Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Yeosu Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Yeosu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Busan versus $1,427 in Yeosu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,376 in Busan versus $2,228 in Yeosu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,228 in Busan versus $3,029 in Yeosu.

Living in Busan is roughly 7% more expensive than Yeosu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 14% above, Yeosu 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ₩10.7K

$5.97 ₩9,040

18.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.26 ₩56.5K

$36.51 ₩55.3K

2.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 ₩9,288

$5.98 ₩9,055

2.51%

Cappuccino

$4.15 ₩6,295

$4.08 ₩6,187

1.72%

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

$1.86 ₩2,816

$1.30 ₩1,977

43.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩2,094

$0.70 ₩1,057

97.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 ₩5,624

$3.71 ₩5,622

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,726

$4.47 ₩6,774

28.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₩3,538

$2.09 ₩3,172

11.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 ₩5,372

$2.89 ₩4,381

22.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,590

$3.03 ₩4,591

Eggs

$2.96 ₩4,491

$2.97 ₩4,497

-0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 ₩15.7K

$10.31 ₩15.6K

0.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 ₩12.8K

$8.45 ₩12.8K

0.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.30 ₩41.4K

$27.38 ₩41.5K

-0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$8.50 ₩12.9K

$7.51 ₩11.4K

13.18%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,924

$3.20 ₩4,849

1.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 ₩11.4K

$7.50 ₩11.4K

0.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.32 ₩8,062

$5.18 ₩7,850

2.70%

Potato (1kg)

$5.17 ₩7,838

$3.61 ₩5,475

43.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₩4,461

$2.91 ₩4,415

1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩3,030

$2.01 ₩3,049

-0.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,812

$1.13 ₩1,709

6.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,969

$3.21 ₩4,869

2.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.73 ₩25.4K

$13.04 ₩19.8K

28.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₩2,633

$1.73 ₩2,627

0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 ₩5,249

$2.25 ₩3,405

53.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,683

$1.06 ₩1,607

4.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.83 ₩67.9K

$39.65 ₩60.1K

13.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,301

$2.82 ₩4,278

24.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,194

$0.66 ₩1,004

19.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.82 ₩25.5K

$9.68 ₩14.7K

73.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,856

$1.14 ₩1,731

7.89%

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

$27.4K ₩41.6M

$27.9K ₩42.2M

-1.58%

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

$25.0K ₩37.8M

$24.9K ₩37.8M

0.14%

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

$190 ₩288.4K

$183 ₩276.5K

4.30%

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

$49.90 ₩75.6K

$49.88 ₩75.6K

0.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩41.2K

$21.98 ₩33.3K

23.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 ₩78.8K

$48.62 ₩73.7K

6.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 ₩20.1K

$18.55 ₩28.1K

-28.63%

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 ₩17.1K

$10.11 ₩15.3K

11.87%

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

$497 ₩753.7K

$362 ₩549.2K

37.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.5M

-0.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩158.4K

$55.6 ₩84.2K

88.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 ₩98.3K

$37.19 ₩56.4K

74.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₩133.7K

$73.8 ₩111.9K

19.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩178.6K

$112 ₩169.2K

5.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₩756.9K

$450 ₩681.9K

10.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₩485.1K

$369 ₩558.7K

-13.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ₩1.5M

$1,076 ₩1.6M

-6.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₩989.5K

$755 ₩1.1M

-13.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,780 ₩14.8M

$9,770 ₩14.8M

0.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,054 ₩10.7M

$5,805 ₩8.8M

21.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,407 ₩3.6M

$1,849 ₩2.8M

30.22%

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 Yeosu: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Busan and $450 in Yeosu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 30% 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 $37.00 in Yeosu. Groceries flip the comparison at $450 vs $419, with Yeosu 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 Yeosu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yeosu wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yeosu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Busan pays 30% 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 $450 in Yeosu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Yeosu runs roughly 13% less than in Busan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $497 in Busan versus $362 in Yeosu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,427 in Yeosu versus $1,523 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yeosu but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Yeosu 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 Yeosu 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 Yeosu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.