Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Yes, Beijing is 37% cheaper than Seoul based on our cost of living index. Beijing has a COLI of 43.5, while Seoul has a COLI of 68.9. 37% cheaper
Overall, Beijing is approximately 37% cheaper than Seoul based on our cost of living index. Beijing has a COLI of 43.5 (ranked #62 of 182 cities), while Seoul has a COLI of 68.9 (ranked #24).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Beijing averages $1,000/month compared to $1,200/month in Seoul. That makes Beijing approximately 17% cheaper for rent alone.
Seoul has lower total deductions (24.6%) compared to Beijing (34.8%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Seoul. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn ¥504,895 in Beijing, you would need approximately ₩150,817,148 in Seoul to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 37% more due to higher cost of living.
Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:
| Job Title | Beijing (CNY) | Seoul (KRW) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | ¥527,110 | ₩157,453,102 |
| Software Engineer | ¥248,913 | ₩74,352,854 |
| Product Manager | ¥292,839 | ₩87,473,946 |
| Lawyer | ¥292,839 | ₩87,473,946 |
| Data Scientist | ¥278,197 | ₩83,100,248 |
| Marketing Manager | ¥210,844 | ₩62,981,241 |
| Teacher | ¥140,563 | ₩41,987,494 |
| Nurse | ¥169,847 | ₩50,734,889 |
Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Chaoyang (CBD) | 1.28x (+28%) |
| Chaoyang (Sanlitun) | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Dongcheng | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Guomao | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Xicheng | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Gangnam | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Seocho | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Myeongdong | 1.20x (+20%) |
| Bukchon | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Itaewon | 1.15x (+15%) |
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Open Salary ConverterSeoul is more expensive overall. Beijing has a COLI of 43.5 while Seoul has a COLI of 68.9, making Beijing approximately 37% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as ¥504,895 in Beijing, you would need approximately ₩150,817,148 in Seoul.
Average one-bedroom rent in Beijing is $1,000/month compared to $1,200/month in Seoul. Beijing has lower rent by approximately 17%.
Seoul has lower total deductions (24.6%) compared to Beijing (34.8%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Seoul.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.