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: $1,558 in Busan versus $1,322 in Ulsan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,474 in Busan versus $2,143 in Ulsan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,389 in Busan versus $2,964 in Ulsan.

Living in Busan is roughly 18% more expensive than in Ulsan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 13% above, Ulsan is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.1K

$7.35 ₩9,967

1.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.19 ₩64.0K

$43.91 ₩59.5K

7.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 ₩8,998

$5.93 ₩8,036

11.97%

Cappuccino

$3.69 ₩5,007

$3.35 ₩4,539

10.15%

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

$1.83 ₩2,477

$0.86 ₩1,170

112.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,864

$0.46 ₩621

197.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,085

$2.95 ₩4,000

27.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 ₩5,539

$4.19 ₩5,679

-2.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,032

$2.23 ₩3,022

0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₩4,132

$3.17 ₩4,303

-3.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.10 ₩4,204

$3.13 ₩4,239

-0.96%

Eggs

$2.55 ₩3,462

$2.67 ₩3,625

-4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.71 ₩14.5K

$10.88 ₩14.7K

-1.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.37 ₩14.1K

$10.20 ₩13.8K

1.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.66 ₩33.4K

$24.79 ₩33.6K

-0.52%

Apples (1kg)

$10.92 ₩14.8K

$10.87 ₩14.7K

0.46%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 ₩4,734

$3.54 ₩4,798

-1.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.82 ₩10.6K

$7.72 ₩10.5K

1.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.68 ₩7,703

$5.95 ₩8,066

-4.54%

Potato (1kg)

$5.95 ₩8,073

$5.95 ₩8,071

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 ₩4,519

$3.31 ₩4,486

0.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 ₩3,688

$2.70 ₩3,655

0.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,787

$1.24 ₩1,684

6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₩4,379

$3.18 ₩4,309

1.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.58 ₩25.2K

$18.38 ₩24.9K

1.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₩3,220

$2.40 ₩3,260

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 ₩4,616

$3.45 ₩4,680

-1.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,518

$1.13 ₩1,527

-0.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.5 ₩78.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₩4,835

$2.92 ₩3,953

22.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₩1,027

$0.76 ₩1,026

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.31 ₩22.1K

$16.58 ₩22.5K

-1.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ₩1,850

$1.32 ₩1,791

3.03%

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

$28.4K ₩38.6M

$28.8K ₩39.0M

-1.24%

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

$32.5K ₩44.0M

$32.7K ₩44.3M

-0.73%

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

$195 ₩263.8K

$193 ₩261.9K

0.74%

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

$35.82 ₩48.6K

$35.67 ₩48.4K

0.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.31 ₩35.7K

$26.37 ₩35.8K

-0.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ₩82.0K

$57.6 ₩78.1K

5.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.48 ₩12.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 ₩15.6K

$10.42 ₩14.1K

10.17%

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

$620 ₩840.3K

$260 ₩352.4K

138.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.1K ₩28.6M

$21.1K ₩28.7M

-0.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩140.8K

$51.1 ₩69.3K

103.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.5 ₩86.1K

$43.29 ₩58.7K

46.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ₩124.2K

$58.0 ₩78.6K

58.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₩165.5K

$71.8 ₩97.4K

69.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 ₩956.6K

$362 ₩491.1K

94.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 ₩476.3K

$233 ₩316.3K

50.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,314 ₩1.8M

$717 ₩972.7K

83.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$689 ₩934.6K

$650 ₩881.9K

5.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K ₩13.6M

$4,368 ₩5.9M

129.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,273 ₩8.5M

$2,380 ₩3.2M

163.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,791 ₩3.8M

$2,201 ₩3.0M

26.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

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

Last update for Busan: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ulsan: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $705 in Busan and $362 in Ulsan. 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: $47.00 in Busan vs $44.00 in Ulsan. Groceries flip the comparison at $476 vs $477, with Busan cheaper for home cooking.

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 18% 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.

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: $705 in Busan versus $362 in Ulsan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Busan pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,558 per month in Busan versus $1,322 in Ulsan – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,322 in Ulsan versus $1,558 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 18% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.