VanBasket South Korea

Food Prices in South Korea — October 2026

Name: South Korea — VanBasket Food Price Index
Creator: OpenVan.camp
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Updated: 1 October 2026

Current Index

208.8

vs World Average

+108.8%

Official (IMF + World Bank)

Real grocery prices

Price per unit in your currency

Prices known for 4 of 10 items — help fill the rest

Milk 1 L

1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026

$3.42

+93% World (base = 100)
Eggs 12 pcs

1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026

$3.04

-12% World (base = 100)
Chicken 1 kg

1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026

$7.39

+26% World (base = 100)
Rice 1 kg

1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026

$3.85

+70% World (base = 100)
Bread 500 g loaf
Water 1.5 L bottle
Cheese 1 kg
Tomatoes 1 kg
Potatoes 1 kg
Beer 0.5 L bottle

Monthly basket, 1 person

Directional: 4 milk + 2 eggs + 4 chicken + 4 rice

$64.72

Know the prices in South Korea?

Check your last receipt and send a couple of numbers — the next traveller gets a better page.

Every traveller price is reviewed by hand; the row shows how many reports from the last 90 days back the figure.

Data: WhereNext (CC BY 4.0, January 2026)

Report a price

Enter the price you actually saw in the shop.

Product

Price (€ EUR)

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Reports are reviewed by hand — only what an editor confirms reaches the site.

Recent real receipts

Real purchases logged in this country (crowdsourced, local names)

Strawberry-filled sandwafer

올가홀푸드 · 4*8g

ORGA Whole Foods, 서울특별시 19 Jun

3,900 ₩
Wholewheat crackers

Orga wholefood · 3*40g

ORGA Whole Foods, 서울특별시 16 Jun deal

10,965 ₩
Organic puffed rice cakes

Orga, 올가 · 40g

ORGA Whole Foods, 서울특별시 15 Jun

3,150 ₩
평창수 무라벨 생수

해태에이치티비

쿠팡 목천물류센터 승용차 주차장, 천안시 5 Apr

5,940 ₩
สาหร่ายเกาหลีถุงสีเขียวถุงเล็ก

Dongwon

동원, 부산광역시 31 Aug

5,980 ₩
Bubbly chocolate con leche

Milka · 4 x 25 g

Homeplus, 대구광역시 18 Apr

3,390 ₩
Strawberry Chocolate

Milka · 100 g

Homeplus, 대구광역시 18 Apr

3,390 ₩
Choco Moo

Milka · 200 g

Homeplus, 대구광역시 18 Apr

4,490 ₩
사리곰탕면

Nongshim

e마트24 연천와초리점, 와초리 11 Jun

0.9 €
Jacquet Mini Brownie With Chocolate Chips

Jacquet · 150 g

e마트24 연천와초리점, 와초리 10 Jun

2.75 €
스타벅스 카페라때 편의점!

스타벅스

GS25 편의점, 장짐리 1 Jun

2.1 €
배홍동라면

Nongsim · 137 g

e마트24 연천와초리점, 와초리 30 May

10.5 €

Data: Open Food Facts — Open Prices (ODbL)

What this means for vanlife

Food in South Korea is significantly more expensive — 108.8% above the world average. One of the pricier food destinations: the same basket costs around $626 per month (vs $300 world average).

How food prices are changing

Food overall: +0.5% over the year, as of March 2026

Mar 2023 Food price index, last 3 years Mar 2026

Official statistics: FAOSTAT, United Nations (food price index, CC BY 4.0), March 2026. Change versus the same month a year earlier. The index shows how prices moved, not what an item costs.

Index History

Index:

Based on World Bank ICP 2021, adjusted with IMF CPI

Compare with South Korea

South Korea

208.8

World (base = 100)

100

If you spend 100 at home:

100

Select home and destination countries to compare food costs

Similar Countries

Japan 199.5 +99.5%

Switzerland 199.2 +99.2%

More countries in Asia

India 58.2 -41.8%

Nepal 61 -39%

Tajikistan 62 -38%

Myanmar 63 -37%

Bangladesh 65 -35%

Kyrgyzstan 65 -35%

FAQ

Is food expensive in South Korea?

Yes, food in South Korea is above average. The VanBasket Index is 208.8 (world average = 100), meaning food costs 108.8% more than the global average.

How much should I budget for food in South Korea per month?

If the world average monthly food spend is $300, in South Korea you can expect to spend around $626. This is based on the VanBasket Index of 208.8 (world = 100).

How does South Korea compare to similar countries?

South Korea has a VanBasket Index of 208.8. Similar or nearby countries: Japan, Switzerland.

How often is the food price data for South Korea updated?

The index is updated monthly using IMF Consumer Price Index data. The baseline is from World Bank ICP 2021.

About the data: The VanBasket Index is based on World Bank ICP 2021 food price level data, adjusted monthly using IMF CPI. World average = 100. Index > 100 means food is more expensive than the global average. API for developers →

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