Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Songdo-dong Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Songdo-dong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,583 in Busan versus $1,479 in Songdo-dong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Busan versus $2,336 in Songdo-dong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Busan versus $3,193 in Songdo-dong.

Living in Busan is roughly 7% more expensive than in Songdo-dong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 15% above, Songdo-dong 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$5.98 ₩8,021

24.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.0K

$34.80 ₩46.7K

39.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,111

$6.77 ₩9,078

0.30%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,923

$3.60 ₩4,830

1.94%

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

$1.79 ₩2,398

$1.58 ₩2,120

13.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,914

$0.62 ₩834

130.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,007

$3.02 ₩4,047

23.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,794

$4.42 ₩5,923

-2.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,035

$2.29 ₩3,066

-1.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,305

$3.02 ₩4,049

6.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$2.34 ₩3,144

29.06%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,577

$3.19 ₩4,275

-16.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$15.72 ₩21.1K

-29.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

$7.60 ₩10.2K

34.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

$11.22 ₩15.0K

124.78%

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

$3.70 ₩4,961

195.95%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,953

$2.94 ₩3,945

25.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

$7.51 ₩10.1K

9.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,091

$7.01 ₩9,404

-13.98%

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,795

$2.63 ₩3,522

120.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,423

$2.35 ₩3,153

40.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,713

$2.09 ₩2,798

32.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,780

$1.13 ₩1,510

17.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,529

$3.32 ₩4,448

1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.0K

$14.72 ₩19.7K

26.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,167

$2.19 ₩2,935

7.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,666

$5.27 ₩7,063

-33.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,526

$0.87 ₩1,160

31.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,831

$3.63 ₩4,863

-0.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩978

$0.66 ₩886

10.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,791

$1.37 ₩1,843

-2.19%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$28.9K ₩38.7M

2.32%

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

$32.9K ₩44.1M

$35.7K ₩47.8M

-7.71%

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

$203 ₩272.2K

$214 ₩287.1K

-5.18%

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

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$43.07 ₩57.8K

-14.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$20.86 ₩28.0K

27.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

$73.4 ₩98.4K

-14.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.2K

$11.05 ₩14.8K

9.68%

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

$635 ₩851.7K

$366 ₩490.6K

73.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$17.6K ₩23.6M

24.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.0K

$65.5 ₩87.9K

61.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.1K

$62.3 ₩83.6K

4.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.7K

$36.54 ₩49.0K

152.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.1K

$98.1 ₩131.6K

30.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.1K

$448 ₩600.7K

-17.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$1,519 ₩2.0M

-12.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩944.5K

$1,038 ₩1.4M

-32.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$3,376 ₩4.5M

-17.03%

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 Songdo-dong: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Songdo-dong pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Busan vs $35.00 in Songdo-dong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $485 vs $381 per month, with Songdo-dong 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 Songdo-dong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Songdo-dong wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Songdo-dong the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Songdo-dong. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% 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 $1,479 in Songdo-dong – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,479 in Songdo-dong versus $1,583 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Songdo-dong but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Songdo-dong 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 Songdo-dong 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 Songdo-dong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.