GeoRealityMatch
Aerial skyline of Seoul from forested hillsides, featuring distant mountains.South Korea
Sunset view of Bangkok's skyline showcasing modern skyscrapers and historic buildings.Thailand

Compare countries · South Korea vs Thailand

South Korea vs Thailand

South KoreaEastern AsiaThailandSouth-Eastern Asia

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Thailand.Thailand is cheaper (cost of living 38.0 vs 61.6).South Korea is more peaceful (Global Peace Index 1.839 vs 2.089), scores higher on human development (0.937 vs 0.798) and has the higher income per person ($37,880 vs $7,690).It also has the longer life expectancy (83.6 vs 76.6 years).

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Safety

South Korea is the more peaceful

Global Peace Indexlower is more peaceful
South Korea1.839High safety#56 of 161IEP GPI · 2026
Thailand2.089Medium safety#100 of 161IEP GPI · 2026
Homicidesper 100,000 people a year
South Korea0.5Very lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
ThailandNo figure from UNODC / World Bank
Safety indexNumbeo's safety index, higher is safer
South Korea71HighNumbeo · 2026
Thailand63.4HighNumbeo · 2026
UK travel adviceFCDO, for British travellers
South KoreaNo advice against travelFCDO foreign travel advice, GOV.UK · read 2026-10-29
ThailandAgainst all but essential travel to partsFCDO foreign travel advice, GOV.UK · read 2026-10-29
Money

Income per person is higher in South Korea

GNI per personnational income per person, US dollars
South Korea$37,880Very highWorld Bank · 2025
Thailand$7,690ModerateWorld Bank · 2025
Cost of living indexexcluding rent, New York = 100
South Korea61.6ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Thailand38.0AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Rent indexNew York = 100
South Korea16.1ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Thailand13.9ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to incomeyears of median income to buy a median flat
South Korea24.1Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Thailand24.0Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Health

People live longer in South Korea

Life expectancyyears, at birth
South Korea83.6Very high#11 of 195World Bank · 2024
Thailand76.6High#72 of 195World Bank · 2024
Health coverageWHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100
South Korea88Very highWHO · 2023
Thailand82HighWHO · 2023
Air pollutionPM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national average
South Korea19.2ModerateWHO · 2023
Thailand25.0HighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Broadband is faster in Thailand

Home internetmedian download speed
South Korea253 MbpsVery fast#18 of 149Ookla Speedtest · 2025
Thailand274 MbpsVery fast#13 of 149Ookla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiencyEF English Proficiency Index score
South Korea522ModerateEF EPI · 2025
Thailand402Very lowEF EPI · 2025
How it changed

Human development: South Korea 0.937, Thailand 0.798

South KoreaThailand

UNDP Human Development Report, 1990–2023.

Year by year:South KoreaThailand

Practical facts

Capital
Seoul
Bangkok
Population
51.7M (2025)
71.6M (2025)
Languages
Korean
Thai
Currency
South Korean won (KRW)
Thai baht (THB)
Area
97,600 km²
510,890 km²
Plug type
Type C/F
Type A/B/C/O
Drives on the
right
left
Short visit
Visa-free for UK, EU and US passports
Visa-free for UK, EU and US passports

Short visits: passport-index-dataset, 2024, for UK, EU (German) and US passports. Population and area: World Bank. Languages, currency and driving side: restcountries.com. Plug types: worldstandards.eu.

Every figure

South Korea and Thailand, side by side

The same figures as a facts file

Quick answers

Is South Korea cheaper than Thailand?

Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts South Korea at 61.6 and Thailand at 38.0. Thailand is about 38% cheaper overall.

Is South Korea or Thailand safer?

On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), South Korea scores 1.84 and Thailand scores 2.09. South Korea ranks as the more peaceful of the two.

Which has the higher quality of life, South Korea or Thailand?

On the UN Human Development Index, South Korea scores 0.937 and Thailand scores 0.798. South Korea scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.

What is life like in South Korea compared to Thailand?

GNI per capita runs $37,880 in South Korea against $7,690 in Thailand; people live 83.6 years on average against 76.6; Numbeo users rate healthcare 83 against 78. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.

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Every figure is sourced where it is shown. A dash means the country has no figure from that source.Photographs by 정규송 Nui MALAMA, Darya Sannikova on Pexels