Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Cincinnati, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Cincinnati, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Busan versus $2,134 in Cincinnati, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Busan versus $3,308 in Cincinnati, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,148 in Busan versus $4,482 in Cincinnati, OH.

Living in Busan costs roughly 29% less than in Cincinnati, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 14% above, Cincinnati, OH 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.13 ₩10.6K

$15.10 $15.10

-52.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 ₩55.4K

$59.3 $59.3

-37.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.93 ₩8,828

$7.85 $7.85

-24.46%

Cappuccino

$4.08 ₩6,067

$4.45 $4.45

-8.31%

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

$1.86 ₩2,770

$2.20 $2.20

-15.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₩1,991

$2.16 $2.16

-37.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 ₩5,534

$4.90 $4.90

-24.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩8,837

$6.85 $6.85

-13.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,344

$0.78 $0.78

188.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 ₩5,106

$3.21 $3.21

6.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 ₩4,473

$3.90 $3.90

-22.82%

Eggs

$2.86 ₩4,253

$3.27 $3.27

-12.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 ₩15.5K

$10.19 $10.19

2.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 ₩12.4K

$9.74 $9.74

-14.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.01 ₩40.2K

$15.20 $15.20

77.70%

Apples (1kg)

$8.58 ₩12.8K

$4.63 $4.63

85.31%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 ₩4,642

$1.39 $1.39

124.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.30 ₩10.9K

$3.89 $3.89

87.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.12 ₩7,614

$4.78 $4.78

7.11%

Potato (1kg)

$5.10 ₩7,589

$2.06 $2.06

147.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,524

$3.05 $3.05

-0.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₩2,996

$1.75 $1.75

14.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₩1,803

$1.41 $1.41

-14.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ₩5,038

$8.73 $8.73

-61.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.85 ₩25.1K

$15.02 $15.02

12.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,507

$1.99 $1.99

-15.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 ₩4,979

$1.78 $1.78

88.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 ₩1,743

$1.95 $1.95

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.13 ₩65.6K

$78.8 $78.8

-44.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ₩5,153

$3.79 $3.79

-8.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ₩1,261

$1.26 $1.26

-32.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.39 ₩24.4K

$25.27 $25.27

-35.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,729

$0.81 $0.81

43.21%

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

$27.3K ₩40.6M

$35.6K $35.6K

-23.32%

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

$25.5K ₩37.9M

$25.4K $25.4K

0.41%

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

$190 ₩282.8K

$122 $122

55.62%

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

$49.69 ₩73.9K

$57.0 $57.0

-12.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.38 ₩40.7K

$57.0 $57.0

-51.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 ₩78.5K

$30.35 $30.35

73.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 ₩19.6K

$8.88 $8.88

48.20%

Cinema Ticket

$11.43 ₩17.0K

$13.70 $13.70

-16.57%

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

$484 ₩720.4K

$1,568 $1,568

-69.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K ₩20.8M

$17.4K $17.4K

-19.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩155.7K

$41.54 $41.54

152.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.4 ₩100.2K

$39.25 $39.25

71.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 ₩130.4K

$89.4 $89.4

-1.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₩172.5K

$101 $101

15.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$510 ₩758.0K

$1,482 $1,482

-65.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 ₩480.2K

$1,050 $1,050

-69.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 ₩1.5M

$2,835 $2,835

-64.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 ₩973.7K

$1,988 $1,988

-67.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,773 ₩14.5M

$3,765 $3,765

159.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,105 ₩10.6M

$2,208 $2,208

221.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,545 ₩3.8M

$4,109 $4,109

-38.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

6.54

-35.47%

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

Last update for Busan: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $510 in Busan and $1,482 in Cincinnati, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cincinnati, OH pays 61% 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: $37.00 in Busan vs $59.0 in Cincinnati, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $443 vs $344, with Cincinnati, OH 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 Cincinnati, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Busan wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Cincinnati, OH. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Busan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Cincinnati, OH. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $510 in Busan versus $1,482 in Cincinnati, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Busan runs roughly 79% less than in Cincinnati, OH. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $484 in Busan versus $1,568 in Cincinnati, OH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,523 in Busan versus $2,134 in Cincinnati, OH, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Busan but tight or insufficient in Cincinnati, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Busan 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 Cincinnati, OH 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 Busan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Cincinnati, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.