Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Wonju Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Wonju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Busan versus $1,506 in Wonju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,376 in Busan versus $2,347 in Wonju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,228 in Busan versus $3,187 in Wonju.

Living in Busan is roughly 1% more expensive than Wonju, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 14% above, Wonju 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ₩10.7K

$7.20 ₩10.9K

-1.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.26 ₩56.5K

$36.22 ₩54.9K

2.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 ₩9,288

$6.19 ₩9,385

-0.97%

Cappuccino

$4.15 ₩6,295

$4.03 ₩6,109

2.98%

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

$1.86 ₩2,816

$1.87 ₩2,831

-0.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩2,094

$1.32 ₩2,001

4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,624

$3.64 ₩5,512

1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,726

$5.87 ₩8,888

-1.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₩3,538

$2.31 ₩3,506

0.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 ₩5,372

$3.58 ₩5,431

-0.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,590

$2.98 ₩4,517

1.68%

Eggs

$2.96 ₩4,491

$2.96 ₩4,490

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 ₩15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 ₩12.8K

$8.02 ₩12.2K

5.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.30 ₩41.4K

$27.62 ₩41.9K

-1.16%

Apples (1kg)

$8.50 ₩12.9K

$8.66 ₩13.1K

-1.85%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,924

$3.23 ₩4,899

0.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 ₩11.4K

$7.35 ₩11.1K

2.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.32 ₩8,062

$5.39 ₩8,171

-1.30%

Potato (1kg)

$5.17 ₩7,838

$5.23 ₩7,928

-1.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₩4,461

$2.90 ₩4,397

1.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩3,030

$2.11 ₩3,193

-5.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,812

$1.15 ₩1,741

4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,969

$3.27 ₩4,959

0.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.73 ₩25.4K

$16.82 ₩25.5K

-0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₩2,633

$1.70 ₩2,578

2.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 ₩5,249

$3.48 ₩5,270

-0.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,683

$1.12 ₩1,693

-0.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.83 ₩67.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,301

$3.58 ₩5,420

-2.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,194

$0.81 ₩1,224

-2.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.82 ₩25.5K

$16.63 ₩25.2K

1.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,856

$1.17 ₩1,770

5.13%

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

$27.4K ₩41.6M

$28.2K ₩42.7M

-2.72%

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

$25.0K ₩37.8M

$25.1K ₩38.0M

-0.46%

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

$190 ₩288.4K

$191 ₩289.1K

-0.24%

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

$49.90 ₩75.6K

$50.6 ₩76.6K

-1.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩41.2K

$27.31 ₩41.4K

-0.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 ₩78.8K

$48.09 ₩72.9K

8.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 ₩20.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 ₩17.1K

$11.20 ₩17.0K

0.98%

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

$497 ₩753.7K

$471 ₩713.7K

5.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.5M

$14.4K ₩21.9M

-1.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩158.4K

$103 ₩155.5K

1.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 ₩98.3K

$48.03 ₩72.8K

35.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₩133.7K

$87.6 ₩132.8K

0.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩178.6K

$117 ₩177.3K

0.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₩756.9K

$446 ₩676.0K

11.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₩485.1K

$382 ₩578.5K

-16.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ₩1.5M

$1,061 ₩1.6M

-5.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₩989.5K

$760 ₩1.2M

-14.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,780 ₩14.8M

$10.1K ₩15.3M

-3.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,054 ₩10.7M

$4,512 ₩6.8M

56.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,407 ₩3.6M

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Wonju: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Busan and $446 in Wonju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Busan vs $36.00 in Wonju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $449 per month, with Wonju 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 Wonju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wonju wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Wonju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,285 in Busan and $2,259 in Wonju to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Busan versus $446 in Wonju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% 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 $1,506 in Wonju – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,506 in Wonju versus $1,523 in Busan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Wonju but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Wonju 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 Wonju 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 Wonju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.