Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Mata Utu

For one person, living is cheaper in Busan: $1,627 a month against $5,241 in Mata Utu, rent and utilities included – about $43,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Busan
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Busan Living Index

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Busan

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,627

/mo nomad

Mata Utu

🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna

$5,241

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Busan and in Mata Utu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Busan and in Mata Utu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,627 in Busan versus $5,241 in Mata Utu.

Busan $1,627
Mata Utu $5,241

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Busan versus $6,656 in Mata Utu.

Busan $2,557
Mata Utu $6,656

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,486 in Busan versus $8,071 in Mata Utu.

Busan $3,486
Mata Utu $8,071

Living in Busan costs roughly 69% less than in Mata Utu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 21% above, Mata Utu 291% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.25 ₩9,718

$11.06 CFPF 1,177

-34.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.28 ₩64.7K

$111 CFPF 11.8K

-56.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 ₩8,664

Cappuccino

$3.65 ₩4,888

$7.68 CFPF 817

-52.47%

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

$1.77 ₩2,373

$5.73 CFPF 610

-69.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₩1,866

$3.29 CFPF 350

-57.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.83 ₩5,137

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 ₩5,857

$5.55 CFPF 591

-21.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 ₩3,107

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 ₩4,373

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 ₩4,167

Eggs

$2.62 ₩3,506

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.18 ₩15.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.38 ₩13.9K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.03 ₩33.5K

Apples (1kg)

$11.02 ₩14.8K

Banana (1kg)

$3.54 ₩4,738

Oranges (1kg)

$7.86 ₩10.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.85 ₩7,845

Potato (1kg)

$5.88 ₩7,883

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 ₩4,545

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 ₩3,657

$11.17 CFPF 1,190

-75.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,771

$4.43 CFPF 472

-70.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₩4,459

$16.77 CFPF 1,786

-80.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.44 ₩24.7K

$16.69 CFPF 1,778

10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₩3,184

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,657

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 ₩1,589

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.1 ₩79.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,828

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₩962

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.66 ₩22.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ₩1,826

$1.83 CFPF 194

-25.68%

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

$29.8K ₩40.0M

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

$33.8K ₩45.3M

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

$196 ₩263.2K

$145 CFPF 15.4K

35.72%

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

$36.52 ₩48.9K

$112 CFPF 12.0K

-67.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.50 ₩36.9K

$3,335 CFPF 355.2K

-99.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.5 ₩83.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.62 ₩12.9K

Cinema Ticket

$12.04 ₩16.1K

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

$637 ₩853.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.6K ₩28.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.3K

$220 CFPF 23.5K

-51.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.6 ₩87.8K

$91.5 CFPF 9,746

-28.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.5 ₩126.6K

$228 CFPF 24.3K

-58.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.7K

$283 CFPF 30.1K

-54.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₩983.3K

$898 CFPF 95.6K

-18.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 ₩488.8K

$913 CFPF 97.2K

-60.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 ₩1.8M

$2,238 CFPF 238.3K

-40.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₩939.4K

$2,282 CFPF 243.0K

-69.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K ₩13.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,421 ₩8.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,841 ₩3.8M

$3,338 CFPF 355.5K

-14.88%

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: October 4, 2026

Last update for Mata Utu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Busan

$483 30.1%

Mata Utu

–

Accommodation & Living

Busan

$365 22.7%

Mata Utu

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Busan

$260 16.2%

Mata Utu

–

Clothing & Footwear

Busan

$177 11.1%

Mata Utu

–

Eating Out

Busan

$162 10.1%

Mata Utu

–

Sport & Entertainment

Busan

$87 5.4%

Mata Utu

–

Getting Around

Busan

$71 4.4%

Mata Utu

–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $734 in Busan and $898 in Mata Utu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mata Utu pays 17% 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 $111 in Mata Utu. Groceries flip the comparison at $483 vs $131, with Mata Utu cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇰🇷 Busan

🇼🇫 Mata Utu

🕒 Local time

20:15 8:15 PM

23:15 11:15 PM

3 h ahead of Busan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,586,079

1,200 Capital

💱 Currency

South Korean Won KRW ₩

CFP Franc XPF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.66 EUR

1,000 XPF = 9.39 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.38 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇷 South Korean Won (₩)

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,340 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,502 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.66 EUR).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 107 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.39 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.38 EUR).

USD to KRW in detail →

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Busan Mata Utu 7,890 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mata Utu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Busan wins on cost – living expenses run 222% lower than in Mata Utu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Busan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Mata Utu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $734 in Busan versus $898 in Mata Utu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,627 per month in Busan versus $5,241 in Mata Utu – a 222% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Mata Utu pay roughly 268% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,627 in Busan versus $5,241 in Mata Utu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Busan but tight or insufficient in Mata Utu. The gap between the two cities makes Busan 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 Mata Utu 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 Busan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 222% less than in Mata Utu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.