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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,583 in Busan versus $1,192 in Cheongju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Busan versus $2,049 in Cheongju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Busan versus $2,905 in Cheongju.

Living in Busan is roughly 33% more expensive than in Cheongju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 15% above, Cheongju is 14% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$7.25 ₩9,721

2.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.0K

$47.69 ₩64.0K

1.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,111

$5.79 ₩7,761

17.27%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,923

$3.61 ₩4,836

1.66%

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

$1.79 ₩2,398

$1.77 ₩2,368

1.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,914

$1.38 ₩1,846

3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,007

$3.82 ₩5,126

-2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,794

$4.25 ₩5,697

1.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,035

$2.06 ₩2,761

9.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,305

$3.18 ₩4,262

0.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$1.81 ₩2,421

66.85%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,577

$2.18 ₩2,923

22.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$10.75 ₩14.4K

3.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

$10.50 ₩14.1K

-2.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

$14.67 ₩19.7K

71.92%

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

$3.04 ₩4,077

260.20%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,953

$2.91 ₩3,905

26.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

$7.59 ₩10.2K

8.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,091

$5.83 ₩7,814

3.43%

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,795

$5.90 ₩7,914

-1.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,423

$3.41 ₩4,568

-3.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,713

$2.74 ₩3,669

1.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,780

$0.47 ₩626

182.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,529

$3.28 ₩4,401

3.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.0K

$14.65 ₩19.7K

27.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,167

$1.91 ₩2,560

23.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,666

$2.28 ₩3,054

52.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,526

$1.12 ₩1,509

1.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,831

$2.71 ₩3,637

32.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩978

$0.72 ₩969

1.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

$16.66 ₩22.3K

1.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,791

$1.31 ₩1,755

2.29%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$28.8K ₩38.7M

2.50%

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

$32.9K ₩44.1M

$34.1K ₩45.7M

-3.40%

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

$203 ₩272.2K

$198 ₩265.2K

2.65%

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

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$24.13 ₩32.4K

53.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$14.98 ₩20.1K

77.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

$54.9 ₩73.6K

14.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

$12.05 ₩16.2K

-16.35%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.2K

$7.57 ₩10.1K

60.11%

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

$635 ₩851.7K

$631 ₩845.9K

0.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$21.7K ₩29.1M

1.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.0K

$37.58 ₩50.4K

181.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.1K

$66.0 ₩88.5K

-1.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.7K

$93.0 ₩124.7K

-0.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.1K

$113 ₩151.7K

12.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.2K

$276 ₩370.2K

164.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.1K

$212 ₩284.8K

73.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$1,144 ₩1.5M

16.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩944.5K

$721 ₩966.7K

-2.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.3M

$7,052 ₩9.5M

41.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

$5,477 ₩7.3M

16.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$2,630 ₩3.5M

6.54%

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 8, 2026

Last update for Cheongju: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Busan and $276 in Cheongju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 7% 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 $48.00 in Cheongju. Groceries flip the comparison at $485 vs $374, with Cheongju 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 Cheongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cheongju wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cheongju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 7% 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 $276 in Cheongju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,583 per month in Busan versus $1,192 in Cheongju – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,192 in Cheongju versus $1,583 in Busan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cheongju but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Cheongju 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 Cheongju 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 Cheongju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.