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: $1,491 in Busan versus $1,393 in Suwon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,362 in Busan versus $2,096 in Suwon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,234 in Busan versus $2,798 in Suwon.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 11% above, Suwon 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 ₩10.8K

$7.44 ₩11.0K

-1.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.93 ₩54.4K

$29.14 ₩42.9K

26.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 ₩8,845

$5.07 ₩7,472

18.34%

Cappuccino

$4.08 ₩6,016

$3.55 ₩5,225

14.93%

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

$1.82 ₩2,688

$1.54 ₩2,274

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,954

$0.68 ₩1,006

95.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.70 ₩5,454

$3.73 ₩5,497

-0.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.79 ₩8,526

$4.34 ₩6,391

33.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,297

$2.16 ₩3,190

3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 ₩5,156

$2.26 ₩3,333

54.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.96 ₩4,365

$3.21 ₩4,734

-7.79%

Eggs

$2.97 ₩4,377

$2.41 ₩3,546

23.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 ₩15.2K

$10.82 ₩15.9K

-4.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.45 ₩12.4K

$10.73 ₩15.8K

-21.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.07 ₩41.4K

$12.05 ₩17.8K

132.95%

Apples (1kg)

$8.29 ₩12.2K

$5.53 ₩8,154

49.91%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 ₩4,768

$2.78 ₩4,089

16.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.28 ₩10.7K

$5.23 ₩7,702

39.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.20 ₩7,659

$2.56 ₩3,767

103.13%

Potato (1kg)

$5.05 ₩7,442

$4.01 ₩5,915

25.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,468

$2.24 ₩3,295

35.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₩2,982

$2.59 ₩3,811

-22.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,699

$0.90 ₩1,320

27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 ₩4,846

$3.25 ₩4,785

1.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.69 ₩24.6K

$12.41 ₩18.3K

34.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,497

$2.04 ₩3,009

-17.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 ₩5,143

$2.16 ₩3,183

61.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,638

$1.21 ₩1,782

-8.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.63 ₩64.3K

$47.80 ₩70.4K

-8.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₩5,087

$2.73 ₩4,015

26.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,161

$0.56 ₩828

41.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.60 ₩24.5K

$8.57 ₩12.6K

93.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₩1,727

$1.25 ₩1,835

-6.40%

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

$27.5K ₩40.5M

$28.2K ₩41.5M

-2.63%

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

$24.7K ₩36.3M

$13.9K ₩20.4M

77.79%

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

$187 ₩275.2K

$165 ₩242.5K

13.48%

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

$49.90 ₩73.5K

$34.89 ₩51.4K

43.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.20 ₩40.1K

$21.97 ₩32.4K

23.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.5 ₩77.4K

$45.83 ₩67.5K

14.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 ₩19.7K

$14.48 ₩21.3K

-7.60%

Cinema Ticket

$11.52 ₩17.0K

$11.22 ₩16.5K

2.67%

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

$496 ₩731.4K

$420 ₩619.1K

18.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K ₩20.5M

$23.5K ₩34.6M

-40.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₩151.4K

$34.24 ₩50.4K

200.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.2 ₩97.5K

$48.28 ₩71.1K

37.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 ₩131.2K

$79.4 ₩116.9K

12.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₩174.9K

$26.84 ₩39.5K

342.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$516 ₩760.9K

$444 ₩654.8K

16.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 ₩461.8K

$445 ₩655.9K

-29.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 ₩1.5M

$916 ₩1.4M

11.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 ₩986.7K

$867 ₩1.3M

-22.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,547 ₩14.1M

$10.8K ₩16.0M

-11.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,094 ₩10.5M

$6,590 ₩9.7M

7.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,452 ₩3.6M

$2,276 ₩3.4M

7.77%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Suwon: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $516 in Busan and $444 in Suwon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 8% 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 in Busan vs $29 in Suwon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $446 vs $344 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 7% 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 8% 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: $516 in Busan versus $444 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 10% less than in Busan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $496 in Busan versus $420 in Suwon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,393 in Suwon versus $1,491 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 7% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.