Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Gongju Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Gongju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,491 in Busan versus $1,513 in Gongju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,362 in Busan versus $2,375 in Gongju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,234 in Busan versus $3,237 in Gongju.

Living in Busan costs roughly 1% less than in Gongju, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 11% above, Gongju 13% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 ₩10.9K

$7.06 ₩10.5K

3.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.93 ₩54.8K

$36.91 ₩54.7K

0.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 ₩8,905

$5.90 ₩8,748

1.69%

Cappuccino

$4.08 ₩6,057

$4.22 ₩6,264

-3.32%

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

$1.82 ₩2,706

$1.87 ₩2,779

-2.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,968

$1.39 ₩2,059

-4.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.70 ₩5,491

$3.71 ₩5,498

-0.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.79 ₩8,584

$5.98 ₩8,867

-3.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,320

$2.34 ₩3,467

-4.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 ₩5,191

$3.54 ₩5,256

-1.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.96 ₩4,394

$3.11 ₩4,616

-4.82%

Eggs

$2.97 ₩4,407

$2.89 ₩4,290

2.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 ₩15.3K

$10.53 ₩15.6K

-2.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.45 ₩12.5K

$8.41 ₩12.5K

0.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.07 ₩41.6K

$27.77 ₩41.2K

1.08%

Apples (1kg)

$8.29 ₩12.3K

$8.49 ₩12.6K

-2.36%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 ₩4,800

$3.12 ₩4,624

3.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.28 ₩10.8K

$7.43 ₩11.0K

-2.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.20 ₩7,711

$5.18 ₩7,681

0.39%

Potato (1kg)

$5.05 ₩7,492

$5.21 ₩7,729

-3.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,498

$2.92 ₩4,324

3.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₩3,003

$2.10 ₩3,121

-3.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,711

$1.20 ₩1,781

-4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 ₩4,879

$3.39 ₩5,022

-2.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.69 ₩24.8K

$17.24 ₩25.6K

-3.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,514

$1.71 ₩2,534

-1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 ₩5,178

$3.37 ₩4,994

3.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,650

$1.06 ₩1,574

4.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.63 ₩64.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₩5,121

$3.56 ₩5,281

-3.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,169

$0.79 ₩1,173

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.60 ₩24.6K

$16.74 ₩24.8K

-0.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₩1,739

$1.22 ₩1,817

-4.10%

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

$27.5K ₩40.7M

$27.9K ₩41.3M

-1.46%

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

$24.7K ₩36.6M

$24.5K ₩36.4M

0.43%

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

$187 ₩277.1K

$188 ₩279.0K

-0.71%

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

$49.90 ₩74.0K

$49.50 ₩73.4K

0.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.20 ₩40.3K

$27.76 ₩41.2K

-2.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.5 ₩77.9K

$47.01 ₩69.7K

11.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 ₩19.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.52 ₩17.1K

$11.43 ₩16.9K

0.79%

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

$496 ₩736.3K

$496 ₩735.4K

0.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K ₩20.6M

$14.3K ₩21.2M

-2.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₩152.4K

$104 ₩153.9K

-1.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.2 ₩98.2K

$47.40 ₩70.3K

39.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 ₩132.1K

$87.8 ₩130.2K

1.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₩176.1K

$118 ₩175.5K

0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$516 ₩766.1K

$452 ₩669.9K

14.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 ₩465.0K

$370 ₩549.0K

-15.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 ₩1.5M

$1,059 ₩1.6M

-3.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 ₩993.4K

$762 ₩1.1M

-12.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,547 ₩14.2M

$9,654 ₩14.3M

-1.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,094 ₩10.5M

$5,717 ₩8.5M

24.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,452 ₩3.6M

$1,168 ₩1.7M

109.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

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

Last update for Busan: April 25, 2026

Last update for Gongju: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $516 in Busan and $452 in Gongju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 110% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Busan vs $37.00 in Gongju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $446 vs $451 per month, with Busan 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 Gongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Busan wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Gongju. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Busan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Busan pays 110% 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: $516 in Busan versus $452 in Gongju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Gongju. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,491 per month in Busan versus $1,513 in Gongju – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,491 in Busan versus $1,513 in Gongju, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Busan but tight or insufficient in Gongju. 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 Gongju 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 1% less than in Gongju. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.