Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Cheongju Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Cheongju

😐 Solo nomad: Busan is 13.3% more expensive than Cheongju without rent, and 14.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Busan is 33% more expensive than Cheongju without rent, and 22.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Busan
Cheongju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.2 ₩9,768
$7.09 ₩9,623
1.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.37 ₩49.3K
$37.03 ₩50.2K
-1.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.2 ₩8,418
$4.87 ₩6,611
27.31%
Cappuccino
$4.16 ₩5,643
$4.23 ₩5,742
-1.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₩2,461
$1.87 ₩2,532
-3.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 ₩1,885
$1.38 ₩1,866
0.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.6 ₩4,879
$3.64 ₩4,941
-1.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 ₩7,828
$5.89 ₩7,994
-2.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Busan
Cheongju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ₩3,027
$2.12 ₩2,870
5.19%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 ₩4,830
$3.51 ₩4,768
1.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.97 ₩4,027
$1.86 ₩2,520
59.68%
Eggs
$2.87 ₩3,898
$2.15 ₩2,920
33.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.4 ₩14.1K
$10.39 ₩14.1K
0.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 ₩11.2K
$8.48 ₩11.5K
-2.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.01 ₩38K
$14.75 ₩20K
89.90%
Apples (1kg)
$8.24 ₩11.2K
$2.96 ₩4,014
178.38%
Banana (1kg)
$3.14 ₩4,267
$2.93 ₩3,970
7.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.57 ₩10.3K
$7.34 ₩9,955
3.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 ₩7,204
$5.34 ₩7,250
-0.56%
Potato (1kg)
$5 ₩6,786
$5.18 ₩7,027
-3.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.99 ₩4,061
$2.92 ₩3,959
2.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 ₩2,837
$2.09 ₩2,837
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ₩1,584
$0.42 ₩570
178.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 ₩4,535
$3.4 ₩4,612
-1.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.92 ₩18.9K
$13.73 ₩18.6K
1.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₩2,377
$1.75 ₩2,368
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 ₩4,695
$2.15 ₩2,924
60.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Busan
Cheongju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₩1,520
$1.2 ₩1,628
-6.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.34 ₩58.8K
$73.2 ₩99.3K
-40.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 ₩4,854
$2.66 ₩3,611
34.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ₩1,160
$0.85 ₩1,149
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.71 ₩22.7K
$16.74 ₩22.7K
-0.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₩1,658
$1.2 ₩1,632
1.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ₩38.3M
$27.2K ₩36.9M
3.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K ₩33.7M
$24.9K ₩33.8M
-0.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busan
Cheongju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 ₩256K
$191 ₩258.6K
-1.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 ₩68.5K
$24.46 ₩33.2K
106.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.23 ₩36.9K
$14.54 ₩19.7K
87.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Busan
Cheongju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 ₩71.4K
$61.3 ₩83.1K
-14.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.41 ₩18.2K
$34.49 ₩46.8K
-61.12%
Cinema Ticket
$11.46 ₩15.6K
$7.3 ₩9,898
56.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Busan
Cheongju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$485 ₩658.4K
$498 ₩676.3K
-2.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K ₩19.4M
$13.9K ₩18.8M
2.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Busan
Cheongju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₩141K
$36.08 ₩49K
188.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 ₩88.3K
$48.09 ₩65.3K
35.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 ₩120.3K
$89.4 ₩121.3K
-0.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 ₩161.9K
$110 ₩149K
8.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Busan
Cheongju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₩678.1K
$294 ₩398.8K
70.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 ₩432.3K
$239 ₩324.4K
33.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$997 ₩1.4M
$406 ₩550.7K
145.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 ₩901.8K
$295 ₩399.8K
125.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,901 ₩12.1M
$4,261 ₩5.8M
108.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,158 ₩9.7M
$2,105 ₩2.9M
240.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Busan
Cheongju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,514 ₩3.4M
$2,460 ₩3.3M
2.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
4.22
-

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

Last update for Busan: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cheongju: October 28, 2025

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