Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Seogwipo Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Seogwipo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Busan versus $1,380 in Seogwipo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Busan versus $2,166 in Seogwipo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,148 in Busan versus $2,951 in Seogwipo.

Living in Busan is roughly 10% more expensive than in Seogwipo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 14% above, Seogwipo 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.13 ₩10.5K

$7.28 ₩10.7K

-2.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 ₩55.0K

$37.34 ₩55.1K

-0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.93 ₩8,756

$5.51 ₩8,127

7.62%

Cappuccino

$4.08 ₩6,017

$3.96 ₩5,837

3.03%

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

$1.86 ₩2,748

$1.60 ₩2,363

16.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₩1,975

$0.83 ₩1,225

61.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 ₩5,489

$3.37 ₩4,975

10.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₩8,765

$4.87 ₩7,187

21.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,317

$2.19 ₩3,230

2.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 ₩5,064

$3.08 ₩4,537

11.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 ₩4,437

$3.00 ₩4,433

0.33%

Eggs

$2.86 ₩4,218

$2.90 ₩4,274

-1.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 ₩15.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 ₩12.3K

$8.15 ₩12.0K

2.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.01 ₩39.9K

$27.65 ₩40.8K

-2.31%

Apples (1kg)

$8.58 ₩12.7K

$7.78 ₩11.5K

10.28%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 ₩4,604

$3.11 ₩4,584

0.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.30 ₩10.8K

$5.58 ₩8,229

30.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.12 ₩7,552

$5.37 ₩7,926

-4.66%

Potato (1kg)

$5.10 ₩7,527

$3.89 ₩5,739

31.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,487

$2.94 ₩4,336

3.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₩2,971

$2.23 ₩3,284

-9.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₩1,789

$1.15 ₩1,689

5.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ₩4,997

$3.25 ₩4,795

4.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.85 ₩24.9K

$16.67 ₩24.6K

1.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,487

$1.89 ₩2,795

-10.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 ₩4,939

$3.21 ₩4,735

4.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 ₩1,729

$1.07 ₩1,578

9.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.13 ₩65.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ₩5,111

$3.49 ₩5,152

-0.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ₩1,251

$0.57 ₩843

49.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.39 ₩24.2K

$8.87 ₩13.1K

84.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,715

$1.21 ₩1,789

-4.13%

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

$27.3K ₩40.3M

$27.9K ₩41.1M

-1.95%

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

$25.5K ₩37.6M

$25.1K ₩37.1M

1.35%

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

$190 ₩280.5K

$161 ₩237.6K

18.06%

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

$49.69 ₩73.3K

$34.45 ₩50.8K

44.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.38 ₩40.4K

$21.92 ₩32.3K

24.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 ₩77.8K

$48.10 ₩71.0K

9.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 ₩19.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.43 ₩16.9K

$11.16 ₩16.5K

2.42%

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

$484 ₩714.6K

$414 ₩610.6K

17.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K ₩20.7M

$23.9K ₩35.3M

-41.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩154.4K

$57.8 ₩85.3K

81.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.4 ₩99.4K

$46.95 ₩69.3K

43.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 ₩129.4K

$80.1 ₩118.1K

9.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₩171.1K

$118 ₩174.4K

-1.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$510 ₩751.8K

$448 ₩660.8K

13.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 ₩476.3K

$370 ₩546.6K

-12.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 ₩1.5M

$1,079 ₩1.6M

-6.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 ₩965.8K

$773 ₩1.1M

-15.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,773 ₩14.4M

$8,101 ₩12.0M

20.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,105 ₩10.5M

$4,454 ₩6.6M

59.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,545 ₩3.8M

$1,015 ₩1.5M

150.85%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Seogwipo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $510 in Busan and $448 in Seogwipo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 151% 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 $37.00 in Seogwipo. Groceries flip the comparison at $443 vs $427, with Seogwipo cheaper for home cooking.

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 Seogwipo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seogwipo wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Seogwipo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 151% 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: $510 in Busan versus $448 in Seogwipo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% 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 $1,380 in Seogwipo – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,380 in Seogwipo versus $1,523 in Busan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Seogwipo but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Seogwipo 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 Seogwipo 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 Seogwipo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.