The cost of living in Korea varies quite a bit depending on where you live. Seoul is considered to be the most expensive city in the country, and even it can vary depending on the district you are in. Gangnam, in Seoul (or Kangnam), is one of the most expensive places in the world when it comes to real estate, so you can guess that any business owner in the area would have to charge top won for their product if they're going to survive there. Other districts in Seoul aren't nearly as bad but are still far above what you'd pay for the same product in another city.

Other large cities like Busan (Pusan), Incheon, and Daegu (Taegu) can be a little expensive at times, but again it's all relevant to the area. In most cities, once you're comfortable and you've shopped around a little, you will come across lower priced stores that mostly only the locals use. When you find these little gems, you'll find that in using them for certain items, your cost of living decreases quite significantly.

The more rural a city is, the cheaper things become. Going from a city of a million to a city of 3,7, or 12 million really makes a difference in the price you pay for things. Groceries, transportation, gas and utilities, clothing, dining out, and drinking are all generally more expensive in larger cities, though if you look hard enough, you'll likely find a local "gem" or two that you'll be able to save some money at.

Cost of Living Breakdown

Basically, a salary of 2 million won in a city of one or two million can be equivalent to about 2.4 million won in Seoul or Busan when you are comparing the cost of living.