Best cities to live in South Korea (2026)
1 city ranked by Livability Score — affordability, safety, internet, democracy & climate.
Country at a Glance
Freedom House score
Press freedom rank
Grid reliability
Path to PR
Corporate tax
❓ Living in South Korea — Common Questions
What is the best city to live in South Korea?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Seoul ranks #1 in South Korea with a score of 81/100, and city-centre rent from around $871/month.
What is the safest city in South Korea?▾
By UNODC homicide rate data, Seoul is the safest city in South Korea in our database, with a rate of 0.5 per 100,000 people.
How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in South Korea?▾
South Korea offers the South Korea Digital Nomad Visa (complex process). Duration: 1 year (renewable once). Key requirement: Income ≥ KRW 88,102,000/yr (≥200% Korean GNI, adjusts annually). Remote work for non-Korean employer.. The process is complex. Check individual city pages for full details.
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