Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Gimcheon Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Gimcheon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,596 in Busan versus $1,320 in Gimcheon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,494 in Busan versus $1,781 in Gimcheon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,392 in Busan versus $2,242 in Gimcheon.

Living in Busan is roughly 21% more expensive than in Gimcheon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 17% above, Gimcheon is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 ₩10.2K

$6.04 ₩8,370

21.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.54 ₩67.3K

$34.95 ₩48.4K

38.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₩9,387

$6.52 ₩9,030

3.83%

Cappuccino

$3.63 ₩5,033

$3.70 ₩5,125

-1.89%

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

$1.77 ₩2,453

$1.59 ₩2,199

11.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,896

$0.57 ₩796

140.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,190

$3.35 ₩4,649

11.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 ₩5,755

$4.42 ₩6,125

-6.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,079

$2.21 ₩3,069

0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 ₩4,431

$3.00 ₩4,162

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,433

$2.34 ₩3,248

36.75%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,756

$3.34 ₩4,636

-18.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₩15.2K

$15.45 ₩21.4K

-29.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 ₩14.7K

$7.77 ₩10.8K

36.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.56 ₩34.0K

$11.28 ₩15.6K

117.73%

Apples (1kg)

$10.91 ₩15.1K

$7.40 ₩10.2K

47.43%

Banana (1kg)

$3.51 ₩4,867

$3.20 ₩4,428

9.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.22 ₩11.4K

$7.38 ₩10.2K

11.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.79 ₩8,026

$6.97 ₩9,657

-16.93%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩8,167

$3.48 ₩4,817

69.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,627

$2.35 ₩3,253

42.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,798

$1.99 ₩2,759

37.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,834

$1.48 ₩2,055

-10.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,587

$3.39 ₩4,699

-2.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.76 ₩26.0K

$18.72 ₩25.9K

0.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₩3,283

$2.17 ₩3,004

9.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₩4,633

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,608

$1.06 ₩1,476

9.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 ₩81.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₩5,010

$3.02 ₩4,190

19.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₩1,045

$0.61 ₩844

22.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.97 ₩23.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,932

$1.13 ₩1,564

23.01%

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

$29.3K ₩40.6M

$29.6K ₩41.0M

-0.99%

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

$33.0K ₩45.7M

$35.3K ₩48.9M

-6.63%

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

$196 ₩271.6K

$212 ₩293.3K

-7.39%

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

$36.66 ₩50.8K

$42.72 ₩59.2K

-14.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.60 ₩36.9K

$20.37 ₩28.2K

30.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 ₩85.8K

$71.3 ₩98.8K

-13.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₩13.5K

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 ₩16.4K

$11.07 ₩15.3K

6.78%

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

$628 ₩870.7K

$293 ₩405.8K

114.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K ₩30.6M

$17.5K ₩24.3M

25.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩141.2K

$64.7 ₩89.7K

57.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₩88.5K

$62.7 ₩86.9K

1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ₩130.4K

$73.0 ₩101.2K

28.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₩172.5K

$97.0 ₩134.4K

28.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 ₩1.0M

$298 ₩413.6K

141.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 ₩509.0K

$242 ₩335.3K

51.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 ₩1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₩971.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,980 ₩13.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,262 ₩8.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,835 ₩3.9M

$1,920 ₩2.7M

47.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.1

2.93%

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

Last update for Busan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Gimcheon: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $722 in Busan and $298 in Gimcheon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 48% 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 $35.00 in Gimcheon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $482 vs $404 per month, with Gimcheon 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 Gimcheon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gimcheon wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gimcheon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 48% 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 $298 in Gimcheon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,596 per month in Busan versus $1,320 in Gimcheon – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,320 in Gimcheon versus $1,596 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gimcheon but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Gimcheon 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 Gimcheon 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 Gimcheon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.