Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Icheon Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Icheon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,531 in Busan versus $1,450 in Icheon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,395 in Busan versus $2,276 in Icheon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,259 in Busan versus $3,101 in Icheon.

Living in Busan is roughly 6% more expensive than in Icheon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 15% above, Icheon 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 ₩10.1K

$6.19 ₩8,905

13.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.34 ₩52.3K

$37.33 ₩53.7K

-2.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.88 ₩8,455

$6.18 ₩8,894

-4.85%

Cappuccino

$4.00 ₩5,753

$4.05 ₩5,832

-1.23%

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

$1.87 ₩2,690

$1.30 ₩1,873

43.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,977

$1.20 ₩1,729

14.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 ₩5,230

$3.75 ₩5,397

-2.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 ₩8,624

$6.01 ₩8,649

-0.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,246

$2.34 ₩3,360

-3.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 ₩5,110

$3.49 ₩5,020

1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 ₩4,277

$3.10 ₩4,460

-4.19%

Eggs

$2.98 ₩4,288

$2.89 ₩4,156

3.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 ₩14.9K

$10.29 ₩14.8K

0.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.36 ₩12.0K

$8.08 ₩11.6K

3.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.82 ₩40.0K

$28.05 ₩40.3K

-0.82%

Apples (1kg)

$8.59 ₩12.4K

$8.53 ₩12.3K

0.70%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 ₩4,479

$3.15 ₩4,535

-1.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.24 ₩10.4K

$7.56 ₩10.9K

-4.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ₩7,581

$5.31 ₩7,636

-0.75%

Potato (1kg)

$5.28 ₩7,587

$5.02 ₩7,219

5.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 ₩4,196

$2.95 ₩4,250

-1.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₩2,901

$2.01 ₩2,887

0.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,671

$1.17 ₩1,676

-0.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ₩4,799

$3.35 ₩4,825

-0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.27 ₩24.8K

$16.91 ₩24.3K

2.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₩2,495

$1.70 ₩2,445

1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ₩4,751

$3.44 ₩4,945

-4.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,663

$1.13 ₩1,623

2.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.92 ₩64.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 ₩5,042

$3.57 ₩5,142

-1.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₩1,213

$0.79 ₩1,133

6.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.69 ₩24.0K

$16.68 ₩24.0K

0.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,666

$1.21 ₩1,746

-4.13%

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

$27.8K ₩39.9M

$27.8K ₩40.0M

-0.17%

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

$24.7K ₩35.5M

$25.1K ₩36.1M

-1.56%

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

$188 ₩269.7K

$190 ₩273.2K

-1.27%

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

$50.3 ₩72.4K

$50.1 ₩72.0K

0.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.92 ₩40.2K

$28.03 ₩40.3K

-0.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 ₩74.4K

$22.43 ₩32.3K

130.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.98 ₩18.7K

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 ₩16.5K

$11.09 ₩16.0K

3.34%

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

$481 ₩691.2K

$488 ₩701.4K

-1.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₩20.6M

$13.9K ₩19.9M

3.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₩148.0K

$102 ₩146.8K

0.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.1 ₩95.0K

$47.77 ₩68.7K

38.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 ₩126.3K

$87.6 ₩126.0K

0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₩171.5K

$117 ₩168.7K

1.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 ₩717.9K

$724 ₩1.0M

-31.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 ₩466.2K

$378 ₩543.3K

-14.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$994 ₩1.4M

$1,085 ₩1.6M

-8.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 ₩953.4K

$772 ₩1.1M

-14.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,574 ₩13.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,200 ₩10.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,584 ₩3.7M

$2,116 ₩3.0M

22.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

3.9

8.21%

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

Last update for Busan: July 26, 2026

Last update for Icheon: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $499 in Busan and $724 in Icheon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 22% 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: $36.00 in Busan vs $37.00 in Icheon. Groceries flip the comparison at $449 vs $448, with Icheon 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 Icheon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Icheon wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Icheon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 22% 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: $499 in Busan versus $724 in Icheon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,531 per month in Busan versus $1,450 in Icheon – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,450 in Icheon versus $1,531 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Icheon but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Icheon 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 Icheon 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 Icheon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.