Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Daegu Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Daegu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Busan versus $1,336 in Daegu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,376 in Busan versus $2,152 in Daegu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,228 in Busan versus $2,967 in Daegu.

Living in Busan is roughly 14% more expensive than Daegu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 14% above, Daegu 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ₩10.7K

$8.24 ₩12.5K

-14.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.26 ₩56.5K

$36.47 ₩55.3K

2.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 ₩9,288

$6.00 ₩9,088

2.17%

Cappuccino

$4.15 ₩6,295

$3.61 ₩5,467

14.96%

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

$1.86 ₩2,816

$1.54 ₩2,336

20.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩2,094

$0.79 ₩1,194

74.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,624

$3.70 ₩5,610

0.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,726

$5.31 ₩8,050

8.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₩3,538

$2.14 ₩3,247

8.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 ₩5,372

$3.31 ₩5,012

7.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,590

$2.63 ₩3,984

15.21%

Eggs

$2.96 ₩4,491

$2.73 ₩4,133

8.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 ₩15.7K

$11.40 ₩17.3K

-8.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 ₩12.8K

$7.26 ₩11.0K

16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.30 ₩41.4K

$22.89 ₩34.7K

19.27%

Apples (1kg)

$8.50 ₩12.9K

$8.04 ₩12.2K

5.72%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,924

$3.46 ₩5,249

-6.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 ₩11.4K

$5.53 ₩8,386

36.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.32 ₩8,062

$6.61 ₩10.0K

-19.52%

Potato (1kg)

$5.17 ₩7,838

$2.42 ₩3,661

113.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₩4,461

$2.95 ₩4,468

-0.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩3,030

$2.64 ₩3,993

-24.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,812

$1.27 ₩1,920

-5.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,969

$3.33 ₩5,039

-1.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.73 ₩25.4K

$13.00 ₩19.7K

28.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₩2,633

$2.43 ₩3,681

-28.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 ₩5,249

$3.02 ₩4,569

14.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,683

$1.12 ₩1,697

-0.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.83 ₩67.9K

$74.8 ₩113.4K

-40.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,301

$3.14 ₩4,758

11.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,194

$0.43 ₩646

83.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.82 ₩25.5K

$8.89 ₩13.5K

89.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,856

$1.15 ₩1,746

6.96%

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

$27.4K ₩41.6M

$27.4K ₩41.5M

0.24%

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

$25.0K ₩37.8M

$24.6K ₩37.3M

1.40%

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

$190 ₩288.4K

$162 ₩245.3K

17.59%

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

$49.90 ₩75.6K

$35.44 ₩53.7K

40.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩41.2K

$22.58 ₩34.2K

20.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 ₩78.8K

$50.5 ₩76.6K

2.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 ₩20.1K

$11.95 ₩18.1K

10.79%

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 ₩17.1K

$10.49 ₩15.9K

7.82%

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

$497 ₩753.7K

$419 ₩635.5K

18.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.5M

$23.4K ₩35.5M

-39.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩158.4K

$54.4 ₩82.4K

92.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 ₩98.3K

$47.29 ₩71.7K

37.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₩133.7K

$78.5 ₩119.0K

12.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩178.6K

$117 ₩176.6K

1.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₩756.9K

$394 ₩596.6K

26.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₩485.1K

$253 ₩383.9K

26.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ₩1.5M

$1,199 ₩1.8M

-16.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₩989.5K

$596 ₩903.5K

9.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,780 ₩14.8M

$7,150 ₩10.8M

36.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,054 ₩10.7M

$5,267 ₩8.0M

33.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,407 ₩3.6M

$2,165 ₩3.3M

11.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.14

1.93%

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

Last update for Busan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Daegu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Busan and $394 in Daegu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 11% 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 $36.00 in Daegu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $414 per month, with Daegu cheaper across the board.

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 Daegu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Daegu wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Daegu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Busan pays 11% more on average, 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: $500 in Busan versus $394 in Daegu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Daegu runs roughly 67% less than in Busan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $497 in Busan versus $419 in Daegu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,336 in Daegu versus $1,523 in Busan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Daegu but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Daegu 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 Daegu 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 Daegu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.