Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Gyeongju Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Gyeongju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,506 in Busan versus $1,488 in Gyeongju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,326 in Busan versus $2,298 in Gyeongju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,147 in Busan versus $3,107 in Gyeongju.

Living in Busan is roughly 1% more expensive than in Gyeongju, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 13% above, Gyeongju 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.09 ₩10.9K

$7.35 ₩11.3K

-3.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.46 ₩57.6K

$36.63 ₩56.3K

2.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.92 ₩9,111

$5.98 ₩9,190

-1.00%

Cappuccino

$4.09 ₩6,297

$4.19 ₩6,450

-2.39%

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

$1.87 ₩2,879

$1.88 ₩2,888

-0.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩2,052

$1.32 ₩2,037

0.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,698

$3.71 ₩5,701

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,854

$5.86 ₩9,010

-1.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 ₩3,636

$2.27 ₩3,493

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 ₩5,320

$3.59 ₩5,524

-3.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,658

$3.09 ₩4,756

-1.94%

Eggs

$2.88 ₩4,422

$2.96 ₩4,553

-2.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.68 ₩16.4K

$10.56 ₩16.2K

1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.17 ₩12.6K

$8.39 ₩12.9K

-2.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.59 ₩42.4K

$27.18 ₩41.8K

1.51%

Apples (1kg)

$8.25 ₩12.7K

$8.42 ₩12.9K

-2.02%

Banana (1kg)

$3.28 ₩5,043

$3.25 ₩5,001

0.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.59 ₩11.7K

$7.19 ₩11.1K

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 ₩8,297

$5.28 ₩8,118

2.27%

Potato (1kg)

$5.21 ₩8,019

$5.09 ₩7,820

2.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 ₩4,491

$2.99 ₩4,606

-2.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩3,079

$2.10 ₩3,225

-4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₩1,836

$1.20 ₩1,841

-0.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ₩5,218

$3.30 ₩5,072

2.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.30 ₩25.1K

$13.36 ₩20.5K

22.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₩2,662

$1.74 ₩2,680

-0.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 ₩5,263

$3.47 ₩5,344

-1.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,736

$1.12 ₩1,718

0.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.95 ₩67.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 ₩5,555

$2.88 ₩4,425

25.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₩1,237

$0.85 ₩1,312

-5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.81 ₩25.9K

$16.58 ₩25.5K

1.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,884

$1.16 ₩1,784

5.17%

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

$27.7K ₩42.6M

$27.4K ₩42.2M

0.98%

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

$25.2K ₩38.7M

$25.1K ₩38.6M

0.29%

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

$192 ₩295.1K

$191 ₩293.3K

0.62%

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

$50.9 ₩78.3K

$47.69 ₩73.3K

6.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₩42.5K

$27.56 ₩42.4K

0.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 ₩80.9K

$47.23 ₩72.6K

11.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.47 ₩20.7K

Cinema Ticket

$11.36 ₩17.5K

$11.04 ₩17.0K

2.90%

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

$483 ₩743.2K

$487 ₩748.5K

-0.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.8M

$14.2K ₩21.9M

-0.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩159.8K

$104 ₩160.5K

-0.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.2 ₩101.8K

$47.78 ₩73.5K

38.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 ₩137.9K

$89.0 ₩136.8K

0.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₩183.2K

$116 ₩178.1K

2.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$518 ₩796.9K

$456 ₩701.7K

13.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 ₩480.7K

$376 ₩577.5K

-16.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₩1.6M

$1,055 ₩1.6M

-2.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$648 ₩997.0K

$776 ₩1.2M

-16.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,559 ₩14.7M

$9,593 ₩14.8M

-0.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,109 ₩10.9M

$5,742 ₩8.8M

23.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,488 ₩3.8M

$1,653 ₩2.5M

50.50%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Gyeongju: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $518 in Busan and $456 in Gyeongju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 50% 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 $37.00 in Gyeongju. Groceries flip the comparison at $448 vs $441, with Gyeongju 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 Gyeongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 50% 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: $518 in Busan versus $456 in Gyeongju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $1,506 per month in Busan versus $1,488 in Gyeongju – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,488 in Gyeongju versus $1,506 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gyeongju but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Gyeongju 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 Gyeongju 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 Gyeongju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.