Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Anyang Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Anyang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,583 per month in Busan vs $1,378 in Anyang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,484 per month in Busan vs $2,124 in Anyang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,384 per month in Busan vs $2,870 in Anyang, rent included.

Busan costs about 15% more than Anyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Busan and Anyang sit above the global median – Busan by 15%, Anyang by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$6.02 ₩8,071

23.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.0K

$33.94 ₩45.5K

42.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,111

$6.70 ₩8,988

1.34%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,923

$3.58 ₩4,797

2.51%

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

$1.79 ₩2,398

$1.60 ₩2,140

11.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,914

$0.62 ₩825

130.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,007

$3.06 ₩4,098

21.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,794

$3.78 ₩5,075

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,035

$2.17 ₩2,909

4.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,305

$3.02 ₩4,046

6.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$2.23 ₩2,984

35.43%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,577

$3.24 ₩4,345

-17.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$15.65 ₩21.0K

-29.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

$7.85 ₩10.5K

30.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

$11.12 ₩14.9K

126.80%

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

$7.62 ₩10.2K

43.70%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,953

$3.27 ₩4,382

12.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

$7.59 ₩10.2K

8.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,091

$6.81 ₩9,128

-11.45%

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,795

$3.40 ₩4,554

70.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,423

$2.37 ₩3,180

39.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,713

$2.03 ₩2,721

36.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,780

$1.28 ₩1,715

3.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,529

$3.25 ₩4,355

4.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.0K

$18.89 ₩25.3K

-1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,167

$2.24 ₩3,010

5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,666

$3.29 ₩4,412

5.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,526

$1.09 ₩1,465

4.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,831

$3.14 ₩4,211

14.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩978

$0.64 ₩864

14.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

$16.33 ₩21.9K

3.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,791

$1.18 ₩1,579

13.56%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$29.1K ₩39.0M

1.53%

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

$32.9K ₩44.1M

$35.3K ₩47.3M

-6.77%

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

$203 ₩272.2K

$214 ₩287.0K

-5.15%

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

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$24.40 ₩32.7K

51.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$17.31 ₩23.2K

53.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

$55.9 ₩75.0K

12.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

$12.10 ₩16.2K

-16.69%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.2K

$10.94 ₩14.7K

10.79%

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

$635 ₩851.7K

$303 ₩406.1K

109.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$17.8K ₩23.9M

23.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.0K

$65.9 ₩88.3K

60.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.1K

$62.5 ₩83.8K

4.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.7K

$73.4 ₩98.4K

25.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.1K

$98.7 ₩132.4K

29.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.2K

$442 ₩592.1K

65.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.1K

$347 ₩464.8K

6.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$1,154 ₩1.5M

15.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩944.5K

$731 ₩979.8K

-3.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.3M

$6,991 ₩9.4M

42.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

$5,579 ₩7.5M

14.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$1,754 ₩2.4M

59.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.95

-14.75%

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

Last update for Busan: September 8, 2026

Last update for Anyang: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Busan versus $442 in Anyang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 60% higher in Busan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Busan versus $34.00 in Anyang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $485 vs $409 – making Anyang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Anyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Busan is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,375 per month in Busan and $2,067 in Anyang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Anyang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Busan and $34.00 in Anyang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Busan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Anyang, where all-in costs run around $1,378, than in Busan at $1,583. In Anyang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Busan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Anyang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Anyang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Busan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.