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: $1,523 in Busan versus $1,457 in Sangju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,376 in Busan versus $2,352 in Sangju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,228 in Busan versus $3,246 in Sangju.

Living in Busan is roughly 5% more expensive than Sangju, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 14% above, Sangju 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ₩10.7K

$8.75 ₩13.3K

-19.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.26 ₩56.5K

$55.6 ₩84.3K

-33.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 ₩9,288

$6.40 ₩9,695

-4.22%

Cappuccino

$4.15 ₩6,295

$3.75 ₩5,686

10.67%

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

$1.86 ₩2,816

$1.68 ₩2,539

10.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩2,094

$0.80 ₩1,205

72.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,624

$3.70 ₩5,604

0.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,726

$5.95 ₩9,016

-3.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₩3,538

$2.22 ₩3,359

4.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 ₩5,372

$3.35 ₩5,080

5.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,590

$3.20 ₩4,848

-5.31%

Eggs

$2.96 ₩4,491

$3.08 ₩4,670

-3.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 ₩15.7K

$14.47 ₩21.9K

-28.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 ₩12.8K

$11.02 ₩16.7K

-23.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.30 ₩41.4K

$34.82 ₩52.8K

-21.60%

Apples (1kg)

$8.50 ₩12.9K

$7.82 ₩11.9K

8.70%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,924

$3.43 ₩5,204

-5.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 ₩11.4K

$5.44 ₩8,241

38.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.32 ₩8,062

$6.65 ₩10.1K

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$5.17 ₩7,838

$3.90 ₩5,909

32.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₩4,461

$2.86 ₩4,337

2.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩3,030

$2.62 ₩3,965

-23.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,812

$1.15 ₩1,748

4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,969

$3.40 ₩5,159

-3.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.73 ₩25.4K

$9.85 ₩14.9K

69.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₩2,633

$2.37 ₩3,585

-26.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 ₩5,249

$3.35 ₩5,070

3.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,683

$1.07 ₩1,623

3.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.83 ₩67.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,301

$3.54 ₩5,365

-1.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,194

$0.53 ₩799

49.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.82 ₩25.5K

$8.76 ₩13.3K

92.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,856

$1.18 ₩1,795

4.24%

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

$27.4K ₩41.6M

$27.7K ₩42.0M

-0.95%

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

$25.0K ₩37.8M

$25.5K ₩38.7M

-2.14%

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

$190 ₩288.4K

$164 ₩248.7K

15.99%

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

$49.90 ₩75.6K

$34.89 ₩52.9K

43.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩41.2K

$21.81 ₩33.1K

24.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 ₩78.8K

$48.21 ₩73.0K

7.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 ₩20.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 ₩17.1K

$11.20 ₩17.0K

0.98%

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

$497 ₩753.7K

$416 ₩629.7K

19.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.5M

$23.5K ₩35.6M

-39.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩158.4K

$59.7 ₩90.4K

75.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 ₩98.3K

$47.32 ₩71.7K

37.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₩133.7K

$78.3 ₩118.7K

12.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩178.6K

$50.6 ₩76.7K

132.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₩756.9K

$451 ₩683.4K

10.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₩485.1K

$380 ₩575.8K

-15.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ₩1.5M

$1,079 ₩1.6M

-6.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₩989.5K

$772 ₩1.2M

-15.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,780 ₩14.8M

$8,299 ₩12.6M

17.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,054 ₩10.7M

$5,855 ₩8.9M

20.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,407 ₩3.6M

$1,279 ₩1.9M

88.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.14

1.93%

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

Last update for Busan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sangju: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Busan and $451 in Sangju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 88% 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 $56.0 in Sangju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $479 per month, with Busan 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 5% 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.

Busan pays 88% 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 $451 in Sangju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Busan pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,523 per month in Busan versus $1,457 in Sangju – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,457 in Sangju versus $1,523 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 5% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.