Cost of living in Seoul vs Los Angeles: where your dollars stretch

The ballpark answer: day-to-day life in Seoul costs noticeably less than in Los Angeles, especially rent, transit and eating out. The catch is the big up-front deposit on an apartment and the markup on anything imported from home.

The short version

• Household spending: South Korean households spent an average of KRW 2,939,000 (about USD 2,200) a month on consumption in 2025 [1]. The average US household spent USD 81,905 in 2025 [2], and LA-area households USD 90,594 in 2023–24 [3].
• Rent: small studios near Seoul's big universities averaged KRW 625,000 (about USD 470) a month with a KRW 10 million (about USD 7,500) deposit in July 2026 [4]. LA's median gross rent was USD 1,933 in Census data for 2020–2024 [5].
• Transit: Seoul's base subway fare rose to KRW 1,550 (about USD 1.16) in June 2025 [6]. Most people don't need a car.
• Healthcare: Korea's National Health Insurance keeps doctor bills low. Korean households spent KRW 228,000 (about USD 170) a month on health in 2025 [1], against USD 6,470 a year for the average US household [2].
• Watch the deposit: a Seoul lease can tie up thousands of dollars up front, even on a modest studio.

USD conversions use the Federal Reserve H.10 rate of October 30, 2026 (USD 1 = KRW 1,333.99), rounded. The won has swung a lot against the dollar over the years, so your buying power can change.

The big picture: Seoul vs LA vs the US

Here's a side-by-side using official surveys. The Korean figures are national averages for all households, including one-person households, and they cover consumption spending only. The US figures include things like insurance and pension contributions. So treat this as a ballpark, not a perfect apples-to-apples index.

Put on a yearly footing, the Korean consumption figure works out to about KRW 35.3 million (about USD 26,400). Korean incomes are lower too: household income averaged KRW 5,422,000 (about USD 4,065) a month in the last quarter of 2025 [1], while LA's median household income was USD 81,939 a year in 2020–2024 Census data [5]. If you're paid a Korean salary, Seoul won't feel cheap. If you're paid in dollars, it often does.

One gap to know about: the Korean housing line looks tiny because many Korean households own their homes or live on jeonse, paying no monthly rent. A newcomer renting on the open market will pay more than that average.

Rent: cheap monthly, expensive up front

The best recent numbers we found come from the listings platform Dabang, which tracks studios of 33 m² (about 355 sq ft) or less near 10 major Seoul universities [4]:

• Average monthly rent in July 2026: KRW 625,000 (about USD 470), up 7.7% from a year earlier.
• Maintenance fees: KRW 84,000 (about USD 63) a month on average.
• Highest area: around Ewha Womans University, at KRW 767,000 (about USD 575).
• Deposit: all of those assume KRW 10 million (about USD 7,500) up front.

Compare that with LA's USD 1,933 median gross rent [5], and Seoul's monthly number looks like a steal. Two caveats. First, a student-area studio is tiny, often smaller than a typical LA studio. Second, the bigger the apartment and the more central the neighborhood (Gangnam, Hannam-dong), the faster prices climb, and family-size apartments in expat favorites can rival LA. Our guide to renting in Seoul explains wolse, jeonse and how to protect your deposit.

Getting around: skip the car payment

This is where Seoul wins big over LA. The average LA-area household spent USD 14,497 a year on transportation, 16% of its budget [3], most of it on cars, gas and insurance. Korean households spent about KRW 337,000 (about USD 250) a month [1].

• Subway fares: the adult base fare across the Seoul metro area went from KRW 1,400 to KRW 1,550 (about USD 1.16) on June 28, 2025 [6]. Longer trips cost more.
• Transit cards: a rechargeable card such as T-money works on subways, buses and taxis.
• Taxis are cheap by US standards for short hops.

Plenty of Americans in Seoul sell the car before they leave the States and never miss it. See Naver Map, Kakao and getting around Seoul.

Food: eat local, save big

Korean households spent more on restaurants and hotels (KRW 465,000 a month) than on groceries (KRW 449,000) in 2025 [1]. That tells you something: eating out in Seoul is cheap, fast and everywhere. A few differences from back home:

• No tipping. The price on the menu is the price you pay.
• Side dishes are free and refilled at most Korean restaurants.
• Fruit and beef can cost a lot more than you're used to, while rice, tofu, kimchi and seasonal vegetables stay reasonable.
• American groceries carry a markup. Imported cereal, cheese and peanut butter cost more. Costco has stores in Seoul, and its Yangjae location once ranked first in worldwide sales [7]. See American food in Seoul.

For comparison, LA-area households spent USD 6,546 a year on groceries and USD 5,312 eating out [3].

Healthcare: lower bills, mandatory insurance

Health costs are one of the nicest surprises. Most foreign residents are covered by Korea's National Health Insurance, either through work or on their own. Premiums depend on your income, and the out-of-pocket share at the doctor is a fraction of what an American deductible looks like. We didn't find an official 2026 premium schedule for foreigners to quote, so check with NHIS once you arrive.

Korean households spent KRW 228,000 (about USD 170) a month on health in 2025 [1]. The average US household spent USD 6,470 a year [2], before counting what employers pay toward premiums. Read National Health Insurance in Korea for the details.

A sample monthly budget

A rough single-person budget for a studio or small officetel, as ranges rather than precise figures:

1. Rent: around KRW 625,000 (about USD 470) for a small studio in a student area, plus a deposit of about KRW 10 million (about USD 7,500) [4]; more for anything central or larger
2. Maintenance fee: about KRW 84,000 (about USD 63) [4], with utilities on top, higher in the humid summer and the cold winter
3. Transit: a handful of KRW 1,550 rides a day [6], often less than a single LA parking ticket
4. Food: easy to keep low if you eat Korean, easy to blow on imported groceries
5. Health insurance: an income-based premium

Don't forget taxes. Korea's top national rate is 45%, plus a local tax, but many foreign employees can choose a single 19% rate on their pay. See South Korean taxes for Americans.

For real numbers from people paying them, ask in our community group for Americans in South Korea.

Sources

1. Ministry of Data and Statistics (Korea): Household Income and Expenditure Trends, press release of February 26, 2026
2. BLS: Consumer Expenditures, 2025
3. BLS: Consumer Expenditures in the Los Angeles Area, 2023–24
4. Asia Economy: Average monthly rent for Seoul studio apartments hits 625,000 won (August 11, 2026)
5. US Census Bureau: QuickFacts, Los Angeles city, California
6. Korea JoongAng Daily: Seoul subway prices rising to 1,550 won on June 28 (2025)
7. Wikipedia: Costco

Keep reading

• Renting in Seoul
• National Health Insurance in Korea
• Naver Map, Kakao and getting around Seoul
• Sending money between the US and abroad