48 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $2.38 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $1.01 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $1.05 |
| Monthly transit pass | $43.07 |
| Taxi start | $3.26 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $0.56 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.34 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $171.02 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $18.24 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $31.06 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $52.90 |
| Cinema, one seat | $10.17 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Seoul has 88.5 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (eup/myeon/dong level). That is the 5th-highest of 6 South Korea cities we track. South Korea's national figure is 111.9, so Seoul runs 23 below the country as a whole.
Every South Korea region by male-to-female ratio →
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -1.8°C | -6.1°C | 62% | 44% | 19 mm |
| Feb | 0.8°C | -3.3°C | 63% | 46% | 25 mm |
| Mar | 7°C | 3.7°C | 63% | 46% | 38 mm |
| Apr | 13.3°C | 11.1°C | 62% | 53% | 63 mm |
| May | 18.3°C | 17.7°C | 67% | 53% | 101 mm |
| Jun | 23.1°C | 24.8°C | 72% | 60% | 105 mm |
| Jul | 26.3°C | 30.5°C | 81% | 73% | 275 mm |
| Aug | 26.8°C | 31.3°C | 81% | 64% | 224 mm |
| Sep | 22.2°C | 24°C | 76% | 58% | 120 mm |
| Oct | 14.8°C | 13.8°C | 74% | 49% | 67 mm |
| Nov | 7.6°C | 4.8°C | 71% | 47% | 54 mm |
| Dec | -0.2°C | -4.3°C | 65% | 42% | 25 mm |
Need the full South Korea model?
Open the gated deep-dive for city shortlist, cost detail, weather, visa, tax, dating-market signals, and subregion rankings.
Unlock South Korea deep-dive