Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Yangsan Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Yangsan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,494 in Busan versus $1,512 in Yangsan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,332 in Busan versus $2,315 in Yangsan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,171 in Busan versus $3,118 in Yangsan.

Living in Busan costs roughly 1% less than in Yangsan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 11% above, Yangsan 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.33 ₩11.1K

$7.25 ₩11.0K

1.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.36 ₩56.7K

$37.21 ₩56.5K

0.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.93 ₩9,003

$5.90 ₩8,956

0.51%

Cappuccino

$4.00 ₩6,070

$4.22 ₩6,408

-5.21%

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

$1.88 ₩2,852

$1.89 ₩2,864

-0.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩2,021

$1.34 ₩2,036

-0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 ₩5,520

$3.62 ₩5,499

0.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 ₩8,993

$6.00 ₩9,118

-1.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 ₩3,574

$2.27 ₩3,451

3.52%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 ₩5,427

$3.55 ₩5,386

0.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.14 ₩4,766

$2.97 ₩4,506

5.72%

Eggs

$2.86 ₩4,345

$2.92 ₩4,438

-2.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.58 ₩16.1K

$10.66 ₩16.2K

-0.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.42 ₩12.8K

$8.15 ₩12.4K

3.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.75 ₩42.1K

$27.54 ₩41.8K

0.76%

Apples (1kg)

$8.37 ₩12.7K

$8.28 ₩12.6K

1.09%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 ₩4,898

$3.14 ₩4,772

2.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.55 ₩11.5K

$7.33 ₩11.1K

3.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ₩8,006

$5.17 ₩7,849

1.93%

Potato (1kg)

$5.10 ₩7,738

$5.10 ₩7,748

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₩4,632

$2.94 ₩4,460

3.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₩3,093

$2.02 ₩3,064

0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,827

$1.20 ₩1,825

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ₩5,008

$3.28 ₩4,988

0.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.14 ₩24.5K

$16.19 ₩24.6K

-0.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₩2,689

$1.74 ₩2,644

1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 ₩5,056

$3.47 ₩5,268

-4.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,714

$1.10 ₩1,671

2.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.01 ₩66.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,313

$3.46 ₩5,259

1.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₩1,281

$0.79 ₩1,194

6.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.49 ₩25.0K

$16.25 ₩24.7K

1.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,756

$1.17 ₩1,775

-0.85%

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

$28.0K ₩42.5M

$27.7K ₩42.0M

1.11%

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

$25.3K ₩38.4M

$25.1K ₩38.1M

0.85%

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

$186 ₩282.7K

$186 ₩282.9K

-0.06%

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

$50.8 ₩77.1K

$51.2 ₩77.8K

-0.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.96 ₩42.5K

$27.49 ₩41.7K

1.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ₩79.6K

$47.68 ₩72.4K

9.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 ₩20.0K

Cinema Ticket

$11.17 ₩17.0K

$11.47 ₩17.4K

-2.62%

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

$489 ₩743.0K

$494 ₩749.8K

-0.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₩21.8M

$14.1K ₩21.4M

1.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₩155.7K

$103 ₩156.2K

-0.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.2 ₩99.0K

$46.77 ₩71.0K

39.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 ₩131.5K

$87.0 ₩132.1K

-0.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩178.2K

$117 ₩177.8K

0.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₩759.8K

$451 ₩685.1K

10.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 ₩491.7K

$369 ₩560.5K

-12.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₩1.5M

$1,053 ₩1.6M

-5.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₩1.0M

$768 ₩1.2M

-12.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,714 ₩14.8M

$10.5K ₩15.9M

-7.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,961 ₩10.6M

$5,863 ₩8.9M

18.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,396 ₩3.6M

$1,441 ₩2.2M

66.31%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Yangsan: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Busan and $451 in Yangsan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 66% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Busan vs $37.00 in Yangsan. Groceries flip the comparison at $450 vs $444, with Yangsan 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 Yangsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Busan pays 66% 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 $451 in Yangsan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Yangsan pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,494 per month in Busan versus $1,512 in Yangsan – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,494 in Busan versus $1,512 in Yangsan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Busan but tight or insufficient in Yangsan. The gap between the two cities makes Busan 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 Yangsan 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 Busan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Yangsan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.