Compare countries · South Korea vs Vietnam
South Korea vs Vietnam
South Korea(Asia)·
Vietnam(Asia)
Across 13 comparable indicators: South Korea leads on 7, Vietnam on 5, 1 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is South Korea cheaper than Vietnam?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts South Korea at 61.6 and Vietnam at 26.4. Vietnam is about 57% cheaper overall.
Is South Korea or Vietnam safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), South Korea scores 1.84 and Vietnam scores 1.74. Vietnam ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, South Korea or Vietnam?
On the UN Human Development Index, South Korea scores 0.929 and Vietnam scores 0.726. 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 Vietnam?
GNI per capita runs $37,880 in South Korea against $4,970 in Vietnam; people live 83.6 years on average against 74.7; Numbeo users rate healthcare 83 against 62. 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.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
South Korea
61.6
Worse than 83% of countries
Vietnam
26.4
Better than 92% of countries
Vietnam: 57% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
South Korea
16.1
Worse than 59% of countries
Vietnam
9.9
Better than 76% of countries
Vietnam: 39% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
South Korea
1.84
Better than 66% of countries
Vietnam
1.74
Better than 75% of countries
Vietnam: more peaceful (1.74 vs 1.84).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
South Korea
71.0
Better than 80% of countries
Vietnam
59.9
Better than 62% of countries
South Korea: higher perceived safety (71.0 vs 59.9).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
South Korea
0.929
Better than 91% of countries
Vietnam
0.726
Worse than 55% of countries
South Korea: higher human development (0.929 vs 0.726).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
South Korea
$63,125
Better than 84% of countries
Vietnam
$18,088
Worse than 55% of countries
South Korea: 249% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
South Korea
83.6 yrs
Better than 94% of countries
Vietnam
74.7 yrs
Around the global middle
South Korea: 8.9 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
South Korea
82.9
Better than 98% of countries
Vietnam
62.2
Worse than 56% of countries
South Korea: better-rated healthcare (82.9 vs 62.2).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
South Korea
253 Mbps
Better than 88% of countries
Vietnam
289 Mbps
Better than 95% of countries
Vietnam: 14% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
South Korea
69/100
Better than 73% of countries
Vietnam
21/100
Worse than 97% of countries
South Korea: freer press (69 vs 21 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
South Korea
6.04
Around the global middle
Vietnam
6.43
Better than 69% of countries
Vietnam: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.43 vs 6.04).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
South Korea
522
Better than 57% of countries
Vietnam
500
Worse than 56% of countries
South Korea: stronger English proficiency (522 vs 500).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
South Korea
71.9
Worse than 66% of countries
Vietnam
71.1
Worse than 72% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Deciding between South Korea and Vietnam for real?
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.