South Korea Ranks 7th Globally for Foreigners' Cost of Living Burden, Jumps 25 Spots in One Year

Cost of Living Feels Heavier Despite Stable Inflation
Vietnam Most Affordable... 30% "Hope to Settle Permanently"

South Korea ranked 7th among countries where the cost of living is most burdensome for foreigners. This marks a dramatic jump of 25 places from last year.

On September 6 (local time), CNBC reported that InterNations, the world’s largest expat network, recently released the results of its "2025 Expat Insider study." The survey included more than 10,000 foreigners of 172 nationalities, evaluating satisfaction with personal finances and quality of life relative to disposable income.

According to the survey, among 46 countries, Vietnam was selected as the "most affordable place to live for foreigners," maintaining its top spot for the fifth consecutive year. Colombia, Panama, China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, Malaysia, and Brazil rounded out the top ten.

Street scenery in Seoul. The photo is not directly related to the content of the article. Pixabay

In contrast, Canada (46th) was ranked as the country with the highest cost of living burden for foreigners. The United Kingdom, Finland, Turkiye, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Ireland, Australia, and Norway followed.

Notably, South Korea surged from the 40th range last year to 7th this year, showing a significant drop in financial satisfaction among foreigners. The country was also included in the international research agency’s list of "The Biggest Losers for Personal Finance."

The proportion of respondents satisfied with their personal financial situation in South Korea fell from 70% to 38% in just one year, far below the global average of 54%. InterNations explained, "Although the inflation rate is relatively stable at around 2%, the cost of living burden felt by foreign residents has worsened significantly compared to last year."

Conversely, in Vietnam, which ranked first, 89% of respondents said they were satisfied with the cost of living, and 87% said their disposable income was sufficient. Half of the respondents have lived in Vietnam for more than five years due to the affordable cost of living, and 30% expressed a desire to settle there permanently. In second-place Colombia, 92% of respondents said they were financially comfortable.

Meanwhile, Panama, which ranked third, was found to be especially popular among retirees. The proportion of retirees reached 35%, far exceeding the global average of 11%.