Seoul vs Tokyo — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Seoul edges out Tokyo on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 60 vs 62 (US=100; mid-priced vs mid-priced). Tokyo scores higher on safety (null/100), and Tokyo wins on internet at ~—. Overall, Seoul takes the Nomad Score crown with null/100 — best for .
* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.
Metric
Seoul
Tokyo
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$1,200
US$1,300
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$850
US$900
Cost of Living (US=100)
60
62
Safety Score
—
—
Internet Speed
—
—
Nomad Score
—
—
Healthcare Score
—
—
Digital Nomad Visa
Not available
Not available
Who is each city for?
Seoul is better for…
See the South Korea country profileTokyo is better for…
See the Japan country profileSee full city data — neighbourhood breakdowns, internet speeds & coworking scores
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