South Korea

Compared with United States, using real observed prices.

Baseline: United States = 1×

South Korea vs

United States

Overall verdict

South Korea is about 0.89× United States.

Average across 5 categories, 7 items with data

The shape of prices (vs United States = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is United States. 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

United States United States = 1×

South Korea is pricier →

⛽ Transport 2 items

×1.14
📱 Electronics 1 item

×1.06
⚡ Utilities 2 items

×1.01
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×0.75
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.61

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

In South Korea, Natural gas 1kWh (household) costs 1.5× what it does in United States — but Big Mac costs only 0.6×. What is expensive here is energy, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×1.52

South Korea $0.07 USD 0.073

United States $0.05 USD 0.048

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×1.25

South Korea $1.43 USD 1.427

United States $1.15 USD 1.146

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×1.06

South Korea $881.87 KRW 1,290,000

United States $829.00 USD 829

Observed 2026-07-27 · Apple official online store
Diesel 1L 1 L ×1.04

South Korea $1.42 USD 1.415

United States $1.36 USD 1.356

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.75

South Korea $45.12 KRW 66,000

United States $59.99 USD 59.99

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.68

South Korea $0.13 USD 0.127

United States $0.19 USD 0.188

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.61

South Korea $3.74 KRW 5,500

United States $6.12 USD 6.12

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index