Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Incheon Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Incheon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,583 in Busan versus $1,343 in Incheon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Busan versus $2,109 in Incheon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Busan versus $2,874 in Incheon.

Living in Busan is roughly 18% more expensive than in Incheon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 15% above, Incheon is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$5.89 ₩7,898

26.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.1K

$34.43 ₩46.2K

40.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,117

$6.88 ₩9,239

-1.31%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,926

$3.58 ₩4,801

2.51%

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

$1.79 ₩2,399

$1.60 ₩2,151

11.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,915

$0.58 ₩783

146.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,010

$3.40 ₩4,565

9.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,797

$4.36 ₩5,850

-0.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,037

$2.14 ₩2,877

5.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,307

$3.09 ₩4,145

3.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,057

$2.30 ₩3,091

31.30%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,579

$3.32 ₩4,454

-19.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$15.80 ₩21.2K

-29.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

$7.77 ₩10.4K

31.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

$11.02 ₩14.8K

128.86%

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

$7.67 ₩10.3K

42.76%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,956

$3.16 ₩4,242

16.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

$5.77 ₩7,749

42.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,096

$6.31 ₩8,464

-4.44%

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,800

$3.40 ₩4,557

70.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,425

$2.45 ₩3,287

34.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,715

$2.08 ₩2,796

33.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,781

$1.11 ₩1,495

19.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,531

$3.42 ₩4,589

-1.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.1K

$18.77 ₩25.2K

-0.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,169

$2.18 ₩2,932

8.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,669

$3.15 ₩4,229

10.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,527

$1.10 ₩1,472

3.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

$25.30 ₩34.0K

138.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,834

$3.59 ₩4,816

0.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩979

$0.59 ₩793

23.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

$9.18 ₩12.3K

84.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,792

$1.33 ₩1,784

0.75%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$29.7K ₩39.8M

-0.48%

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

$32.9K ₩44.2M

$27.9K ₩37.5M

17.88%

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

$203 ₩272.4K

$200 ₩267.9K

1.66%

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

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$35.27 ₩47.3K

4.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$20.03 ₩26.9K

33.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

$33.01 ₩44.3K

90.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

$36.90 ₩49.5K

-72.68%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.3K

$10.99 ₩14.7K

10.28%

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

$635 ₩852.2K

$302 ₩404.9K

110.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$17.8K ₩23.8M

23.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.1K

$57.1 ₩76.6K

85.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.2K

$32.74 ₩43.9K

98.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.8K

$69.5 ₩93.2K

32.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.2K

$81.0 ₩108.6K

57.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.8K

$601 ₩807.1K

21.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.4K

$351 ₩470.7K

4.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$1,231 ₩1.7M

8.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩945.1K

$694 ₩930.8K

1.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.4M

$6,758 ₩9.1M

47.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

$5,434 ₩7.3M

17.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$2,454 ₩3.3M

14.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.08

3.43%

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

Last update for Busan: September 8, 2026

Last update for Incheon: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Busan and $601 in Incheon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 14% 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: $48.00 in Busan vs $34.00 in Incheon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $485 vs $398 per month, with Incheon 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 Incheon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Incheon wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Incheon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 14% 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: $729 in Busan versus $601 in Incheon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Incheon runs roughly 139% less than in Busan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $635 in Busan versus $302 in Incheon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,343 in Incheon versus $1,583 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Incheon but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Incheon 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 Incheon 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 Incheon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.