Seoul, South Korea
In Seoul, $10 covers a classic bibimbap meal with money to spare, a weekday movie ticket at a CGV or Megabox multiplex, or three short taxi rides across the neighborhood.
Index score 159 (rank 14 of 20) — the full basket totals $31.44, so $10 covers about 31.8% of it.
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The basket
| Item | Seoul | NYC | vs NYC |
|---|---|---|---|
| White bread (500g) | $2.80 | $4.61 | -39% |
| Milk (1L) | $1.91 | $1.44 | +33% |
| Eggs (12) | $2.86 | $5.90 | -52% |
| Bananas (1kg) | $3.15 | $2.10 | +50% |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | $1.00 | $2.50 | -60% |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, store) | $2.16 | $3.21 | -33% |
| Cappuccino (cafe) | $3.70 | $6.09 | -39% |
| White rice (1kg) | $3.77 | $6.64 | -43% |
| Chicken breast (1kg) | $9.05 | $14.41 | -37% |
| Public transit, one-way ticket | $1.04 | $3.00 | -65% |
| Total | $31.44 | $49.90 |
What $10 actually buys here
- Bibimbap at a neighborhood restaurant~$5.72
A classic, filling local meal.
- Weekday standard movie ticket~$9.42
Off-peak cinema pricing at a CGV or Megabox multiplex.
- A short taxi ride (about 2km)~$3.23
The flag-drop base fare.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic grocery basket cost in Seoul?
$31.44 for a basic grocery basket in Seoul — about $18 less than New York City's $49.90.
What can $10 buy in Seoul?
A weekday standard movie ticket at a CGV or Megabox multiplex for $9.42, or a filling bibimbap meal at a neighborhood restaurant for $5.72 with change left over.
Is Seoul cheaper than New York for everyday expenses?
Yes — Seoul's index score of 159 means a dollar goes roughly 1.6 times as far as in New York.
How much is a short taxi ride in Seoul?
About $3.23 for the flag-drop base fare on a roughly 2km trip.
How much is a cappuccino in Seoul?
$3.70 — well under half of New York City's $6.09.
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Keep exploring
In Mumbai, $10 covers a round-trip ferry to Elephanta Island with cave-temple entry, a full street-food crawl of vada pav and pav bhaji, or a Bollywood movie with popcorn.
In New York City, $10 covers a halal-cart chicken-and-rice platter, three subway or bus rides, or a pay-what-you-wish museum ticket — the baseline this whole index is measured against.
In Dubai, $10 covers a chicken shawarma wrap in Karama, general admission to Global Village, and a karak chai and samosa combo — all three, with change to spare.
Prices are researched estimates (July 2026), not live data — treat them as illustrative, not exact. See the methodology page for details.