Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Gyeonggi Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Gyeonggi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Busan versus $1,389 in Gyeonggi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Busan versus $2,697 in Gyeonggi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,148 in Busan versus $4,005 in Gyeonggi.

Living in Busan is roughly 10% more expensive than in Gyeonggi, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 14% above, Gyeonggi 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.13 ₩10.6K

$7.20 ₩10.7K

-0.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 ₩55.4K

$85.4 ₩127.0K

-56.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.93 ₩8,828

$6.72 ₩9,989

-11.76%

Cappuccino

$4.08 ₩6,067

$3.56 ₩5,293

14.61%

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

$1.86 ₩2,770

$1.38 ₩2,057

34.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₩1,991

$0.71 ₩1,052

88.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 ₩5,534

$4.45 ₩6,626

-16.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩8,837

$2.88 ₩4,290

106.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,344

$2.17 ₩3,235

3.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 ₩5,106

$3.04 ₩4,519

12.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 ₩4,473

$3.13 ₩4,654

-3.83%

Eggs

$2.86 ₩4,253

$2.88 ₩4,276

-0.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 ₩15.5K

$10.48 ₩15.6K

-0.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 ₩12.4K

$8.16 ₩12.1K

2.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.01 ₩40.2K

$27.93 ₩41.5K

-3.29%

Apples (1kg)

$8.58 ₩12.8K

$10.94 ₩16.3K

-21.57%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 ₩4,642

$3.73 ₩5,550

-16.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.30 ₩10.9K

$7.52 ₩11.2K

-2.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.12 ₩7,614

$5.28 ₩7,860

-3.03%

Potato (1kg)

$5.10 ₩7,589

$3.90 ₩5,796

30.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,524

$2.90 ₩4,313

4.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₩2,996

$2.26 ₩3,355

-11.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₩1,803

$1.16 ₩1,732

4.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ₩5,038

$3.27 ₩4,869

3.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.85 ₩25.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,507

$1.80 ₩2,674

-6.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 ₩4,979

$3.24 ₩4,812

3.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 ₩1,743

$1.12 ₩1,667

4.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.13 ₩65.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ₩5,153

$3.13 ₩4,649

10.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ₩1,261

$0.54 ₩796

57.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.39 ₩24.4K

$8.57 ₩12.7K

91.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,729

$1.36 ₩2,020

-14.71%

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

$27.3K ₩40.6M

$27.2K ₩40.4M

0.48%

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

$25.5K ₩37.9M

$24.9K ₩37.0M

2.38%

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

$190 ₩282.8K

$188 ₩280.3K

0.89%

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

$49.69 ₩73.9K

$39.25 ₩58.4K

26.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.38 ₩40.7K

$20.92 ₩31.1K

30.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 ₩78.5K

$55.0 ₩81.9K

-4.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 ₩19.6K

Cinema Ticket

$11.43 ₩17.0K

$10.04 ₩14.9K

13.84%

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

$484 ₩720.4K

$419 ₩623.2K

15.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K ₩20.8M

$23.1K ₩34.4M

-39.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩155.7K

$57.7 ₩85.9K

81.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.4 ₩100.2K

$41.38 ₩61.6K

62.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 ₩130.4K

$85.7 ₩127.5K

2.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₩172.5K

$114 ₩169.8K

1.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$510 ₩758.0K

$505 ₩750.7K

0.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 ₩480.2K

$369 ₩548.5K

-12.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 ₩1.5M

$2,114 ₩3.1M

-52.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 ₩973.7K

$1,468 ₩2.2M

-55.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,773 ₩14.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,105 ₩10.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,545 ₩3.8M

$2,041 ₩3.0M

24.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

3.5

20.57%

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

Last update for Busan: July 12, 2026

Last update for Gyeonggi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $510 in Busan and $505 in Gyeonggi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 25% 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 $85.0 in Gyeonggi. Groceries flip the comparison at $443 vs $422, with Gyeonggi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Gyeonggi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gyeonggi wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gyeonggi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 25% 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: $510 in Busan versus $505 in Gyeonggi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,523 per month in Busan versus $1,389 in Gyeonggi – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,389 in Gyeonggi versus $1,523 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gyeonggi but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.