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: $1,531 in Busan versus $1,350 in Yongin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,395 in Busan versus $2,077 in Yongin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,259 in Busan versus $2,805 in Yongin.

Living in Busan is roughly 13% more expensive than in Yongin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busan 15% above, Yongin 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 ₩10.1K

$6.05 ₩8,708

16.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.34 ₩52.3K

$21.77 ₩31.3K

66.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.88 ₩8,455

$6.28 ₩9,038

-6.37%

Cappuccino

$4.00 ₩5,753

$3.77 ₩5,417

6.10%

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

$1.87 ₩2,690

$1.74 ₩2,502

7.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,977

$0.78 ₩1,122

75.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 ₩5,230

$3.15 ₩4,525

15.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 ₩8,624

$4.83 ₩6,943

24.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,246

$2.25 ₩3,230

0.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 ₩5,110

$1.44 ₩2,075

146.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 ₩4,277

$3.21 ₩4,618

-7.48%

Eggs

$2.98 ₩4,288

$2.55 ₩3,668

16.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 ₩14.9K

$7.50 ₩10.8K

38.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.36 ₩12.0K

$10.66 ₩15.3K

-21.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.82 ₩40.0K

$22.22 ₩32.0K

25.20%

Apples (1kg)

$8.59 ₩12.4K

$7.50 ₩10.8K

14.53%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 ₩4,479

$3.57 ₩5,129

-12.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.24 ₩10.4K

$3.70 ₩5,314

95.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ₩7,581

$3.69 ₩5,307

42.82%

Potato (1kg)

$5.28 ₩7,587

$3.68 ₩5,300

43.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 ₩4,196

$2.98 ₩4,280

-2.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₩2,901

$2.53 ₩3,640

-20.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,671

$1.15 ₩1,651

0.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ₩4,799

$3.28 ₩4,722

1.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.27 ₩24.8K

$17.26 ₩24.8K

0.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₩2,495

$1.79 ₩2,569

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ₩4,751

$3.22 ₩4,634

2.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₩1,663

$0.98 ₩1,405

18.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.92 ₩64.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 ₩5,042

$3.63 ₩5,222

-3.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₩1,213

$0.57 ₩816

47.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.69 ₩24.0K

$8.98 ₩12.9K

85.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,666

$1.21 ₩1,734

-4.13%

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

$27.8K ₩39.9M

$28.2K ₩40.6M

-1.54%

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

$24.7K ₩35.5M

$24.9K ₩35.8M

-0.79%

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

$188 ₩269.7K

$163 ₩233.7K

15.38%

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

$50.3 ₩72.4K

$34.77 ₩50.0K

44.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.92 ₩40.2K

$22.40 ₩32.2K

24.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 ₩74.4K

$52.2 ₩75.1K

-0.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.98 ₩18.7K

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 ₩16.5K

$10.94 ₩15.7K

4.75%

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

$481 ₩691.2K

$413 ₩594.1K

16.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₩20.6M

$23.4K ₩33.6M

-38.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₩148.0K

$59.1 ₩85.0K

74.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.1 ₩95.0K

$48.36 ₩69.6K

36.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 ₩126.3K

$79.7 ₩114.7K

10.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₩171.5K

$116 ₩166.9K

2.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 ₩717.9K

$453 ₩651.0K

10.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 ₩466.2K

$383 ₩550.2K

-15.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$994 ₩1.4M

$1,064 ₩1.5M

-6.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 ₩953.4K

$757 ₩1.1M

-12.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,574 ₩13.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,200 ₩10.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,584 ₩3.7M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.14

1.93%

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

Last update for Busan: July 26, 2026

Last update for Yongin: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $499 in Busan and $453 in Yongin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Busan vs $22.00 in Yongin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $449 vs $385 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 13% 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 $2,297 in Busan and $2,025 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $499 in Busan versus $453 in Yongin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Busan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,531 per month in Busan versus $1,350 in Yongin – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,350 in Yongin versus $1,531 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 13% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.