Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Uijeongbu Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Uijeongbu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,583 in Busan versus $1,211 in Uijeongbu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Busan versus $1,839 in Uijeongbu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Busan versus $2,467 in Uijeongbu.

Living in Busan is roughly 31% more expensive than in Uijeongbu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 15% above, Uijeongbu is 12% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$6.85 ₩9,189

8.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.0K

$34.15 ₩45.8K

41.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,111

$6.51 ₩8,724

4.30%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,923

$3.73 ₩5,003

-1.61%

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

$1.79 ₩2,398

$1.58 ₩2,113

13.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,914

$0.84 ₩1,120

70.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,007

$3.37 ₩4,520

10.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,794

$4.41 ₩5,913

-2.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,035

$2.11 ₩2,829

7.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,305

$3.03 ₩4,064

5.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$2.25 ₩3,015

34.22%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,577

$3.23 ₩4,332

-17.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$15.58 ₩20.9K

-28.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

$7.59 ₩10.2K

34.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

$11.18 ₩15.0K

125.58%

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

$7.53 ₩10.1K

45.42%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,953

$3.28 ₩4,400

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

$5.67 ₩7,601

44.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,091

$6.09 ₩8,166

-0.99%

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,795

$3.57 ₩4,782

62.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,423

$2.41 ₩3,231

36.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,713

$2.07 ₩2,781

33.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,780

$1.06 ₩1,419

25.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,529

$3.43 ₩4,598

-1.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.0K

$18.69 ₩25.1K

-0.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,167

$2.28 ₩3,056

3.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,666

$3.18 ₩4,268

9.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,526

$1.12 ₩1,505

1.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,831

$3.58 ₩4,805

0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩978

$0.58 ₩780

25.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

$9.09 ₩12.2K

86.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,791

$1.33 ₩1,784

0.75%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$29.7K ₩39.8M

-0.40%

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

$32.9K ₩44.1M

$28.0K ₩37.5M

17.68%

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

$203 ₩272.2K

$197 ₩263.9K

3.17%

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

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$35.96 ₩48.2K

2.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$19.85 ₩26.6K

34.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

$56.6 ₩75.9K

10.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

$10.83 ₩14.5K

-6.93%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.2K

$11.04 ₩14.8K

9.78%

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

$635 ₩851.7K

$571 ₩766.0K

11.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$18.0K ₩24.1M

22.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.0K

$57.7 ₩77.4K

83.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.1K

$32.20 ₩43.2K

101.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.7K

$70.1 ₩94.0K

31.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.1K

$81.7 ₩109.5K

56.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.2K

$263 ₩352.6K

177.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.1K

$222 ₩297.5K

65.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$478 ₩641.1K

179.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩944.5K

$408 ₩547.7K

72.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.3M

$7,180 ₩9.6M

38.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

$5,409 ₩7.3M

17.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$2,213 ₩3.0M

26.58%

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 8, 2026

Last update for Uijeongbu: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Busan and $263 in Uijeongbu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 27% 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: $48.00 in Busan vs $34.00 in Uijeongbu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $485 vs $394 per month, with Uijeongbu 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 Uijeongbu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Uijeongbu wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Uijeongbu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 27% 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: $729 in Busan versus $263 in Uijeongbu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% 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 $1,211 in Uijeongbu – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,211 in Uijeongbu versus $1,583 in Busan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Uijeongbu but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Uijeongbu 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 Uijeongbu 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 Uijeongbu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.