Malé vs Seoul: cost of living for digital nomads
Malé, Maldives 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
- Seoul is about 4% cheaper than Malé for a month of nomad living ($2,200 vs $2,300).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $1,000 in Seoul against $1,200 in Malé.
- Seoul scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 8/10).
- Internet is faster in Seoul: 250 Mbps typical against 35 Mbps.
- Malé is tropical; Seoul is continental.
Malé wins 2 of the measured lines; Seoul wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Malé or Seoul?
Seoul is cheaper: about $2,200/month against $2,300/month in Malé, roughly 4% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Malé or Seoul?
Seoul scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 8/10 for Malé.
Which has faster internet, Malé or Seoul?
Seoul has faster typical internet: 250 Mbps against 35 Mbps in Malé.
| Line | Malé | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $2,300 | $2,200 |
| Rent | $1,200 | $1,000 |
| Food | $500 | $550 |
| Transport | $80 | $80 |
| Coworking | $150 | $170 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 35 | 250 |
| Climate | tropical | continental |
| City size | mid | metro |
| Setting | island | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 6/10 | 7/10 |
Malé
Expensive island capital; many nomads base on cheaper local islands.
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. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Malé November 4, 2026, Seoul November 10, 2026.