Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Busan versus $1,334 in Jeju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,376 in Busan versus $2,290 in Jeju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,228 in Busan versus $3,246 in Jeju.

Living in Busan is roughly 14% more expensive than Jeju, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 14% above, Jeju 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ₩10.7K

$6.71 ₩10.2K

5.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.26 ₩56.5K

$51.2 ₩77.5K

-27.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 ₩9,288

$4.04 ₩6,124

51.73%

Cappuccino

$4.15 ₩6,295

$5.21 ₩7,898

-20.35%

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

$1.86 ₩2,816

$2.42 ₩3,660

-23.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩2,094

$0.72 ₩1,087

91.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,624

$3.98 ₩6,034

-6.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,726

$5.71 ₩8,658

0.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₩3,538

$2.14 ₩3,248

8.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 ₩5,372

$2.25 ₩3,404

57.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,590

$2.23 ₩3,379

35.87%

Eggs

$2.96 ₩4,491

$2.61 ₩3,952

13.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 ₩15.7K

$10.53 ₩16.0K

-1.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 ₩12.8K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.30 ₩41.4K

$27.80 ₩42.1K

-1.80%

Apples (1kg)

$8.50 ₩12.9K

$7.66 ₩11.6K

10.97%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,924

$3.12 ₩4,735

4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 ₩11.4K

$5.68 ₩8,600

32.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.32 ₩8,062

$5.35 ₩8,109

-0.56%

Potato (1kg)

$5.17 ₩7,838

$3.02 ₩4,576

71.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₩4,461

$1.89 ₩2,865

55.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩3,030

$2.17 ₩3,292

-7.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,812

$0.46 ₩695

160.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,969

$3.25 ₩4,925

0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.73 ₩25.4K

$16.99 ₩25.7K

-1.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₩2,633

$1.90 ₩2,881

-8.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 ₩5,249

$1.61 ₩2,442

114.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,683

$0.86 ₩1,305

29.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.83 ₩67.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,301

$2.53 ₩3,840

38.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,194

$0.53 ₩800

49.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.82 ₩25.5K

$8.57 ₩13.0K

96.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,856

$1.26 ₩1,913

-2.38%

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

$27.4K ₩41.6M

$28.0K ₩42.4M

-2.03%

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

$25.0K ₩37.8M

$24.8K ₩37.5M

0.78%

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

$190 ₩288.4K

$159 ₩240.9K

19.71%

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

$49.90 ₩75.6K

$34.67 ₩52.5K

43.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩41.2K

$19.46 ₩29.5K

39.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 ₩78.8K

$36.23 ₩54.9K

43.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 ₩20.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 ₩17.1K

$10.88 ₩16.5K

3.95%

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

$497 ₩753.7K

$367 ₩556.3K

35.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.5M

$24.3K ₩36.8M

-41.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩158.4K

$51.3 ₩77.7K

103.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 ₩98.3K

$29.51 ₩44.7K

119.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₩133.7K

$66.3 ₩100.5K

33.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩178.6K

$89.4 ₩135.5K

31.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₩756.9K

$501 ₩759.2K

-0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₩485.1K

$402 ₩609.2K

-20.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ₩1.5M

$1,017 ₩1.5M

-1.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₩989.5K

$1,149 ₩1.7M

-43.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,780 ₩14.8M

$9,790 ₩14.8M

-0.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,054 ₩10.7M

$5,331 ₩8.1M

32.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,407 ₩3.6M

$1,672 ₩2.5M

43.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.14

1.93%

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

Last update for Busan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Busan and $501 in Jeju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 44% 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 $51.0 in Jeju. Groceries flip the comparison at $450 vs $401, with Jeju 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 Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jeju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Busan pays 44% more on average, 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: $500 in Busan versus $501 in Jeju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% 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 $1,334 in Jeju – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,334 in Jeju versus $1,523 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeju but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Jeju 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 Jeju 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 Jeju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.