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: $1,583 in Busan versus $1,424 in Yeosu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Busan versus $2,218 in Yeosu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,384 in Busan versus $3,013 in Yeosu.

Living in Busan is roughly 11% more expensive than in Yeosu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 15% above, Yeosu 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₩10.0K

$5.75 ₩7,717

29.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.48 ₩65.0K

$37.26 ₩50.0K

30.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 ₩9,111

$6.10 ₩8,181

11.31%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₩4,923

$3.74 ₩5,022

-1.87%

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

$1.79 ₩2,398

$1.30 ₩1,750

37.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₩1,914

$0.73 ₩978

95.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,007

$3.80 ₩5,096

-1.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,794

$4.17 ₩5,596

3.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,035

$2.12 ₩2,838

6.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 ₩4,305

$3.04 ₩4,082

5.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,055

$3.07 ₩4,113

-1.63%

Eggs

$2.67 ₩3,577

$2.68 ₩3,589

-0.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 ₩14.9K

$11.07 ₩14.8K

0.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩13.7K

$10.47 ₩14.0K

-2.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.22 ₩33.8K

$24.98 ₩33.5K

0.96%

Apples (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.7K

$7.36 ₩9,872

48.78%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,953

$3.52 ₩4,722

4.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 ₩11.0K

$7.23 ₩9,699

13.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,091

$5.95 ₩7,984

1.34%

Potato (1kg)

$5.81 ₩7,795

$3.74 ₩5,014

55.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 ₩4,423

$3.38 ₩4,527

-2.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 ₩3,713

$2.17 ₩2,912

27.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,780

$1.09 ₩1,461

22.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,529

$3.28 ₩4,393

3.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.0K

$15.14 ₩20.3K

23.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,167

$2.17 ₩2,915

8.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₩4,666

$2.28 ₩3,058

52.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,526

$1.16 ₩1,552

-1.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 ₩81.0K

$40.25 ₩54.0K

50.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩4,831

$2.94 ₩3,942

22.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩978

$0.71 ₩948

2.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.95 ₩22.7K

$10.12 ₩13.6K

67.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₩1,791

$1.19 ₩1,592

12.61%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$29.7K ₩39.8M

-0.38%

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

$32.9K ₩44.1M

$26.5K ₩35.6M

24.04%

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

$203 ₩272.2K

$188 ₩251.7K

8.17%

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

$36.96 ₩49.6K

$35.77 ₩48.0K

3.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₩35.7K

$22.14 ₩29.7K

20.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 ₩84.2K

$56.6 ₩75.9K

10.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 ₩13.5K

$12.09 ₩16.2K

-16.63%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 ₩16.2K

$10.39 ₩13.9K

16.65%

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

$635 ₩851.7K

$366 ₩490.2K

73.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$18.3K ₩24.5M

20.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩142.0K

$56.0 ₩75.1K

89.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 ₩87.1K

$36.90 ₩49.5K

76.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ₩123.7K

$73.1 ₩98.0K

26.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩171.1K

$113 ₩151.8K

12.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₩977.2K

$442 ₩592.2K

65.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 ₩493.1K

$354 ₩475.3K

3.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 ₩1.8M

$1,150 ₩1.5M

16.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩944.5K

$722 ₩967.9K

-2.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,949 ₩13.3M

$7,158 ₩9.6M

38.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,382 ₩8.6M

$5,425 ₩7.3M

17.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 ₩3.8M

$2,104 ₩2.8M

33.16%

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: September 8, 2026

Last update for Yeosu: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Busan and $442 in Yeosu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 33% 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: $48.00 in Busan vs $37.00 in Yeosu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $485 vs $437 per month, with Yeosu 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 Yeosu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yeosu wins on cost – living expenses run 11% 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.

Average pay runs 33% 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: $729 in Busan versus $442 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 50% less than in Busan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $635 in Busan versus $366 in Yeosu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,424 in Yeosu versus $1,583 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 11% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.