Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Changwon Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Changwon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,596 in Busan versus $1,161 in Changwon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,494 in Busan versus $1,811 in Changwon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,392 in Busan versus $2,461 in Changwon.

Living in Busan is roughly 37% more expensive than in Changwon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 17% above, Changwon is 15% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 ₩10.1K

$7.56 ₩10.4K

-3.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.54 ₩66.9K

$27.46 ₩37.8K

76.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₩9,334

$5.26 ₩7,243

28.71%

Cappuccino

$3.63 ₩5,005

$3.73 ₩5,142

-2.68%

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

$1.77 ₩2,439

$1.83 ₩2,523

-3.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,886

$0.99 ₩1,362

38.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,161

$2.93 ₩4,040

27.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 ₩5,723

$4.18 ₩5,756

-0.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,062

$2.32 ₩3,192

-4.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 ₩4,406

$3.20 ₩4,409

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,408

$3.12 ₩4,306

2.56%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,735

$2.60 ₩3,581

4.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₩15.1K

$11.06 ₩15.2K

-1.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 ₩14.6K

$10.52 ₩14.5K

0.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.56 ₩33.8K

$24.57 ₩33.9K

-0.04%

Apples (1kg)

$10.91 ₩15.0K

$11.16 ₩15.4K

-2.24%

Banana (1kg)

$3.51 ₩4,840

$3.65 ₩5,035

-3.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.22 ₩11.3K

$8.18 ₩11.3K

0.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.79 ₩7,981

$6.03 ₩8,305

-3.98%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩8,121

$6.09 ₩8,392

-3.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,601

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,776

$2.81 ₩3,875

-2.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,824

$1.28 ₩1,763

3.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,561

$3.39 ₩4,677

-2.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.76 ₩25.9K

$18.50 ₩25.5K

1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₩3,265

$2.33 ₩3,211

1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₩4,607

$3.37 ₩4,645

-0.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,599

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₩4,982

$2.89 ₩3,977

25.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₩1,039

$0.78 ₩1,070

-3.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.97 ₩23.4K

$16.72 ₩23.0K

1.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,922

$1.38 ₩1,906

0.72%

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

$29.3K ₩40.4M

$29.4K ₩40.5M

-0.37%

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

$33.0K ₩45.4M

$33.6K ₩46.3M

-1.84%

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

$196 ₩270.1K

$200 ₩275.9K

-2.11%

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

$36.66 ₩50.5K

$36.60 ₩50.4K

0.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.60 ₩36.7K

$26.93 ₩37.1K

-1.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 ₩85.3K

$52.7 ₩72.7K

17.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₩13.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 ₩16.3K

$10.93 ₩15.1K

8.14%

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

$628 ₩865.8K

$643 ₩886.1K

-2.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K ₩30.4M

-0.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩140.4K

$106 ₩145.8K

-3.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₩88.0K

$65.8 ₩90.7K

-3.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ₩129.6K

$94.6 ₩130.3K

-0.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₩171.5K

$127 ₩175.2K

-2.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 ₩994.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 ₩506.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 ₩1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₩965.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,980 ₩13.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,262 ₩8.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,835 ₩3.9M

$1,700 ₩2.3M

66.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

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

Last update for Busan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Changwon: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Busan pays 67% 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: $49.00 in Busan vs $27.00 in Changwon. Groceries flip the comparison at $482 vs $485, with Busan cheaper for home cooking.

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 Changwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changwon wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Changwon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 67% higher in Busan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Busan pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,596 per month in Busan versus $1,161 in Changwon – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,161 in Changwon versus $1,596 in Busan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Changwon but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Changwon 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 Changwon 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 Changwon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.