Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Yongin Cost of Living Comparison Between Busan and Yongin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,596 in Busan versus $1,029 in Yongin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,494 in Busan versus $1,554 in Yongin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,392 in Busan versus $2,079 in Yongin.

Living in Busan is roughly 55% more expensive than in Yongin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Busan is 17% above, Yongin is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 ₩10.1K

$5.87 ₩8,093

24.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.54 ₩66.9K

$25.72 ₩35.4K

88.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 ₩9,334

$6.52 ₩8,981

3.83%

Cappuccino

$3.63 ₩5,005

$3.74 ₩5,156

-2.94%

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

$1.77 ₩2,439

$1.60 ₩2,210

10.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,886

$0.58 ₩804

136.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,161

$3.36 ₩4,629

11.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 ₩5,723

$4.32 ₩5,953

-3.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₩3,062

$1.10 ₩1,510

101.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 ₩4,406

$3.16 ₩4,352

1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,408

$2.23 ₩3,075

43.50%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,735

$2.34 ₩3,228

15.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₩15.1K

$15.74 ₩21.7K

-30.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 ₩14.6K

$8.02 ₩11.1K

32.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.56 ₩33.8K

$11.10 ₩15.3K

121.26%

Apples (1kg)

$10.91 ₩15.0K

$7.76 ₩10.7K

40.59%

Banana (1kg)

$3.51 ₩4,840

$3.31 ₩4,559

6.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.22 ₩11.3K

$7.64 ₩10.5K

7.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.79 ₩7,981

$7.13 ₩9,824

-18.79%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩8,121

$3.48 ₩4,799

69.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,601

$2.47 ₩3,399

35.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,776

$2.08 ₩2,873

31.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,824

$1.44 ₩1,978

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,561

$3.44 ₩4,738

-3.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.76 ₩25.9K

$18.60 ₩25.6K

0.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₩3,265

$2.25 ₩3,098

5.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₩4,607

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,599

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₩4,982

$3.56 ₩4,908

1.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₩1,039

$0.65 ₩891

15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.97 ₩23.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,922

$1.40 ₩1,928

-0.71%

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

$29.3K ₩40.4M

$29.5K ₩40.6M

-0.54%

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

$33.0K ₩45.4M

$36.0K ₩49.7M

-8.53%

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

$196 ₩270.1K

$209 ₩288.2K

-6.27%

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

$36.66 ₩50.5K

$42.43 ₩58.5K

-13.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.60 ₩36.7K

$20.95 ₩28.9K

26.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 ₩85.3K

$52.3 ₩72.1K

18.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₩13.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 ₩16.3K

$11.29 ₩15.6K

4.69%

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

$628 ₩865.8K

$294 ₩405.1K

113.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K ₩30.4M

$17.6K ₩24.3M

25.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩140.4K

$66.0 ₩91.0K

54.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₩88.0K

$63.3 ₩87.2K

0.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ₩129.6K

$74.2 ₩102.2K

26.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₩171.5K

$101 ₩138.5K

23.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 ₩994.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 ₩506.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 ₩1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₩965.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,980 ₩13.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,262 ₩8.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,835 ₩3.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.1

2.93%

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

Last update for Busan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Yongin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $49.00 in Busan vs $26.00 in Yongin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $482 vs $396 per month, with Yongin 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 Yongin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yongin wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yongin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,393 in Busan and $1,544 in Yongin 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,596 per month in Busan versus $1,029 in Yongin – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,029 in Yongin versus $1,596 in Busan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yongin but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Yongin 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 Yongin 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 Yongin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.