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: $1,583 in Busan versus $1,446 in Seogwipo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Busan versus $2,252 in Seogwipo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Busan versus $3,057 in Seogwipo.

Living in Busan is roughly 9% more expensive than in Seogwipo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 15% above, Seogwipo 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$7.40 ₩9,924

0.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.0K

$34.49 ₩46.3K

40.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,111

$6.70 ₩8,991

1.34%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,923

$3.57 ₩4,794

2.80%

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

$1.79 ₩2,398

$1.58 ₩2,118

13.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,914

$0.58 ₩781

146.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,007

$3.49 ₩4,687

6.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,794

$4.17 ₩5,595

3.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,035

$2.16 ₩2,901

4.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,305

$3.02 ₩4,055

6.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$2.65 ₩3,560

13.96%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,577

$2.50 ₩3,347

6.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$10.58 ₩14.2K

4.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

$6.79 ₩9,109

50.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

$24.59 ₩33.0K

2.56%

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

$7.76 ₩10.4K

41.11%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,953

$3.58 ₩4,797

3.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

$6.73 ₩9,019

21.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,091

$5.40 ₩7,240

11.67%

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,795

$4.26 ₩5,714

36.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,423

$2.95 ₩3,962

11.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,713

$2.72 ₩3,645

1.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,780

$1.37 ₩1,835

-2.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,529

$3.79 ₩5,087

-10.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.0K

$18.52 ₩24.8K

0.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,167

$2.27 ₩3,038

3.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,666

$3.37 ₩4,521

3.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,526

$1.26 ₩1,692

-9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,831

$2.88 ₩3,859

25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩978

$0.67 ₩894

8.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

$14.84 ₩19.9K

14.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,791

$1.43 ₩1,915

-6.29%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$28.9K ₩38.8M

2.16%

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

$32.9K ₩44.1M

$33.1K ₩44.3M

-0.48%

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

$203 ₩272.2K

$221 ₩296.9K

-8.31%

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

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$32.57 ₩43.7K

13.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$22.80 ₩30.6K

16.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

$53.4 ₩71.6K

17.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

$12.37 ₩16.6K

-18.51%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.2K

$10.29 ₩13.8K

17.78%

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

$635 ₩851.7K

$662 ₩888.2K

-4.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$24.0K ₩32.2M

-8.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.0K

$72.3 ₩96.9K

46.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.1K

$57.6 ₩77.2K

12.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.7K

$71.8 ₩96.3K

28.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.1K

$93.9 ₩125.9K

35.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.2K

$501 ₩671.5K

45.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.1K

$336 ₩449.9K

9.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$1,138 ₩1.5M

17.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩944.5K

$694 ₩930.5K

1.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.3M

$7,194 ₩9.6M

38.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

$4,665 ₩6.3M

36.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$1,125 ₩1.5M

148.92%

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 Seogwipo: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Busan and $501 in Seogwipo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 149% 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 Seogwipo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $485 vs $427 per month, with Seogwipo 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 Seogwipo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seogwipo wins on cost – living expenses run 9% 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 149% 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 $501 in Seogwipo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% 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 $1,446 in Seogwipo – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,446 in Seogwipo versus $1,583 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 9% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.