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: $1,583 in Busan versus $1,399 in Andong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Busan versus $2,156 in Andong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Busan versus $2,912 in Andong.

Living in Busan is roughly 13% more expensive than in Andong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 15% above, Andong 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$5.93 ₩7,953

25.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.0K

$34.65 ₩46.5K

39.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,111

$6.52 ₩8,745

4.14%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,923

$3.60 ₩4,824

1.94%

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

$1.79 ₩2,398

$1.53 ₩2,046

16.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,914

$0.59 ₩789

142.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,007

$3.56 ₩4,777

4.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,794

$4.45 ₩5,963

-2.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,035

$2.26 ₩3,033

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,305

$3.03 ₩4,063

5.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$2.26 ₩3,025

33.63%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,577

$3.22 ₩4,324

-17.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$15.84 ₩21.2K

-29.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

$7.76 ₩10.4K

31.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

$11.11 ₩14.9K

127.00%

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

$7.41 ₩9,934

47.77%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,953

$3.27 ₩4,379

12.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

$7.47 ₩10.0K

9.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,091

$6.97 ₩9,346

-13.49%

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,795

$3.39 ₩4,552

71.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,423

$2.41 ₩3,226

36.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,713

$2.00 ₩2,686

38.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,780

$1.34 ₩1,794

-0.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,529

$3.43 ₩4,598

-1.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.0K

$18.77 ₩25.2K

-0.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,167

$2.22 ₩2,974

6.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,666

$3.27 ₩4,384

6.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,526

$1.08 ₩1,448

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,831

$2.99 ₩4,008

20.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩978

$0.64 ₩865

14.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

$18.42 ₩24.7K

-7.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,791

$1.33 ₩1,786

0.75%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$29.0K ₩38.9M

1.98%

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

$32.9K ₩44.1M

$35.2K ₩47.2M

-6.57%

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

$203 ₩272.2K

$206 ₩276.3K

-1.47%

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

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$44.04 ₩59.1K

-16.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$20.46 ₩27.4K

30.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

$57.1 ₩76.6K

9.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

$11.75 ₩15.8K

-14.21%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.2K

$11.19 ₩15.0K

8.31%

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

$635 ₩851.7K

$305 ₩408.9K

108.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$18.0K ₩24.2M

22.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.0K

$64.7 ₩86.8K

63.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.1K

$62.5 ₩83.8K

4.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.7K

$75.2 ₩100.9K

22.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.1K

$99.9 ₩133.9K

27.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.2K

$488 ₩654.1K

49.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.1K

$315 ₩422.0K

16.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$1,256 ₩1.7M

6.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩944.5K

$647 ₩867.0K

8.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.3M

$6,868 ₩9.2M

44.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

$5,120 ₩6.9M

24.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$1,862 ₩2.5M

50.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.1

2.93%

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

Last update for Busan: September 8, 2026

Last update for Andong: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Busan and $488 in Andong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 50% 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: $48.00 in Busan vs $35.00 in Andong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $485 vs $410 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 13% 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.

Average pay runs 50% higher in Busan, 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: $729 in Busan versus $488 in Andong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $635 in Busan versus $305 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 $35.00 versus $48.00 in Busan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,399 in Andong versus $1,583 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 13% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.