Question 1

How much purchasing power does 100 KRW in Seoul represent in Tokyo?

Accepted Answer

Per World Bank PPP, 100 KRW in Seoul (South Korea) has roughly the same spending power as 12 JPY in Tokyo (Japan). This isn't a bank exchange rate — it's "how much local currency you'd need for the same standard of living".

Question 2

Why is this different from the exchange rate?

Accepted Answer

Bank rates reflect currency markets; PPP reflects domestic goods and services prices. The two often diverge meaningfully, especially between developed and developing economies.

Question 3

How accurate is the Seoul–Tokyo comparison?

Accepted Answer

World Bank PPP data is country-level, so the same figure applies to every city in a country. Seoul stands in for South Korea and Tokyo for Japan. Monthly refresh with a 12-18 month publication lag.

Seoul vs Tokyo — purchasing power

Other city comparisons