South Korea
Compared with Ireland, using real observed prices.
Baseline: Ireland = 1×
Overall verdict
South Korea is about 0.63×
Ireland.
Average across 4 categories, 7 items with data
The shape of prices (vs
Ireland = 1×)
How to read this
The centre line is Ireland. 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
Ireland
Ireland = 1×
South Korea is pricier →
Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)
In South Korea, iPhone (base model, base storage) costs 0.8× what it does in Ireland — but Electricity 1kWh (household) costs only 0.3×. Calling this country simply "expensive" hides a gap this wide.
Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.
-
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×0.79
South Korea €774.97 KRW 1,290,000
Ireland €979.00 EUR 979
-
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.73
South Korea €1.24 USD 1.415
Ireland €1.69 USD 1.926
-
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.73
South Korea €1.25 USD 1.427
Ireland €1.71 USD 1.952
-
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.66
South Korea €39.65 KRW 66,000
Ireland €59.99 EUR 59.99
-
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.60
South Korea €0.06 USD 0.073
Ireland €0.10 USD 0.121
-
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.28
South Korea €0.11 USD 0.127
Ireland €0.39 USD 0.45
See what really changed 
Big Mac, 2021 → 2026At the timeUsing the exchange rate of each date
+20%
in KRW
4600 → 5500
4600 → 5500
vs
At today's rateUsing today's exchange rate
-5%
in EUR
It rose 20% in local currency, but -5% in yours. Most of what you feel is the exchange rate, not South Korea's inflation.