✦ Compare
Rome 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
$62,949 / year
Seoul, KR is 16% cheaper overall
Category breakdown (Seoul, KR vs Rome, IT)
- Housing-18%
- Food & groceries-15%
- Transport-27%
- Utilities-33%
- Healthcare-19%
- Goods & services-5%
▤ Full comparison
| Rome, IT | Seoul, KR | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 100 | 84 |
| Housing | 110 | 90 |
| Food | 100 | 85 |
| Transport | 75 | 55 |
| Utilities | 120 | 80 |
| Healthcare | 80 | 65 |
| Goods & services | 100 | 95 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $1,200/mo | $900/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $900/mo | $650/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $2,400/mo | $1,900/mo |
| Buy price / m² centre | $6,500 | $12,000 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $998 | $1,189 |
| Inexpensive meal | $15 | $8 |
| Monthly transit pass | $38 | $45 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 43% | 45% |
| VAT / sales tax | 22% | 10% |
| Corporate tax | 24% | 24% |
| Capital gains | 26% | — |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $1,900/mo | $2,500/mo |
| Minimum wage | — | $1,500/mo |
| GDP per capita | $43,309 | $35,563 |
| Inflation (annual) | 1.5% | 2.3% |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | Yes |
| English proficiency | Low | Moderate |
| Coworking spaces | 40 | 40 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 | UTC+9 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 55 | 78 |
| Healthcare index | 78 | 82 |
| Pollution index | 60 | 55 |
| Internet speed | 100 Mbps | 220 Mbps |
| Walkability | 85 | 75 |
| Public transport | 75 | 92 |
| Family-friendly | 64 | 68 |
| Tap water | Safe to drink | Safe to drink |
| Life expectancy | 84 yr | 84 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | Moderate | Low |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +8 °C | -2 °C |
| July avg | +25 °C | +25 °C |
| Sunny days / year | 200 | 200 |
| Rainfall / year | 800 mm | 1,400 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 1 h | 2 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: Italy vs South Korea. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.
? Frequently asked questions
Moving from Rome to Seoul: cheaper or more expensive?
Moving from Rome to Seoul, your cost of living will be roughly 16% cheaper. Seoul’s cost-of-living index is 84 versus 100 for Rome (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.
Is Rome cheaper than Seoul?
Seoul is about 16% cheaper than Rome overall — its cost-of-living index is 84 versus 100 for Rome.
How much do you need to earn in Seoul to live like in Rome?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Rome is worth about $62,949 in Seoul. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Rome or Seoul?
Italy has the lower top income-tax rate — 43% versus 45% in South Korea.
◷ More comparisons from Rome
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.