β¦ Compare
Osaka vs
Seoul
Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.
To keep the same standard of living in Seoul, KR, you'd need
$65,614 / year
Seoul, KR is 13% cheaper overall
Category breakdown (Seoul, KR vs Osaka, JP)
- Housing-2%
- Food & groceries-13%
- Transport-33%
- Utilities-27%
- Healthcare-24%
- Goods & services-9%
β How Osaka, JP and Seoul, KR compare
Index vs the US average β the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
β€ Full comparison
| Osaka, JP | Seoul, KR | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 96 | 84 |
| Housing | 92 | 90 |
| Food | 98 | 85 |
| Transport | 82 | 55 |
| Utilities | 110 | 80 |
| Healthcare | 85 | 65 |
| Goods & services | 104 | 95 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $850/mo | $900/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $600/mo | $650/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $1,600/mo | $1,900/mo |
| Buy price / mΒ² centre | $6,500 | $12,000 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $1,040 | $1,189 |
| Inexpensive meal | $8 | $8 |
| Monthly transit pass | $60 | $45 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 45% | 45% |
| VAT / sales tax | 10% | 10% |
| Corporate tax | 30% | 24% |
| Capital gains | 20.3% | β |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $2,600/mo | $2,500/mo |
| Minimum wage | $1,300/mo | $1,500/mo |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 | $35,563 |
| Inflation (annual) | 3.2% | 2.3% |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | Yes |
| English proficiency | Low | Moderate |
| Coworking spaces | 25 | 40 |
| Time zone | UTC+9 | UTC+9 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 82 | 78 |
| Healthcare index | 84 | 82 |
| Pollution index | 40 | 55 |
| Internet speed | 230 Mbps | 220 Mbps |
| Walkability | 80 | 75 |
| Public transport | 88 | 92 |
| Family-friendly | 72 | 68 |
| Tap water | Safe to drink | Safe to drink |
| Life expectancy | 84 yr | 84 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | Moderate | Low |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +6 Β°C | -2 Β°C |
| July avg | +28 Β°C | +25 Β°C |
| Sunny days / year | 200 | 200 |
| Rainfall / year | 1,300 mm | 1,400 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 2 h | 2 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: Japan vs South Korea. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.
Good to know before you move to Osaka
Japan's warm, wisecracking second city and its street-food heart β cheaper and more laid-back than Tokyo, with the same safety, transit and reliability. The gateway to Kansai (Kyoto and Kobe are minutes away), it's an easy-going base with a big food and startup scene.
- Currency
- Japanese yen (Β₯ JPY)
- Languages
- Japanese
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Internet
- 230 Mbps
- English
- Rarely spoken
- Safety
- 82/100
- Climate
- β 6Β°C Β· β 28Β°C Β· 200 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- A/B Β· 100V
- Driving
- Left-hand side
- Popular areas
- Namba Β· Umeda Β· Tennoji Β· Nakazakicho
Good to know before you move to Seoul
A hyper-modern megacity with the world's best transit and internet, K-culture everywhere and remarkable safety. The costs are Western-tier, the work culture intense and the jeonse deposits huge β but a new workation visa is opening the door to nomads.
- Currency
- South Korean won (β© KRW)
- Languages
- Korean
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Internet
- 220 Mbps
- English
- Fairly common
- Safety
- 78/100
- Climate
- β -2Β°C Β· β 25Β°C Β· 200 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- C/F Β· 220V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Gangnam Β· Itaewon Β· Hongdae Β· Seongsu
Plan your move to Osaka
Everything you will book for the move β sorted, and updated as we add partners.
- FlightsCheapvuelos
- FlightsAviasales
- Car rentalEconomybookings
- Airport transferKiwitaxi
- Tours & ticketsKlook
- InsuranceSafetyWing
- eSIM / dataAiralo
- Luggage storageRadical Storage
Sponsored
Plan your move to Seoul
Everything you will book for the move β sorted, and updated as we add partners.
- FlightsCheapvuelos
- FlightsAviasales
- Car rentalEconomybookings
- Airport transferKiwitaxi
- Tours & ticketsKlook
- InsuranceSafetyWing
- eSIM / dataAiralo
- Luggage storageRadical Storage
Sponsored
? Frequently asked questions
Moving from Osaka to Seoul: cheaper or more expensive?
Moving from Osaka to Seoul, your cost of living will be roughly 13% cheaper. Seoulβs cost-of-living index is 84 versus 96 for Osaka (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income youβd need to keep the same lifestyle.
Is Osaka cheaper than Seoul?
Seoul is about 13% cheaper than Osaka overall β its cost-of-living index is 84 versus 96 for Osaka.
How much do you need to earn in Seoul to live like in Osaka?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Osaka is worth about $65,614 in Seoul. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Osaka or Seoul?
Japan has the lower top income-tax rate β 45% versus 45% in South Korea.
β· More comparisons from Osaka
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.