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: $1,558 in Busan versus $1,037 in Gyeonggi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,474 in Busan versus $2,035 in Gyeonggi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,389 in Busan versus $3,032 in Gyeonggi.

Living in Busan is roughly 50% more expensive than in Gyeonggi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 13% above, Gyeonggi is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.1K

$7.44 ₩10.1K

0.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.19 ₩64.1K

$58.2 ₩79.1K

-18.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 ₩9,022

$6.16 ₩8,379

7.79%

Cappuccino

$3.69 ₩5,020

$3.87 ₩5,258

-4.65%

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

$1.83 ₩2,483

$1.15 ₩1,563

59.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,869

$0.66 ₩901

107.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,098

$3.20 ₩4,352

17.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 ₩5,553

$2.99 ₩4,067

36.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,040

$1.74 ₩2,360

28.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₩4,143

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.10 ₩4,214

Eggs

$2.55 ₩3,471

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.71 ₩14.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.37 ₩14.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.66 ₩33.5K

Apples (1kg)

$10.92 ₩14.8K

$11.14 ₩15.1K

-1.97%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 ₩4,746

$3.54 ₩4,814

-1.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.82 ₩10.6K

$7.43 ₩10.1K

5.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.68 ₩7,723

Potato (1kg)

$5.95 ₩8,093

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 ₩4,531

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 ₩3,698

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,791

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,391

Wine (Bottle)

$18.58 ₩25.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₩3,229

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 ₩4,628

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,522

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.5 ₩78.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₩4,848

$3.00 ₩4,081

19.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₩1,029

$0.56 ₩767

35.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.31 ₩22.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ₩1,855

$1.43 ₩1,946

-4.90%

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

$28.4K ₩38.7M

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

$32.5K ₩44.1M

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

$195 ₩264.5K

$183 ₩249.3K

6.08%

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

$35.82 ₩48.7K

$40.40 ₩54.9K

-11.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.31 ₩35.8K

$20.99 ₩28.5K

25.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ₩82.2K

$54.4 ₩74.0K

11.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.48 ₩12.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 ₩15.6K

$10.03 ₩13.6K

14.46%

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

$620 ₩842.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.1K ₩28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩141.2K

$58.0 ₩78.8K

79.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.5 ₩86.3K

$41.02 ₩55.8K

54.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ₩124.6K

$83.1 ₩112.9K

10.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₩165.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 ₩959.0K

$508 ₩690.5K

38.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 ₩477.5K

$360 ₩489.4K

-2.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,314 ₩1.8M

$2,046 ₩2.8M

-35.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$689 ₩937.0K

$1,497 ₩2.0M

-53.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K ₩13.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,273 ₩8.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,791 ₩3.8M

$2,137 ₩2.9M

30.60%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Gyeonggi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $705 in Busan and $508 in Gyeonggi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 31% 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: $47.00 in Busan vs $58.0 in Gyeonggi. Groceries flip the comparison at $476 vs $124, 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 50% 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 31% 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: $705 in Busan versus $508 in Gyeonggi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,558 per month in Busan versus $1,037 in Gyeonggi – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 284% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,037 in Gyeonggi versus $1,558 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 50% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.