Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Seongnam Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Seongnam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,596 in Busan versus $1,385 in Seongnam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,494 in Busan versus $2,325 in Seongnam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,392 in Busan versus $3,266 in Seongnam.

Living in Busan is roughly 15% more expensive than in Seongnam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 17% above, Seongnam 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 ₩10.1K

$6.59 ₩9,094

11.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.54 ₩67.0K

$40.85 ₩56.4K

18.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₩9,348

$6.72 ₩9,279

0.74%

Cappuccino

$3.63 ₩5,012

$4.18 ₩5,769

-13.16%

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

$1.77 ₩2,442

$1.58 ₩2,175

12.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,888

$0.82 ₩1,125

67.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,169

$3.42 ₩4,719

9.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 ₩5,731

$3.76 ₩5,184

10.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,066

$2.26 ₩3,121

-1.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 ₩4,412

$3.01 ₩4,161

6.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,414

$3.65 ₩5,043

-12.33%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,740

$3.41 ₩4,702

-20.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₩15.1K

$9.56 ₩13.2K

14.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 ₩14.6K

$7.96 ₩11.0K

33.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.56 ₩33.9K

$21.84 ₩30.1K

12.45%

Apples (1kg)

$10.91 ₩15.1K

$7.66 ₩10.6K

42.43%

Banana (1kg)

$3.51 ₩4,847

$3.46 ₩4,772

1.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.22 ₩11.3K

$5.62 ₩7,752

46.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.79 ₩7,992

$6.91 ₩9,540

-16.21%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩8,133

$3.66 ₩5,049

60.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,608

$2.57 ₩3,541

29.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,782

$2.76 ₩3,812

-0.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,826

$1.26 ₩1,741

4.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,567

$3.35 ₩4,624

-1.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.76 ₩25.9K

$18.77 ₩25.9K

-0.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₩3,270

$2.07 ₩2,862

14.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₩4,613

$1.85 ₩2,553

80.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,602

$1.04 ₩1,440

11.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 ₩81.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₩4,990

$3.56 ₩4,911

1.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₩1,041

$0.60 ₩831

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.97 ₩23.4K

$9.03 ₩12.5K

87.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,924

$1.39 ₩1,920

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

$29.3K ₩40.4M

$29.1K ₩40.2M

0.50%

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

$33.0K ₩45.5M

$28.2K ₩39.0M

16.74%

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

$196 ₩270.5K

$203 ₩279.9K

-3.36%

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

$36.66 ₩50.6K

$36.87 ₩50.9K

-0.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.60 ₩36.7K

$20.09 ₩27.7K

32.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 ₩85.4K

$56.5 ₩78.0K

9.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₩13.4K

$11.96 ₩16.5K

-18.73%

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 ₩16.3K

$11.02 ₩15.2K

7.26%

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

$628 ₩867.1K

$571 ₩787.8K

10.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K ₩30.5M

$17.7K ₩24.5M

24.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩140.6K

$57.5 ₩79.4K

77.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₩88.1K

$32.44 ₩44.8K

96.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ₩129.8K

$69.6 ₩96.1K

35.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₩171.7K

$81.8 ₩112.9K

52.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 ₩996.0K

$443 ₩611.4K

62.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 ₩506.8K

$357 ₩493.3K

2.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 ₩1.8M

$1,151 ₩1.6M

14.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₩966.9K

$1,042 ₩1.4M

-32.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,980 ₩13.8M

$7,019 ₩9.7M

42.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,262 ₩8.6M

$5,522 ₩7.6M

13.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,835 ₩3.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.08

3.43%

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

Last update for Busan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Seongnam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $722 in Busan and $443 in Seongnam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $49.00 in Busan vs $41.00 in Seongnam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $482 vs $425 per month, with Seongnam 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 Seongnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seongnam wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Seongnam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,393 in Busan and $2,077 in Seongnam to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $722 in Busan versus $443 in Seongnam. 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 $1,596 per month in Busan versus $1,385 in Seongnam – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,385 in Seongnam versus $1,596 in Busan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Seongnam but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Seongnam 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 Seongnam 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 Seongnam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.