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Country guide
Overview
South Korea🇰🇷
At a Glance
How South Korea compares across key indices
Cost of Living
64 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
94/100
Healthcare
77/100
Quality of Life
182/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in South Korea
Cost of Living
64
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
48
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
64
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
67
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Low RiskHow safe residents feel in South Korea - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
94/100
Crime Index
2/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
Daytime100
Nighttime100
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in South Korea
South Korea has 147 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,374 in Gyeongju to $1,746 in Seoul. Gyeongju leads on safety, scoring 94/100. Hanam ranks highest for quality of life at 183/200.
đź’¸Most Affordable
Gyeongju
$1,374/mo
Safest
Gyeongju
94/100
Best Quality of Life
Hanam
183/200
Best Healthcare
Seoul
93/100
City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
40 of 147 shown| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | $1,746 | 86/100 | 179/200 | 93/100 | 65 |
| Busan | $1,549 | 89/100 | 180/200 | 87/100 | 60 |
| Incheon | $1,543 | 89/100 | 180/200 | 87/100 | 60 |
| Daegu | $1,526 | 89/100 | 181/200 | 86/100 | 59 |
| Daejeon | $1,494 | 90/100 | 181/200 | 84/100 | 57 |
| Gwangju | $1,491 | 90/100 | 181/200 | 84/100 | 57 |
| Suwon | $1,482 | 91/100 | 181/200 | 84/100 | 56 |
| Ulsan | $1,475 | 91/100 | 182/200 | 83/100 | 56 |
| Goyang-si | $1,473 | 91/100 | 182/200 | 83/100 | 56 |
| Changwon | $1,470 | 91/100 | 182/200 | 83/100 | 56 |
| Seongnam-si | $1,463 | 91/100 | 182/200 | 83/100 | 55 |
| Cheongju-si | $1,457 | 91/100 | 182/200 | 83/100 | 55 |
| Bucheon-si | $1,457 | 91/100 | 182/200 | 83/100 | 55 |
| Cheonan | $1,440 | 92/100 | 182/200 | 82/100 | 54 |
| Hwaseong-si | $1,439 | 92/100 | 182/200 | 82/100 | 54 |
| Jeonju | $1,439 | 92/100 | 182/200 | 82/100 | 54 |
| Ansan-si | $1,437 | 92/100 | 182/200 | 82/100 | 54 |
| Anyang-si | $1,433 | 92/100 | 182/200 | 81/100 | 54 |
| Kimhae | $1,426 | 92/100 | 183/200 | 81/100 | 53 |
| Pohang | $1,421 | 93/100 | 183/200 | 81/100 | 53 |
| Jeju City | $1,421 | 93/100 | 183/200 | 81/100 | 53 |
| Uijeongbu-si | $1,419 | 93/100 | 183/200 | 81/100 | 53 |
| Masan | $1,412 | 93/100 | 183/200 | 80/100 | 52 |
| Gumi | $1,408 | 93/100 | 183/200 | 80/100 | 52 |
| Sejong | $1,406 | 93/100 | 183/200 | 80/100 | 52 |
| Pyeongtaek | $1,401 | 93/100 | 183/200 | 80/100 | 52 |
| Yangsan | $1,399 | 93/100 | 183/200 | 80/100 | 52 |
| Gwangmyeong | $1,399 | 93/100 | 183/200 | 80/100 | 52 |
| WĹŹnju | $1,395 | 93/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 51 |
| Chinju | $1,390 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 51 |
| Iksan | $1,390 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 51 |
| Gunpo | $1,384 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 51 |
| Chuncheon | $1,384 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 51 |
| Suncheon | $1,383 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 51 |
| Yeosu | $1,380 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 51 |
| Mokpo | $1,380 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 51 |
| Gyeongsan-si | $1,380 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 50 |
| Gunsan | $1,380 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 50 |
| Hanam | $1,377 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 79/100 | 50 |
| Gyeongju | $1,374 | 94/100 | 183/200 | 78/100 | 50 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Families
Schools
60 verified school profiles across 0 cities in South Korea — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.
British International Academy
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Chadwick International
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Chung Nam Samsung Academy
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Daegu Joongang High School
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Dream School
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
36 more verified schools in South Korea are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for South Korea
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Environment
ModerateAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in South Korea
Pollution Index
52/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
25.9ug/m3
Unhealthy for sensitive
Environmental Quality
Air Quality100/100
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in South Korea, answered with data
What is the cost of living in South Korea?
South Korea has a cost of living index of 64 relative to New York City (100). It is moderately affordable compared to the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,315 in Sangju and reach $1,746 in Seoul.
What is the cheapest city in South Korea for expats?
Sangju is the most affordable city in South Korea in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,315 for a single person including rent. Donghae City is the next most affordable at $1,315/mo.
Is South Korea safe for expats?
South Korea has a safety index of 94/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Gwangyang scores highest on safety at 95/100.
What is the best city in South Korea for expats and digital nomads?
Sangju ranks highest for quality of life in South Korea, scoring 184/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,315/mo for a single person.
How good is healthcare in South Korea?
South Korea scores 77/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it excellent by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Is South Korea cheaper than the United States?
Yes. South Korea's cost of living is roughly 36% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 52% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Before You Go
Core tools and insurance next steps for planning a move to South Korea
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