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: $1,596 in Busan versus $1,343 in Pohang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,494 in Busan versus $1,635 in Pohang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,392 in Busan versus $1,927 in Pohang.

Living in Busan is roughly 19% more expensive than in Pohang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 17% above, Pohang is 2% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 ₩10.1K

$6.11 ₩8,418

19.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.54 ₩66.9K

$22.23 ₩30.6K

118.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₩9,334

$6.38 ₩8,796

6.11%

Cappuccino

$3.63 ₩5,005

$3.02 ₩4,156

20.20%

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

$1.77 ₩2,439

$1.46 ₩2,009

21.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,886

$0.48 ₩663

185.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,161

$3.78 ₩5,211

-0.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 ₩5,723

$3.76 ₩5,177

10.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,062

$1.92 ₩2,640

15.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 ₩4,406

$3.06 ₩4,223

4.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,408

$2.61 ₩3,603

22.61%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,735

$2.68 ₩3,693

1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₩15.1K

$10.83 ₩14.9K

0.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 ₩14.6K

$6.75 ₩9,302

56.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.56 ₩33.8K

$24.99 ₩34.4K

-1.72%

Apples (1kg)

$10.91 ₩15.0K

$2.29 ₩3,150

376.42%

Banana (1kg)

$3.51 ₩4,840

$3.69 ₩5,085

-4.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.22 ₩11.3K

$7.99 ₩11.0K

2.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.79 ₩7,981

$2.95 ₩4,060

96.27%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩8,121

$4.84 ₩6,670

21.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,601

$3.23 ₩4,454

3.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,776

$2.29 ₩3,151

19.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,824

$1.34 ₩1,841

-1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,561

$3.31 ₩4,559

Wine (Bottle)

$18.76 ₩25.9K

$6.65 ₩9,166

182.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₩3,265

$1.51 ₩2,080

56.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₩4,607

$3.50 ₩4,827

-4.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,599

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₩4,982

$3.29 ₩4,531

10.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₩1,039

$0.61 ₩837

22.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.97 ₩23.4K

$16.44 ₩22.7K

3.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,922

$1.24 ₩1,706

12.10%

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

$29.3K ₩40.4M

$29.7K ₩40.9M

-1.30%

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

$33.0K ₩45.4M

$28.8K ₩39.6M

14.56%

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

$196 ₩270.1K

$100 ₩137.9K

95.91%

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

$36.66 ₩50.5K

$35.70 ₩49.2K

2.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.60 ₩36.7K

$27.20 ₩37.5K

-2.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 ₩85.3K

$30.05 ₩41.4K

106.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₩13.4K

$7.40 ₩10.2K

31.35%

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 ₩16.3K

$10.95 ₩15.1K

7.95%

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

$628 ₩865.8K

$624 ₩860.4K

0.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K ₩30.4M

$21.8K ₩30.1M

1.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩140.4K

$102 ₩140.5K

-0.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₩88.0K

$65.8 ₩90.6K

-2.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ₩129.6K

$94.3 ₩130.0K

-0.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₩171.5K

$114 ₩156.5K

9.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 ₩994.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 ₩506.1K

$446 ₩615.1K

-17.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 ₩1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₩965.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,980 ₩13.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,262 ₩8.6M

$2,956 ₩4.1M

111.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,835 ₩3.9M

$2,176 ₩3.0M

30.26%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Pohang: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Busan pays 30% 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: $49.00 in Busan vs $22.00 in Pohang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $482 vs $366 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 19% 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.

Average pay runs 30% higher in Busan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,596 per month in Busan versus $1,343 in Pohang – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,343 in Pohang versus $1,596 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 19% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.