Seoul vs Daegu Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Seoul vs Daegu: everyday costs favor Daegu (~45% CPI gap), housing index favors Daegu, wage stretch favors Seoul. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Daegu
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (74% gap, Daegu ahead); Utilities (74% gap, Daegu ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $1,331 lower in Daegu than in Seoul (~73% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $1,331 (favoring Daegu).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Daegu | CPI 39.5 vs 71.6 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Daegu | Rent index 12.3 vs 47.9 (lower is better) |
| Food | Daegu | Groceries index 60.7 vs 92.5 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Daegu | One-way ticket 1052.53 vs 2117.06 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Daegu | Utilities (85m²) 33948 vs 132204 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Daegu | Internet 45788.4 vs 64335.6 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Daegu | Restaurant index 30 vs 68.5 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Seoul | Avg net salary 11003016 vs 4380672 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Seoul | PP index 128.6 vs 51.2 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Daegu leads with a 74% gap.
Rent index 12.3 vs 47.9 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Daegu — Lower housing / rent index (74% gap).
- Families: Daegu — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Daegu; purchasing power favors Seoul.
- Remote Workers: Daegu — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Daegu (~45% gap).
- Budget Living: Daegu — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Daegu is the overall cost winner on CPI (~45% lower everyday-cost index than Seoul).
- Housing: Daegu leads on rent index (74% gap).
- Food / groceries: Daegu is lower (34% gap).
- Purchasing power: Seoul scores higher (60% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$1,331 cheaper in Daegu.
Analysis
Seoul versus Daegu is not a single number. With a 45% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Daegu, while housing follows Daegu's rent index. Purchasing power (128.6 vs 51.2) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-20
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.