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Seoul
#71 of 124
Asia

Seoul

South Korea

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Seoul compare to Chicago?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Seoul is 27% worse off vs in Chicago

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Seoul compared to Chicago, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$65,964
-$74K (-53%) vs Chicago
Based on 282 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$47,494
-$46K (-49%) vs Chicago
Tax Rate: 28%

Community Insights

New

Seoul offers a dynamic, fast-paced environment with world-class infrastructure and safety, but it demands significant adaptation to its intense work culture and hierarchical social structures. For software engineers, the financial trade-off involves accepting lower raw salaries compared to the US in exchange for a highly convenient, safe, and modern lifestyle. Success largely depends on Korean language fluency and the ability to navigate a rigid corporate atmosphere.

Resident Sentiment

Sentiment is mixed to cautious. Many expats love the safety and convenience outside of work but frequently vent about burnout and isolation due to the language barrier and workplace hierarchy. There is a common theme of "love the city, hate the work culture," with some long-term residents eventually leaving for better work-life balance in the West.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Chicago.

Rankings

Community Events

Top 8%

#10

of 124 cities

12 events on luma

Current value

Safety Index

Top 10%

#12

of 124 cities

75.3/100

Current value

Tax Rate

Top 26%

#32

of 124 cities

28%

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Seoul compared to Chicago?

Avg. Property Price
$16,515 / m²
426% more expensive than Chicago
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Seoul to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
31% cheaper than Chicago
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Seoul

Coupang logo
Coupang
Samsung logo
Samsung
Naver logo
Naver
High safety standards: Seoul ranks exceptionally well for safety (#12 of 124 cities), making it one of the safest major metropolises for walking alone at night.
  • Convenient lifestyle: Residents love the 24/7 culture, efficient public transportation, and incredibly fast, affordable food delivery services.
  • Modern infrastructure: The city boasts world-class internet speeds and a clean, reliable subway system that covers the entire metro area.
  • Decent local purchasing power: While salaries aren't US-level, a software engineer's income affords a comfortable life with decent dining and entertainment options compared to the local cost of living.
  • Vibrant city life: Endless options for cafes, nightlife, shopping, and cultural activities keep the city exciting for social newcomers.

    • The Bad

    • Intense work culture:

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    Korean-speaking expats or those with a strong desire to learn the language will fare best. It is also a good fit for adventurous singles who prioritize safety, nightlife, and urban convenience over work-life balance, or those transferring with a global tech company that insulates them from local corporate norms.

    Skip it if...

    Junior developers without Korean fluency will face a near-impossible job market. Those seeking FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) or US-level savings rates will be disappointed by the salary-to-housing cost ratio. Engineers who value strict 9-5 hours, remote work flexibility, or flat organizational structures should look elsewhere.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather3.6/10-14% vs Chicago
    Safety75+118%
    Pollution51+1%
    Events12+100%
    3.6/10TechCities weather score vs 4.2/10 in Chicago

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    16°C(vs 15°C in Chicago)
    Average Low
    9°C(vs 8°C in Chicago)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,066h/yr-442h/yr(-18%)
    Hottest Month High
    29°C(vs 28°C in Chicago)
    Coldest Month Low
    -6°C(vs -5°C in Chicago)
    Rainy Days
    83/yr-8/yr(-9%)

    Community & Quality

    Seoul community pulse

    Seoul has 12 Luma events listed.

    100% more events than Chicago.

    Cost of Living

    Middle of the pack

    #50

    of 124 cities

    47/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Pollution Score

    Middle of the pack

    #71

    of 124 cities

    51.1/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Purchasing Power

    Middle of the pack

    #71

    of 124 cities

    Net Income

    Middle of the pack

    #74

    of 124 cities

    $47,494/yr

    Current value

    Comfortable Weather

    Bottom 32%

    #85

    of 124 cities

    36/100 weather score

    Current value

    Home Affordability

    Bottom 3%

    #122

    of 124 cities

    ≈27.8 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    27.8 years
    25.1 years longer than Chicago
    Muggy Days
    64/yr+22/yr(+52%)
    Cloud Cover
    41%(vs 47% in Chicago)