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: $1,583 in Busan versus $1,079 in Jeju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Busan versus $1,866 in Jeju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Busan versus $2,652 in Jeju.

Living in Busan is roughly 47% more expensive than in Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 15% above, Jeju is 22% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$7.55 ₩10.1K

-1.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.0K

$51.7 ₩69.3K

-6.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,111

$5.52 ₩7,396

23.01%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,923

$5.89 ₩7,898

-37.69%

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

$1.79 ₩2,398

$2.15 ₩2,888

-16.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,914

$1.97 ₩2,647

-27.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,007

$3.48 ₩4,670

7.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,794

$2.93 ₩3,934

47.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,035

$2.26 ₩3,037

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,305

$2.28 ₩3,054

40.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$2.25 ₩3,011

34.22%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,577

$2.59 ₩3,471

3.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,953

$2.21 ₩2,968

66.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,091

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,795

$3.02 ₩4,055

92.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,423

$1.81 ₩2,429

82.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,713

$2.20 ₩2,948

25.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,780

$0.43 ₩577

209.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,529

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.0K

$11.36 ₩15.2K

64.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,167

$1.89 ₩2,541

24.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,666

$1.66 ₩2,220

109.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,526

$1.00 ₩1,343

14.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,831

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩978

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,791

$1.32 ₩1,769

1.52%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

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

$32.9K ₩44.1M

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

$203 ₩272.2K

$208 ₩278.9K

-2.40%

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

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$54.0 ₩72.4K

-31.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$19.21 ₩25.8K

38.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.2K

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

$635 ₩851.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$25.2K ₩33.8M

-12.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.0K

$50.3 ₩67.5K

110.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.1K

$29.85 ₩40.0K

117.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.7K

$65.3 ₩87.5K

41.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.1K

$88.2 ₩118.3K

44.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.2K

$461 ₩618.7K

57.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.1K

$381 ₩510.6K

-3.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$1,315 ₩1.8M

1.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩944.5K

$1,152 ₩1.5M

-38.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.3M

$10.6K ₩14.2M

-6.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

$6,719 ₩9.0M

-5.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$1,863 ₩2.5M

50.39%

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: September 8, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Busan and $461 in Jeju. 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: $48.00 in Busan vs $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries flip the comparison at $485 vs $140, 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 47% 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.

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: $729 in Busan versus $461 in Jeju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,583 per month in Busan versus $1,079 in Jeju – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 246% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,079 in Jeju versus $1,583 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 47% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.