United States

Compared with South Korea, using real observed prices.

Baseline: South Korea = 1×

United States vs

South Korea

Overall verdict

United States is about 1.12× South Korea.

Average across 5 categories, 7 items with data

The shape of prices (vs South Korea = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is South Korea. A bar running right means United States 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

South Korea South Korea = 1×

United States is pricier →

🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×1.64
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×1.33
⚡ Utilities 2 items

×0.99
📱 Electronics 1 item

×0.94
⛽ Transport 2 items

×0.88

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

In United States, Big Mac costs 1.6× what it does in South Korea — but Natural gas 1kWh (household) costs only 0.7×. What is expensive here is labour, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Big Mac 1 burger ×1.64

United States ₩8,995 USD 6.12

South Korea ₩5,500 KRW 5,500

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×1.48

United States ₩283 USD 0.188

South Korea ₩191 USD 0.127

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×1.33

United States ₩87,753 USD 59.99

South Korea ₩66,000 KRW 66,000

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.96

United States ₩2,113 USD 1.356

South Korea ₩2,205 USD 1.415

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×0.94

United States ₩1,212,656 USD 829

South Korea ₩1,290,000 KRW 1,290,000

Observed 2026-07-27 · Apple official online store
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.80

United States ₩1,786 USD 1.146

South Korea ₩2,223 USD 1.427

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.66

United States ₩72 USD 0.048

South Korea ₩110 USD 0.073

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com