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Japan vs South Korea
South Korea is {pct} {word} than Japan. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in South Korea to match Japan.
Japan vs South Korea at a glance — South Korea is 12% cheaper than Japan overall. Average net salary: $2,500/mo vs $2,600/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 45%.
| Japan | South Korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Cost of living index | 95 | 84 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 45% | 45% |
| VAT / sales tax | 10% | 10% |
| Corporate tax | 30% | 24% |
| Capital gains | 20.3% | — |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $2,600/mo | $2,500/mo |
| Avg annual wage (OECD, PPP) | $50,183✓ | $61,259✓ |
| Minimum wage | $1,300/mo | $1,500/mo |
| GDP per capita | $35,951✓ | $35,563✓ |
| Inflation (annual) | 3.2%✓ | 2.3%✓ |
| Life expectancy | 84 yr✓ | 84 yr✓ |
| Quality of life | ||
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | Moderate | Low |
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | Yes |
✓ = official statistics (OECD (PPP), World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Japan cheaper than South Korea?
South Korea is about 12% cheaper than Japan overall — its cost-of-living index is 84 versus 95 for Japan.
How much do you need to earn in South Korea to live like in Japan?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Japan is worth about $66,197 in South Korea. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.