Safety Index
#12
of 124 cities
75.4/100
Current value
South Korea
How do salaries and expenses in Seoul compare to San Francisco?
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Seoul compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Community Insights
NewSeoul 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.
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.
Rankings
Safety Index
#12
of 124 cities
75.4/100
Current value
Community Events
#28
of 124 cities
12 events on luma
Current value
Tax Rate
#32
of 124 cities
28%
Current value (lower is better)
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Seoul compared to San Francisco?
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Seoul to maintain the same standard of living.
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.
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
0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.
Seoul has 12 Luma events listed.
76% fewer events than San Francisco.
Cost of Living
#50
of 124 cities
47/100
Current value (lower is better)
Purchasing Power
#70
of 124 cities
Pollution Score
#71
of 124 cities
51.1/100
Current value (lower is better)
Net Income
#74
of 124 cities
$47,494/yr
Current value
Comfortable Weather
#85
of 124 cities
36/100 weather score
Current value
Home Affordability
#122
of 124 cities
≈27.8 yrs to buy 80m²
Current value