South Korea GDP (PPP) evolution from 1911 to 2008 in millions o…
Photo by David Hanson
A view from South Korea towards North Korea in the Joint Securi…
Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium, which is the home for Busan Lotte…
The Samsung headquarters
Illuminated Woljeonggyo Bridge at blue hour, in Gyeongju, South…

South Korea

Country Information of South Korea

South Korea, located in East Asia on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, is a dynamic and technologically advanced nation with a rich cultural heritage. Bordered by North Korea to the north and surrounded by the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan...

Capital

Seoul

Languages

Korean

UN-Member?

Yes

What Expats Say About South KoreaBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for South Korea. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Demographics in South Korea

Life Expectancy

82.0

Population

51,780,579

Religions

Currently under research

Ethnic Composition

Korean
94.8%
Climate & Weather in South Korea
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Entry Restrictions in South Korea
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Government & Politics in South Korea
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Economic Overview in South Korea

GDP

$1.81T

HDI

0.9

Quality of Life

63/100

+20 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

46/100

+4 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in South Korea. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Economic & Living Costs in South Korea
Food & Dining Costs

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

8000-15000 ₩
Avg: 11500 ₩

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

40000-130000 ₩
Avg: 85000 ₩

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

7500-10000 ₩
Avg: 8750 ₩

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

2500-7000 ₩
Avg: 4750 ₩
Housing & Real Estate Costs

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

450000-1500000 ₩
Avg: 975000 ₩

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

350000-1000000 ₩
Avg: 675000 ₩

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

1000000-3700000 ₩
Avg: 2350000 ₩

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

727995-2500000 ₩
Avg: 1613997.5 ₩
Transportation Costs

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

1350-1700 ₩
Avg: 1525 ₩

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

6000-19000 ₩
Avg: 12500 ₩

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

60000-100000 ₩
Avg: 80000 ₩

Gasoline (1 liter)

1600-1861.64 ₩
Avg: 1730.82 ₩
Utilities & Communications Costs

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment

153000-350000 ₩
Avg: 251500 ₩

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

20000-45000 ₩
Avg: 32500 ₩

Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data

25000-70000 ₩
Avg: 47500 ₩
Grocery Costs

Milk (regular), (1 liter)

2000-3800 ₩
Avg: 2900 ₩

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)

2500-8000 ₩
Avg: 5250 ₩

Eggs (regular) (12)

2400-6960 ₩
Avg: 4680 ₩

Local Cheese (1kg)

10000-45000 ₩
Avg: 27500 ₩
Entertainment & Sports Costs

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

30000-130000 ₩
Avg: 80000 ₩

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

10000-40000 ₩
Avg: 25000 ₩

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

13000-18000 ₩
Avg: 15500 ₩

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

330000-1500000 ₩
Avg: 915000 ₩
Last updated: 2025-11-09
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Transportation & Infrastructure in South Korea
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Work & Business in South Korea
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Social Integration in South Korea
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Retirement & Senior Living in South Korea

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Environment & Sustainability in South Korea
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Geography in South Korea

Coastline

N/A

Highest Point

Hallasan

Lowest Point

Sea of Japan

National Flag
South Korea flag
Quick Facts for South Korea

Population

51,780,579

Currency

KRW

Timezone

UTC+09:00

Calling Code

+82

Week starts on

monday

Gini Coefficient

31.4 (2016)

Drives on the

right side

Location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.