# Hong Kong vs Seoul: cost of living compared

> Seoul runs about 31% cheaper than Hong Kong for this household, a difference of 1,072 USD a month.

- **Source:** https://cost-of-life.com/compare/hong-kong-vs-seoul
- **Household priced:** one adult, one-bedroom in the centre, moderate lifestyle
- **Salary tested:** $100,000 gross per year

| Group | Metric | Hong Kong | Seoul |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost | Total monthly cost | 3,435 USD | 2,363 USD |
| Cost | Cost index (New York = 100) | 54 | 37 |
| Cost | Housing | 2,200 USD | 900 USD |
| Cost | Utilities | 171 USD | 165 USD |
| Cost | Food | 672 USD | 881 USD |
| Cost | Transport | 88 USD | 100 USD |
| Cost | Healthcare | 32 USD | 16 USD |
| Cost | Lifestyle | 180 USD | 193 USD |
| Income & tax | Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr | 7,155 USD | 5,446 USD |
| Income & tax | Effective tax + social rate | 14.1% | 34.6% |
| Income & tax | Left over each month | 3,720 USD | 3,083 USD |
| Income & tax | Average local net salary | 3,000 USD | 2,500 USD |
| Housing | 1-bed rent, city centre | 2,200 USD | 900 USD |
| Housing | 3-bed rent, city centre | 4,600 USD | 2,000 USD |
| Housing | Buy price per m², centre | 22,000 USD | 13,000 USD |
| Quality of life | Safety | 86/100 | 86/100 |
| Quality of life | Healthcare | 84/100 | 88/100 |
| Quality of life | Air quality | 52/100 | 50/100 |
| Quality of life | Public transport | 98/100 | 96/100 |
| Quality of life | Walkability | 92/100 | 88/100 |
| Quality of life | English proficiency | 72/100 | 44/100 |
| Quality of life | Nightlife | 84/100 | 92/100 |
| Quality of life | Family friendliness | 74/100 | 80/100 |
| Quality of life | Median broadband | 290 Mbps | 220 Mbps |
| Climate | Average temperature | 24°C | 13°C |
| Climate | Summer high | 31°C | 29°C |
| Climate | Winter low | 15°C | -6°C |
| Climate | Sunshine hours per year | 1,830 h | 2,060 h |
| Climate | Annual rainfall | 2400 mm | 1400 mm |
| Practicalities | Remote-work visa | No | Yes |
| Practicalities | Beach access | 25 min | 60 min |
| Practicalities | Currency | HKD | KRW |
| Practicalities | Time zone | Asia/Hong_Kong | Asia/Seoul |

Figures are modelled estimates. Methodology: https://cost-of-life.com/methodology