Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Phuket

😐 Solo nomad: Busan is 42.7% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 19.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Busan is 38.8% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Busan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.2 ₩9,768
$4.68 ฿151
53.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.37 ₩49.3K
$46.4 ฿1,502
-21.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.2 ₩8,418
$8.65 ฿280
-28.32%
Cappuccino
$4.16 ₩5,643
$3.09 ฿100
34.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₩2,461
$0.73 ฿23.53
147.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 ₩1,885
$0.37 ฿11.95
275.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.6 ₩4,879
$2.39 ฿77.4
50.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 ₩7,828
$3.62 ฿117
59.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Busan
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ₩3,027
$2.24 ฿72.5
-0.45%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 ₩4,830
$1.8 ฿58.2
97.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.97 ₩4,027
$2.24 ฿72.3
32.59%
Eggs
$2.87 ₩3,898
$2.23 ฿72.1
28.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.4 ₩14.1K
$19.31 ฿625
-46.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 ₩11.2K
$3.77 ฿122
119.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.01 ₩38K
$13.05 ฿422
114.64%
Apples (1kg)
$8.24 ₩11.2K
$3.28 ฿106
151.22%
Banana (1kg)
$3.14 ₩4,267
$1.63 ฿52.6
92.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.57 ₩10.3K
$2.4 ฿77.7
215.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 ₩7,204
$1.99 ฿64.3
166.83%
Potato (1kg)
$5 ₩6,786
$1.53 ฿49.62
226.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.99 ₩4,061
$1.49 ฿48.11
100.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 ₩2,837
$1.02 ฿32.87
104.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ₩1,584
$0.48 ฿15.61
143.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 ₩4,535
$4.32 ฿140
-22.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.92 ₩18.9K
$21.68 ฿702
-35.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₩2,377
$1.77 ฿57.3
-1.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 ₩4,695
$2.79 ฿90.4
24.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Busan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₩1,520
$1.35 ฿43.74
-17.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.34 ₩58.8K
$11.76 ฿380
268.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 ₩4,854
$3.15 ฿102
13.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ₩1,160
$1 ฿32.3
-15.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.71 ₩22.7K
$13.64 ฿442
22.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₩1,658
$1.3 ฿42.2
-6.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ₩38.3M
$27.4K ฿885.2K
3.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K ₩33.7M
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-26.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 ₩256K
$123 ฿3,970
53.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 ₩68.5K
$13.93 ฿451
262.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.23 ₩36.9K
$18.24 ฿590
49.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Busan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 ₩71.4K
$60.8 ฿1,966
-13.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.41 ₩18.2K
$17.11 ฿554
-21.62%
Cinema Ticket
$11.46 ₩15.6K
$9.07 ฿294
26.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Busan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$485 ₩658.4K
$694 ฿22.5K
-30.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K ₩19.4M
$15.9K ฿514.4K
-10.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Busan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₩141K
$57.5 ฿1,861
80.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 ₩88.3K
$34.51 ฿1,117
88.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 ₩120.3K
$115 ฿3,727
-23.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 ₩161.9K
$84.8 ฿2,743
40.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Busan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₩678.1K
$611 ฿19.8K
-18.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 ₩432.3K
$442 ฿14.3K
-27.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$997 ₩1.4M
$2,014 ฿65.2K
-50.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 ₩901.8K
$1,460 ฿47.2K
-54.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,901 ₩12.1M
$4,244 ฿137.3K
109.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,158 ₩9.7M
$2,886 ฿93.4K
147.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Busan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,514 ₩3.4M
$697 ฿22.5K
260.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
5.33
-20.83%

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

Last update for Busan: October 29, 2025

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

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