Bangkok vs Seoul: cost of living for digital nomads

Bangkok, Thailand and Seoul, South Korea, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Bangkok is about 22% cheaper than Seoul for a month of nomad living ($1,720 vs $2,200).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Bangkok against $1,000 in Seoul.
  • Seoul scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Seoul: 250 Mbps typical against 230 Mbps.
  • Bangkok is tropical; Seoul is continental.

Bangkok wins 6 of the measured lines; Seoul wins 2.

LineBangkokSeoul
Monthly total (USD)$1,720$2,200
Rent$720$1,000
Food$420$550
Transport$60$80
Coworking$130$170
Safety (out of 10)7/109/10
Internet (Mbps)230250
Climatetropicalcontinental
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandinland
Nomad score (out of 10)9/107/10

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.