Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Andong Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Andong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Busan versus $1,393 in Andong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,376 in Busan versus $2,167 in Andong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,228 in Busan versus $2,941 in Andong.

Living in Busan is roughly 9% more expensive than Andong, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 14% above, Andong 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ₩10.7K

$7.13 ₩10.8K

-0.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.26 ₩56.5K

$36.47 ₩55.3K

2.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 ₩9,288

$5.51 ₩8,354

11.25%

Cappuccino

$4.15 ₩6,295

$3.85 ₩5,826

7.79%

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

$1.86 ₩2,816

$1.59 ₩2,415

16.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩2,094

$0.85 ₩1,288

62.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,624

$3.38 ₩5,115

9.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,726

$4.91 ₩7,436

17.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₩3,538

$2.17 ₩3,282

7.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 ₩5,372

$3.13 ₩4,745

13.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,590

$3.12 ₩4,721

-2.88%

Eggs

$2.96 ₩4,491

$2.96 ₩4,478

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 ₩15.7K

$10.50 ₩15.9K

-1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 ₩12.8K

$8.02 ₩12.1K

5.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.30 ₩41.4K

$27.50 ₩41.7K

-0.73%

Apples (1kg)

$8.50 ₩12.9K

$7.90 ₩12.0K

7.59%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,924

$3.22 ₩4,883

0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 ₩11.4K

$5.60 ₩8,491

34.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.32 ₩8,062

$5.29 ₩8,022

0.57%

Potato (1kg)

$5.17 ₩7,838

$4.00 ₩6,066

29.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₩4,461

$2.94 ₩4,451

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩3,030

$2.25 ₩3,411

-11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,812

$1.19 ₩1,807

0.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,969

$3.26 ₩4,932

0.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.73 ₩25.4K

$16.59 ₩25.1K

0.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₩2,633

$1.88 ₩2,848

-7.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 ₩5,249

$3.22 ₩4,877

7.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,683

$1.12 ₩1,700

-0.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.83 ₩67.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,301

$3.49 ₩5,282

0.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,194

$0.57 ₩864

38.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.82 ₩25.5K

$8.99 ₩13.6K

87.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,856

$1.21 ₩1,838

1.65%

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

$27.4K ₩41.6M

$27.8K ₩42.1M

-1.36%

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

$25.0K ₩37.8M

$24.9K ₩37.7M

0.28%

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

$190 ₩288.4K

$164 ₩248.3K

16.13%

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

$49.90 ₩75.6K

$34.15 ₩51.7K

46.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩41.2K

$21.95 ₩33.3K

23.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 ₩78.8K

$47.67 ₩72.2K

9.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 ₩20.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 ₩17.1K

$11.14 ₩16.9K

1.53%

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

$497 ₩753.7K

$417 ₩632.6K

19.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.5M

$23.8K ₩36.0M

-40.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩158.4K

$58.6 ₩88.8K

78.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 ₩98.3K

$46.69 ₩70.7K

38.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₩133.7K

$78.1 ₩118.4K

12.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩178.6K

$116 ₩175.1K

1.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₩756.9K

$450 ₩682.6K

10.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₩485.1K

$370 ₩560.5K

-13.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ₩1.5M

$1,068 ₩1.6M

-5.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₩989.5K

$778 ₩1.2M

-16.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,780 ₩14.8M

$10.1K ₩15.3M

-2.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,054 ₩10.7M

$4,560 ₩6.9M

54.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,407 ₩3.6M

$1,638 ₩2.5M

46.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.14

1.93%

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

Last update for Busan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Andong: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Busan and $450 in Andong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 47% 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: $37.00 in Busan vs $36.00 in Andong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $429 per month, with Andong 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

Busan vs Andong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Andong wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Andong the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Busan pays 47% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Busan versus $450 in Andong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $497 in Busan versus $417 in Andong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Andong – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $37.00 in Busan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,393 in Andong versus $1,523 in Busan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Andong but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Andong 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, Busan and Andong 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 Andong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.