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: $1,596 in Busan versus $1,529 in Daegu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,494 in Busan versus $2,380 in Daegu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,392 in Busan versus $3,231 in Daegu.

Living in Busan is roughly 4% more expensive than in Daegu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 17% above, Daegu 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 ₩10.1K

$9.10 ₩12.6K

-19.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.54 ₩67.0K

$37.40 ₩51.6K

29.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₩9,348

$5.58 ₩7,702

21.33%

Cappuccino

$3.63 ₩5,012

$3.94 ₩5,443

-7.87%

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

$1.77 ₩2,442

$1.54 ₩2,131

14.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,888

$0.89 ₩1,226

53.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,169

$3.63 ₩5,015

3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 ₩5,731

$5.39 ₩7,442

-23.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,066

$2.38 ₩3,287

-6.72%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 ₩4,412

$4.27 ₩5,893

-25.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,414

$2.76 ₩3,804

15.94%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,740

$2.71 ₩3,742

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₩15.1K

$10.13 ₩14.0K

7.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 ₩14.6K

$7.10 ₩9,796

49.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.56 ₩33.9K

$20.59 ₩28.4K

19.28%

Apples (1kg)

$10.91 ₩15.1K

$6.76 ₩9,324

61.39%

Banana (1kg)

$3.51 ₩4,847

$2.71 ₩3,738

29.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.22 ₩11.3K

$5.60 ₩7,731

46.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.79 ₩7,992

$5.86 ₩8,081

-1.19%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩8,133

$2.71 ₩3,738

117.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,608

$2.06 ₩2,846

62.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,782

$4.41 ₩6,090

-37.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,826

$1.32 ₩1,821

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,567

$3.01 ₩4,151

9.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.76 ₩25.9K

$15.00 ₩20.7K

25.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₩3,270

$2.11 ₩2,914

12.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₩4,613

$2.42 ₩3,346

38.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,602

$1.10 ₩1,514

5.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 ₩81.1K

$73.1 ₩100.9K

-19.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₩4,990

$3.18 ₩4,387

13.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₩1,041

$0.61 ₩838

22.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.97 ₩23.4K

$8.24 ₩11.4K

105.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,924

$1.34 ₩1,848

3.73%

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

$29.3K ₩40.4M

$27.6K ₩38.0M

6.31%

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

$33.0K ₩45.5M

$41.3K ₩57.0M

-20.28%

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

$196 ₩270.5K

$269 ₩370.8K

-27.04%

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

$36.66 ₩50.6K

$49.74 ₩68.7K

-26.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.60 ₩36.7K

$46.36 ₩64.0K

-42.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 ₩85.4K

$50.8 ₩70.0K

21.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₩13.4K

$12.05 ₩16.6K

-19.34%

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 ₩16.3K

$11.18 ₩15.4K

5.72%

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

$628 ₩867.1K

$512 ₩707.1K

22.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K ₩30.5M

$28.1K ₩38.8M

-21.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩140.6K

$54.3 ₩75.0K

87.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₩88.1K

$50.9 ₩70.2K

25.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ₩129.8K

$94.3 ₩130.2K

-0.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₩171.7K

$168 ₩232.0K

-25.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 ₩996.0K

$413 ₩570.0K

74.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 ₩506.8K

$266 ₩366.8K

38.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 ₩1.8M

$1,041 ₩1.4M

26.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₩966.9K

$609 ₩840.8K

15.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,980 ₩13.8M

$6,956 ₩9.6M

43.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,262 ₩8.6M

$5,427 ₩7.5M

15.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,835 ₩3.9M

$2,448 ₩3.4M

15.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

5.07

-16.77%

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

Last update for Busan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Daegu: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $722 in Busan and $413 in Daegu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 16% 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 $37.00 in Daegu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $482 vs $409 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 4% 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.

Average pay runs 16% 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: $722 in Busan versus $413 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 24% less than in Busan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $628 in Busan versus $512 in Daegu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,529 in Daegu versus $1,596 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 4% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.