Head for a popular tourist destination anywhere in the world and one is likely to encounter more than a handful of South Koreans. That's because they can afford to travel these days. South Koreans work hard, get paid well and enjoy a stable currency (inflation grows around three percent every year). One US dollar usually buys between 900 to 1,000 Korean won.

Seoul, South Korea, is the second most expensive city in Asia, ranked behind Tokyo. Asia is generally an inexpensive place to live, though, so that isn't saying much. Seoul's cost of living is 24 percent lower than that of New York City.