South Korea

Compared with China, using real observed prices.

Baseline: China = 1×

South Korea vs

China

Overall verdict

South Korea is about 1.16× China.

Average across 5 categories, 7 items with data

The shape of prices (vs China = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is China. A bar running right means South Korea is pricier; running left means cheaper. The thin bar behind shows the range from the cheapest to the priciest item in that category.

← Cheaper than

China China = 1×

South Korea is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 2 items

×1.55
⛽ Transport 2 items

×1.28
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×1.03
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×1.02
📱 Electronics 1 item

×1.00

Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)

In South Korea, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 1.7× what it does in China — but iPhone (base model, base storage) costs only 1.0×. What is expensive here is energy, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×1.67

South Korea ¥0.87 USD 0.127

China ¥0.52 USD 0.076

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×1.43

South Korea ¥0.50 USD 0.073

China ¥0.35 USD 0.051

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×1.35

South Korea ¥9.61 USD 1.415

China ¥7.10 USD 1.045

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×1.21

South Korea ¥9.70 USD 1.427

China ¥8.01 USD 1.179

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×1.03

South Korea ¥306.18 KRW 66,000

China ¥298.00 CNY 298

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Big Mac 1 burger ×1.02

South Korea ¥26.05 KRW 5,500

China ¥25.50 CNY 25.5

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×1.00

South Korea ¥5,984 KRW 1,290,000

China ¥5,999 CNY 5,999

Observed 2026-07-27 · Apple official online store