Cost of Living Comparison Between Ansan and Busan Cost of Living Comparison Between Ansan and Busan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,372 in Ansan versus $1,583 in Busan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,108 in Ansan versus $2,484 in Busan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Ansan versus $3,384 in Busan.

Living in Ansan costs roughly 13% less than in Busan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ansan is 1% below, Busan is 15% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.50 ₩10.1K

$7.46 ₩10.0K

0.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.19 ₩45.8K

$48.48 ₩65.0K

-29.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 ₩9,095

$6.79 ₩9,111

-0.15%

Cappuccino

$3.97 ₩5,321

$3.67 ₩4,923

8.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₩2,108

$1.79 ₩2,398

-12.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₩1,034

$1.43 ₩1,914

-46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ₩4,665

$3.73 ₩5,007

-6.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 ₩5,879

$4.32 ₩5,794

1.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₩2,884

$2.26 ₩3,035

-4.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 ₩4,059

$3.21 ₩4,305

-5.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₩3,008

$3.02 ₩4,055

-25.83%

Eggs

$3.39 ₩4,545

$2.67 ₩3,577

26.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.81 ₩21.2K

$11.10 ₩14.9K

42.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 ₩10.4K

$10.24 ₩13.7K

-24.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.01 ₩22.8K

$25.22 ₩33.8K

-32.55%

Apples (1kg)

$7.42 ₩9,953

$10.95 ₩14.7K

-32.24%

Banana (1kg)

$3.28 ₩4,405

$3.69 ₩4,953

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 ₩7,844

$8.21 ₩11.0K

-28.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 ₩8,553

$6.03 ₩8,091

5.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 ₩5,028

$5.81 ₩7,795

-35.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 ₩3,427

$3.30 ₩4,423

-22.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 ₩2,782

$2.77 ₩3,713

-25.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₩1,476

$1.33 ₩1,780

-17.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,401

$3.38 ₩4,529

-2.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.54 ₩24.9K

$18.68 ₩25.0K

-0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₩3,008

$2.36 ₩3,167

-5.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₩4,187

$3.48 ₩4,666

-10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₩1,454

$1.14 ₩1,526

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 ₩4,993

$3.60 ₩4,831

3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 ₩789

$0.73 ₩978

-19.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.02 ₩12.1K

$16.95 ₩22.7K

-46.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ₩1,817

$1.34 ₩1,791

1.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.0K ₩38.9M

$29.5K ₩39.6M

-1.77%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.8K ₩37.2M

$32.9K ₩44.1M

-15.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$201 ₩269.8K

$203 ₩272.2K

-0.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$34.87 ₩46.8K

$36.96 ₩49.6K

-5.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.09 ₩26.9K

$26.64 ₩35.7K

-24.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 ₩15.1K

$12.12 ₩16.2K

-7.18%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$297 ₩398.4K

$635 ₩851.7K

-53.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K ₩23.8M

$22.0K ₩29.5M

-19.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₩78.8K

$106 ₩142.0K

-44.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.28 ₩44.6K

$65.0 ₩87.1K

-48.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 ₩94.8K

$92.3 ₩123.7K

-23.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.7 ₩108.2K

$128 ₩171.1K

-36.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₩605.2K

$729 ₩977.2K

-38.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 ₩497.0K

$368 ₩493.1K

0.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,095 ₩1.5M

$1,334 ₩1.8M

-17.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$756 ₩1.0M

$704 ₩944.5K

7.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21.7K ₩29.1M

$9,949 ₩13.3M

117.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,512 ₩2.0M

$2,802 ₩3.8M

-46.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.22

-3.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ansan: September 6, 2026

Last update for Busan: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $451 in Ansan and $729 in Busan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 85% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Ansan vs $48.00 in Busan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $416 vs $485 per month, with Ansan cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ansan vs Busan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ansan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 85% lower in Busan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $451 in Ansan versus $729 in Busan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $297 in Ansan versus $635 in Busan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ansan – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $48.00 in Busan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,372 in Ansan versus $1,583 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ansan but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Ansan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ansan and Busan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ansan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.