Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Suji-gu Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Suji-gu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,596 in Busan versus $1,355 in Suji-gu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,494 in Busan versus $2,099 in Suji-gu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,392 in Busan versus $2,843 in Suji-gu.

Living in Busan is roughly 18% more expensive than in Suji-gu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 17% above, Suji-gu is 1% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 ₩10.2K

$6.02 ₩8,340

21.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.54 ₩67.3K

$34.84 ₩48.3K

39.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₩9,387

$6.55 ₩9,078

3.36%

Cappuccino

$3.63 ₩5,033

$3.73 ₩5,172

-2.68%

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

$1.77 ₩2,453

$1.52 ₩2,106

16.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,896

$0.58 ₩808

136.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,190

$3.56 ₩4,934

5.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 ₩5,755

$4.34 ₩6,012

-4.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,079

$2.04 ₩2,823

8.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 ₩4,431

$3.03 ₩4,196

5.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,433

$2.32 ₩3,216

37.93%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,756

$3.24 ₩4,488

-16.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₩15.2K

$15.54 ₩21.5K

-29.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 ₩14.7K

$7.90 ₩10.9K

34.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.56 ₩34.0K

$11.31 ₩15.7K

117.15%

Apples (1kg)

$10.91 ₩15.1K

$7.43 ₩10.3K

46.84%

Banana (1kg)

$3.51 ₩4,867

$3.15 ₩4,363

11.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.22 ₩11.4K

$5.77 ₩7,999

42.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.79 ₩8,026

$6.27 ₩8,694

-7.66%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩8,167

$3.43 ₩4,755

71.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,627

$2.46 ₩3,403

35.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,798

$2.08 ₩2,889

31.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,834

$1.07 ₩1,482

23.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,587

$3.43 ₩4,750

-3.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.76 ₩26.0K

$18.70 ₩25.9K

0.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₩3,283

$2.28 ₩3,154

3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₩4,633

$3.18 ₩4,410

5.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,608

$1.12 ₩1,555

3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 ₩81.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₩5,010

$3.67 ₩5,091

-1.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₩1,045

$0.62 ₩864

20.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.97 ₩23.5K

$9.12 ₩12.6K

86.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,932

$1.36 ₩1,883

2.21%

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

$29.3K ₩40.6M

$28.9K ₩40.1M

1.22%

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

$33.0K ₩45.7M

$28.1K ₩38.9M

17.34%

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

$196 ₩271.6K

$198 ₩274.6K

-1.09%

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

$36.66 ₩50.8K

$35.76 ₩49.6K

2.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.60 ₩36.9K

$19.57 ₩27.1K

35.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 ₩85.8K

$54.7 ₩75.8K

13.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₩13.5K

$11.75 ₩16.3K

-17.28%

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 ₩16.4K

$11.37 ₩15.8K

3.96%

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

$628 ₩870.7K

$571 ₩791.8K

9.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K ₩30.6M

$17.6K ₩24.4M

25.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩141.2K

$58.1 ₩80.5K

75.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₩88.5K

$32.39 ₩44.9K

97.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ₩130.4K

$69.2 ₩95.9K

36.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₩172.5K

$82.2 ₩113.9K

51.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 ₩1.0M

$443 ₩613.3K

63.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 ₩509.0K

$357 ₩495.2K

2.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 ₩1.8M

$1,163 ₩1.6M

13.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₩971.0K

$735 ₩1.0M

-4.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,980 ₩13.8M

$7,064 ₩9.8M

41.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,262 ₩8.7M

$5,415 ₩7.5M

15.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,835 ₩3.9M

$1,124 ₩1.6M

152.30%

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 Suji-gu: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Busan pays 152% 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: $49.00 in Busan vs $35.00 in Suji-gu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $482 vs $395 per month, with Suji-gu 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 Suji-gu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Suji-gu wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Suji-gu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 152% 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: $722 in Busan versus $443 in Suji-gu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% 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 $1,355 in Suji-gu – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,355 in Suji-gu versus $1,596 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Suji-gu but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Suji-gu 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 Suji-gu 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 Suji-gu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.