Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Pohang Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Pohang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Busan versus $1,333 in Pohang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,376 in Busan versus $2,007 in Pohang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,228 in Busan versus $2,680 in Pohang.

Living in Busan is roughly 14% more expensive than Pohang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ₩10.8K

$5.23 ₩8,018

35.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.26 ₩57.1K

$18.25 ₩28.0K

104.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 ₩9,392

$6.14 ₩9,412

-0.16%

Cappuccino

$4.15 ₩6,365

$2.98 ₩4,565

39.26%

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

$1.86 ₩2,847

$1.44 ₩2,208

29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩2,117

$0.51 ₩787

170.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,687

$3.75 ₩5,741

-1.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,824

$3.62 ₩5,546

59.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₩3,577

$1.79 ₩2,747

30.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 ₩5,432

$3.17 ₩4,854

11.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,641

$2.53 ₩3,883

19.76%

Eggs

$2.96 ₩4,541

$2.97 ₩4,547

-0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 ₩15.9K

$10.60 ₩16.2K

-2.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 ₩13.0K

$6.44 ₩9,860

31.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.30 ₩41.8K

$27.14 ₩41.6K

0.59%

Apples (1kg)

$8.50 ₩13.0K

$2.17 ₩3,331

291.71%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,979

$3.11 ₩4,771

4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 ₩11.5K

$7.47 ₩11.4K

0.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.32 ₩8,152

$2.63 ₩4,030

102.28%

Potato (1kg)

$5.17 ₩7,926

$4.89 ₩7,485

5.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₩4,511

$2.93 ₩4,494

0.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩3,064

$2.02 ₩3,093

-0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,832

$1.16 ₩1,785

3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩5,024

$3.33 ₩5,102

-1.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.73 ₩25.6K

$8.40 ₩12.9K

99.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₩2,663

$1.49 ₩2,280

16.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 ₩5,307

$3.37 ₩5,163

2.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,702

$1.10 ₩1,691

0.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.83 ₩68.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,360

$2.47 ₩3,782

41.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,208

$0.86 ₩1,313

-8.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.82 ₩25.8K

$16.38 ₩25.1K

2.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,877

$1.22 ₩1,864

0.82%

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

$27.4K ₩42.0M

$28.0K ₩42.8M

-1.86%

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

$25.0K ₩38.3M

$24.9K ₩38.2M

0.26%

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

$190 ₩291.6K

$106 ₩162.2K

79.79%

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

$49.90 ₩76.5K

$50.1 ₩76.8K

-0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩41.7K

$27.14 ₩41.6K

0.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 ₩79.7K

$29.52 ₩45.2K

76.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 ₩20.3K

$7.18 ₩11.0K

84.40%

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 ₩17.3K

$10.98 ₩16.8K

3.01%

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

$497 ₩762.1K

$491 ₩752.6K

1.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.7M

$14.4K ₩22.1M

-1.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩160.2K

$104 ₩159.3K

0.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 ₩99.4K

$47.82 ₩73.3K

35.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₩135.2K

$87.1 ₩133.5K

1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩180.6K

$110 ₩168.5K

7.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₩765.3K

$446 ₩682.9K

12.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₩490.5K

$427 ₩654.6K

-25.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ₩1.5M

$1,068 ₩1.6M

-5.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₩1.0M

$780 ₩1.2M

-16.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,780 ₩15.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,054 ₩10.8M

$2,602 ₩4.0M

171.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,407 ₩3.7M

$2,229 ₩3.4M

8.00%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Pohang: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Busan and $446 in Pohang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 8% 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 $18.00 in Pohang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $363 per month, with Pohang 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 Pohang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Busan pays 8% 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 $446 in Pohang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% 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 $1,333 in Pohang – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,333 in Pohang versus $1,523 in Busan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pohang but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Pohang 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 Pohang 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 Pohang 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.