Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Ulsan Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Ulsan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Busan versus $1,444 in Ulsan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,376 in Busan versus $2,188 in Ulsan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,228 in Busan versus $2,932 in Ulsan.

Living in Busan is roughly 5% more expensive than Ulsan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 14% above, Ulsan 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ₩10.7K

$6.46 ₩9,791

9.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.26 ₩56.5K

$29.90 ₩45.3K

24.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 ₩9,288

$4.83 ₩7,313

26.92%

Cappuccino

$4.15 ₩6,295

$3.15 ₩4,766

31.75%

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

$1.86 ₩2,816

$1.12 ₩1,691

66.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩2,094

$0.39 ₩591

253.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,624

$2.60 ₩3,935

42.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,726

$3.29 ₩4,984

75.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₩3,538

$1.74 ₩2,640

33.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 ₩5,372

$2.19 ₩3,315

62.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,590

$1.79 ₩2,717

69.27%

Eggs

$2.96 ₩4,491

$2.88 ₩4,362

2.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 ₩15.7K

$10.55 ₩16.0K

-1.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 ₩12.8K

$8.30 ₩12.6K

2.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.30 ₩41.4K

$27.12 ₩41.1K

0.66%

Apples (1kg)

$8.50 ₩12.9K

$7.16 ₩10.8K

18.72%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,924

$3.28 ₩4,975

-0.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 ₩11.4K

$7.29 ₩11.0K

3.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.32 ₩8,062

$4.43 ₩6,712

20.09%

Potato (1kg)

$5.17 ₩7,838

$3.74 ₩5,662

38.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₩4,461

$2.47 ₩3,738

19.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩3,030

$2.08 ₩3,151

-3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,812

$0.90 ₩1,365

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,969

$3.32 ₩5,032

-1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.73 ₩25.4K

$16.65 ₩25.2K

0.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₩2,633

$1.69 ₩2,560

2.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 ₩5,249

$3.47 ₩5,260

-0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,683

$0.94 ₩1,418

18.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.83 ₩67.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,301

$2.40 ₩3,630

45.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,194

$0.79 ₩1,191

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.82 ₩25.5K

$16.48 ₩25.0K

2.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,856

$1.18 ₩1,785

4.24%

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

$27.4K ₩41.6M

$27.6K ₩41.9M

-0.70%

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

$25.0K ₩37.8M

$25.2K ₩38.2M

-0.90%

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

$190 ₩288.4K

$187 ₩283.3K

1.82%

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

$49.90 ₩75.6K

$50.3 ₩76.2K

-0.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩41.2K

$27.92 ₩42.3K

-2.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 ₩78.8K

$59.4 ₩90.0K

-12.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 ₩20.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 ₩17.1K

$10.27 ₩15.6K

10.13%

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

$497 ₩753.7K

$252 ₩382.6K

96.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.5M

$13.9K ₩21.0M

2.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩158.4K

$102 ₩154.3K

2.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 ₩98.3K

$47.53 ₩72.0K

36.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₩133.7K

$87.0 ₩131.7K

1.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩178.6K

$115 ₩174.9K

2.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₩756.9K

$275 ₩416.9K

81.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₩485.1K

$371 ₩562.0K

-13.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ₩1.5M

$1,055 ₩1.6M

-4.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₩989.5K

$764 ₩1.2M

-14.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,780 ₩14.8M

$3,918 ₩5.9M

149.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,054 ₩10.7M

$2,353 ₩3.6M

199.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,407 ₩3.6M

$2,022 ₩3.1M

19.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

5.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Busan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ulsan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Busan and $275 in Ulsan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 19% 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 $30.00 in Ulsan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $403 per month, with Ulsan 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 Ulsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulsan wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ulsan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Busan pays 19% 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 $275 in Ulsan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,523 per month in Busan versus $1,444 in Ulsan – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,444 in Ulsan versus $1,523 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ulsan but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Ulsan 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 Ulsan 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 Ulsan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.