South Korea

Living in South Korea: the short version

South Korea combines ultra-fast internet, efficient cities and a booming cultural scene with a competitive, hierarchical work culture. Seoul is expensive for housing deposits but cheap for transport and eating out, and Korea has introduced a workation visa for remote workers.

Best for: Tech professionals, English teachers, and remote workers who want a modern Asian base.

How to move to South Korea: main visa and residency routes

Summaries only — requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.

E-7 professional employment visa

For foreign professionals sponsored by a Korean employer.

Workation visa (F-1-D)

For remote workers employed abroad who meet a high income requirement.

D-10 job seeker visa

Lets qualified foreigners stay while looking for professional work.

F-2-7 points-based residence

Long-term residence for qualified professionals who score enough points.

Healthcare for newcomers

Foreign residents staying six months or more must join the National Health Insurance Service, which is inexpensive and covers most treatment.

How South Korea compares

Calculated from our data for all 55 countries. How we calculate this

Cost of living rank

20th most expensive of 55

Single person, core costs

$1,245/mo

Family of four, core costs

$2,775/mo

Take-home on $60,000

$47,256/yr

• Renting a one-bedroom home takes about 19% of the average local salary in South Korea, less than the median of 36% across the countries we cover.
• Core monthly costs for one person (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, internet and eating out) come to about $1,245, or 39% of the average local monthly salary.
• On a gross salary of $60,000 taxed locally, our estimate leaves $47,256 a year after income tax and employee social security (an effective rate of 21%), the 8th highest take-home pay of 55 countries. After single-person core costs, that leaves roughly $32,316 a year to save or spend.
• Countries with a similar overall cost of living: Malta, Qatar, Germany.
• Cheaper options in Asia: Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia.

Estimates for planning, using simplified national tax brackets in US dollars; local taxes, deductions and your own spending will differ. Try your own numbers in the tax calculator or budget planner.

Our guides to South Korea

• Working in South Korea: Job Market Guide · Jobs & Career

Sources and methodology

Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on September 30, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.