Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Sangju Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Sangju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,583 in Busan versus $1,417 in Sangju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Busan versus $2,191 in Sangju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Busan versus $2,964 in Sangju.

Living in Busan is roughly 12% more expensive than in Sangju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 15% above, Sangju 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$6.16 ₩8,261

21.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.0K

$34.27 ₩46.0K

41.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,111

$6.65 ₩8,914

2.11%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,923

$3.57 ₩4,782

2.80%

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

$1.79 ₩2,398

$1.58 ₩2,124

13.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,914

$0.58 ₩784

146.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,007

$3.49 ₩4,684

6.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,794

$4.59 ₩6,158

-5.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,035

$2.21 ₩2,960

2.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,305

$3.03 ₩4,060

5.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$2.31 ₩3,093

30.74%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,577

$3.29 ₩4,414

-18.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$15.58 ₩20.9K

-28.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

$7.93 ₩10.6K

29.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

$10.97 ₩14.7K

129.90%

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

$7.42 ₩9,952

47.57%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,953

$3.27 ₩4,380

12.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

$7.29 ₩9,771

12.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,091

$6.79 ₩9,103

-11.19%

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,795

$3.49 ₩4,680

66.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,423

$2.38 ₩3,195

38.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,713

$2.06 ₩2,767

34.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,780

$1.31 ₩1,757

1.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,529

$3.27 ₩4,379

3.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.0K

$18.28 ₩24.5K

2.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,167

$2.22 ₩2,975

6.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,666

$3.81 ₩5,116

-8.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,526

$1.02 ₩1,374

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,831

$3.68 ₩4,940

-2.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩978

$0.64 ₩861

14.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

$18.36 ₩24.6K

-7.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,791

$1.39 ₩1,868

-3.60%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$28.7K ₩38.5M

2.93%

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

$32.9K ₩44.1M

$34.8K ₩46.7M

-5.54%

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

$203 ₩272.2K

$206 ₩276.3K

-1.47%

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

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$42.88 ₩57.5K

-13.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$20.83 ₩27.9K

27.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

$60.0 ₩80.5K

4.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

$11.22 ₩15.1K

-10.16%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.2K

$11.34 ₩15.2K

6.88%

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

$635 ₩851.7K

$295 ₩395.7K

115.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$17.8K ₩23.9M

23.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.0K

$66.2 ₩88.8K

59.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.1K

$64.1 ₩85.9K

1.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.7K

$72.8 ₩97.7K

26.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.1K

$99.7 ₩133.7K

27.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.2K

$488 ₩653.8K

49.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.1K

$331 ₩444.0K

11.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$1,127 ₩1.5M

18.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩944.5K

$738 ₩990.0K

-4.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.3M

$6,366 ₩8.5M

56.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

$5,349 ₩7.2M

19.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$1,435 ₩1.9M

95.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.1

2.93%

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

Last update for Busan: September 8, 2026

Last update for Sangju: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Busan and $488 in Sangju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 95% 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 $34.00 in Sangju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $485 vs $408 per month, with Sangju 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 Sangju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sangju wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sangju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 95% 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 $488 in Sangju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,583 per month in Busan versus $1,417 in Sangju – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,417 in Sangju versus $1,583 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sangju but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Sangju 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 Sangju 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 Sangju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.