Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Daejeon Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Daejeon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,596 in Busan versus $1,344 in Daejeon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,494 in Busan versus $2,124 in Daejeon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,392 in Busan versus $2,903 in Daejeon.

Living in Busan is roughly 19% more expensive than in Daejeon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 17% above, Daejeon is 2% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 ₩10.1K

$7.29 ₩10.1K

0.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.54 ₩66.9K

$36.48 ₩50.3K

33.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₩9,334

$5.48 ₩7,559

23.54%

Cappuccino

$3.63 ₩5,005

$3.73 ₩5,142

-2.68%

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

$1.77 ₩2,439

$1.25 ₩1,716

41.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,886

$0.67 ₩927

104.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,161

$3.58 ₩4,929

4.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 ₩5,723

$3.64 ₩5,017

14.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,062

$2.16 ₩2,978

2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 ₩4,406

$2.73 ₩3,757

17.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,408

$2.64 ₩3,633

21.21%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,735

$2.48 ₩3,424

9.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₩15.1K

$10.88 ₩15.0K

0.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 ₩14.6K

$7.82 ₩10.8K

35.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.56 ₩33.8K

$20.72 ₩28.6K

18.53%

Apples (1kg)

$10.91 ₩15.0K

$11.03 ₩15.2K

-1.09%

Banana (1kg)

$3.51 ₩4,840

$5.67 ₩7,808

-38.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.22 ₩11.3K

$5.83 ₩8,030

40.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.79 ₩7,981

$5.75 ₩7,920

0.70%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩8,121

$5.14 ₩7,082

14.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,601

$2.77 ₩3,819

20.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,776

$1.69 ₩2,336

62.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,824

$1.07 ₩1,470

23.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,561

$3.26 ₩4,487

1.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.76 ₩25.9K

$18.62 ₩25.7K

0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₩3,265

$2.55 ₩3,509

-7.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₩4,607

$3.40 ₩4,688

-1.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,599

$1.14 ₩1,566

1.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 ₩81.0K

$10.94 ₩15.1K

437.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₩4,982

$3.10 ₩4,269

16.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₩1,039

$0.77 ₩1,055

-2.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.97 ₩23.4K

$16.54 ₩22.8K

2.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,922

$1.18 ₩1,631

17.80%

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

$29.3K ₩40.4M

$27.8K ₩38.3M

5.34%

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

$33.0K ₩45.4M

$23.0K ₩31.7M

43.41%

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

$196 ₩270.1K

$176 ₩243.1K

11.12%

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

$36.66 ₩50.5K

$42.27 ₩58.3K

-13.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.60 ₩36.7K

$22.63 ₩31.2K

17.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 ₩85.3K

$32.82 ₩45.2K

88.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₩13.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 ₩16.3K

$11.03 ₩15.2K

7.16%

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

$628 ₩865.8K

$298 ₩410.1K

111.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K ₩30.4M

$21.4K ₩29.5M

3.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩140.4K

$64.8 ₩89.3K

57.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₩88.0K

$40.88 ₩56.3K

56.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ₩129.6K

$94.5 ₩130.3K

-0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₩171.5K

$105 ₩144.6K

18.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 ₩994.5K

$377 ₩519.6K

91.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 ₩506.1K

$299 ₩412.5K

22.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 ₩1.8M

$1,057 ₩1.5M

24.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₩965.5K

$589 ₩811.7K

18.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,980 ₩13.8M

$5,605 ₩7.7M

78.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,262 ₩8.6M

$4,539 ₩6.3M

37.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,835 ₩3.9M

$2,336 ₩3.2M

21.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

3.65

15.62%

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

Last update for Busan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Daejeon: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $722 in Busan and $377 in Daejeon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 21% 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 $36.00 in Daejeon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $482 vs $442 per month, with Daejeon 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 Daejeon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Daejeon wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Daejeon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 21% 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 $377 in Daejeon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Daejeon runs roughly 437% 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 $298 in Daejeon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,344 in Daejeon versus $1,596 in Busan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Daejeon but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Daejeon 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 Daejeon 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 Daejeon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.