Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Suwon Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Suwon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,494 in Busan versus $1,361 in Suwon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,332 in Busan versus $2,126 in Suwon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,171 in Busan versus $2,892 in Suwon.

Living in Busan is roughly 10% more expensive than Suwon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 11% above, Suwon 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.33 ₩11.1K

$7.36 ₩11.2K

-0.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.36 ₩56.7K

$29.01 ₩44.1K

28.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.93 ₩9,003

$5.07 ₩7,692

16.96%

Cappuccino

$4.00 ₩6,070

$3.52 ₩5,344

13.64%

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

$1.88 ₩2,852

$1.54 ₩2,342

22.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩2,021

$0.68 ₩1,027

95.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 ₩5,520

$3.65 ₩5,536

-0.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 ₩8,993

$4.31 ₩6,540

37.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 ₩3,574

$2.25 ₩3,424

4.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 ₩5,427

$2.15 ₩3,272

66.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.14 ₩4,766

$3.19 ₩4,851

-1.57%

Eggs

$2.86 ₩4,345

$2.36 ₩3,579

21.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.58 ₩16.1K

$11.19 ₩17.0K

-5.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.42 ₩12.8K

$10.91 ₩16.6K

-22.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.75 ₩42.1K

$11.71 ₩17.8K

136.98%

Apples (1kg)

$8.37 ₩12.7K

$5.65 ₩8,573

48.14%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 ₩4,898

$2.90 ₩4,400

11.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.55 ₩11.5K

$5.42 ₩8,225

39.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ₩8,006

$2.54 ₩3,860

107.48%

Potato (1kg)

$5.10 ₩7,738

$3.94 ₩5,983

29.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₩4,632

$2.26 ₩3,431

34.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₩3,093

$2.53 ₩3,835

-19.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,827

$0.92 ₩1,394

30.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ₩5,008

$3.22 ₩4,884

2.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.14 ₩24.5K

$11.88 ₩18.0K

35.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₩2,689

$2.03 ₩3,081

-12.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 ₩5,056

$2.26 ₩3,428

47.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,714

$1.16 ₩1,754

-2.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.01 ₩66.8K

$47.90 ₩72.7K

-8.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,313

$2.80 ₩4,252

25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₩1,281

$0.57 ₩860

47.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.49 ₩25.0K

$8.70 ₩13.2K

89.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,756

$1.20 ₩1,823

-3.33%

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

$28.0K ₩42.5M

$28.2K ₩42.9M

-0.96%

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

$25.3K ₩38.4M

$13.5K ₩20.5M

87.16%

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

$186 ₩282.7K

$163 ₩248.2K

13.92%

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

$50.8 ₩77.1K

$34.65 ₩52.6K

46.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.96 ₩42.5K

$22.64 ₩34.4K

23.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ₩79.6K

$46.08 ₩70.0K

13.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 ₩20.0K

$14.48 ₩22.0K

-8.84%

Cinema Ticket

$11.17 ₩17.0K

$10.86 ₩16.5K

2.85%

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

$489 ₩743.0K

$412 ₩626.2K

18.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₩21.8M

$23.9K ₩36.3M

-40.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₩155.7K

$34.48 ₩52.4K

197.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.2 ₩99.0K

$47.48 ₩72.1K

37.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 ₩131.5K

$78.5 ₩119.2K

10.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩178.2K

$27.57 ₩41.9K

325.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₩759.8K

$442 ₩671.4K

13.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 ₩491.7K

$443 ₩673.4K

-26.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₩1.5M

$919 ₩1.4M

7.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₩1.0M

$864 ₩1.3M

-22.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,714 ₩14.8M

$10.5K ₩16.0M

-7.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,961 ₩10.6M

$6,492 ₩9.9M

7.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,396 ₩3.6M

$2,123 ₩3.2M

12.83%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Suwon: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Busan and $442 in Suwon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 13% 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 $29.00 in Suwon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $345 per month, with Suwon 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 Suwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Busan pays 13% more on average, 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: $500 in Busan versus $442 in Suwon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Suwon runs roughly 9% less than in Busan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $489 in Busan versus $412 in Suwon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,361 in Suwon versus $1,494 in Busan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Suwon but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Suwon 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 Suwon 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 Suwon 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.