Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Busan Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Busan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,504 in Changwon versus $1,494 in Busan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Changwon versus $2,332 in Busan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,105 in Changwon versus $3,171 in Busan.

Living in Changwon is roughly 1% more expensive than Busan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ₩10.5K

$7.33 ₩11.1K

-5.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.97 ₩42.5K

$37.36 ₩56.7K

-25.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ₩7,679

$5.93 ₩9,003

-14.67%

Cappuccino

$3.65 ₩5,538

$4.00 ₩6,070

-8.75%

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

$1.79 ₩2,711

$1.88 ₩2,852

-4.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₩1,420

$1.33 ₩2,021

-30.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 ₩4,356

$3.64 ₩5,520

-21.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 ₩6,434

$5.92 ₩8,993

-28.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,412

$2.35 ₩3,574

-4.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 ₩5,481

$3.57 ₩5,427

1.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,750

$3.14 ₩4,766

-0.32%

Eggs

$2.88 ₩4,372

$2.86 ₩4,345

0.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.68 ₩16.2K

$10.58 ₩16.1K

0.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.21 ₩12.5K

$8.42 ₩12.8K

-2.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.42 ₩41.6K

$27.75 ₩42.1K

-1.19%

Apples (1kg)

$8.58 ₩13.0K

$8.37 ₩12.7K

2.51%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,747

$3.23 ₩4,898

-3.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.37 ₩11.2K

$7.55 ₩11.5K

-2.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.41 ₩8,223

$5.27 ₩8,006

2.66%

Potato (1kg)

$5.15 ₩7,828

$5.10 ₩7,738

0.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 ₩4,489

$3.05 ₩4,632

-2.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 ₩3,202

$2.04 ₩3,093

3.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,763

$1.20 ₩1,827

-3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩5,099

$3.30 ₩5,008

1.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.40 ₩24.9K

$16.14 ₩24.5K

1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₩2,627

$1.77 ₩2,689

-2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ₩5,240

$3.33 ₩5,056

3.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 ₩1,670

$1.13 ₩1,714

-2.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.01 ₩66.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 ₩4,133

$3.50 ₩5,313

-22.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,198

$0.84 ₩1,281

-5.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.42 ₩24.9K

$16.49 ₩25.0K

-0.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,859

$1.16 ₩1,756

5.17%

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

$28.3K ₩42.9M

$28.0K ₩42.5M

1.04%

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

$24.6K ₩37.3M

$25.3K ₩38.4M

-2.88%

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

$192 ₩291.9K

$186 ₩282.7K

3.24%

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

$49.82 ₩75.7K

$50.8 ₩77.1K

-1.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.36 ₩41.5K

$27.96 ₩42.5K

-2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 ₩77.4K

$52.4 ₩79.6K

-2.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 ₩20.0K

Cinema Ticket

$11.43 ₩17.4K

$11.17 ₩17.0K

2.33%

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

$496 ₩752.8K

$489 ₩743.0K

1.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K ₩21.4M

$14.3K ₩21.8M

-1.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩153.9K

$103 ₩155.7K

-1.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.83 ₩72.6K

$65.2 ₩99.0K

-26.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 ₩131.6K

$86.6 ₩131.5K

0.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩179.2K

$117 ₩178.2K

0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₩678.9K

$500 ₩759.8K

-10.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₩574.1K

$324 ₩491.7K

16.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₩1.6M

$991 ₩1.5M

6.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$761 ₩1.2M

$673 ₩1.0M

13.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,714 ₩14.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,961 ₩10.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,469 ₩2.2M

$2,396 ₩3.6M

-38.69%

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 Changwon: June 7, 2026

Last update for Busan: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Changwon and $500 in Busan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 63% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Changwon vs $37.00 in Busan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $450 per month, with Changwon 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

Changwon vs Busan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changwon and Busan differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,504 vs $1,494 including rent). Busan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Busan earns 63% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Changwon versus $500 in Busan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Changwon pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,504 per month in Changwon versus $1,494 in Busan – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,494 in Busan versus $1,504 in Changwon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Busan but tight or insufficient in Changwon. 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, Changwon and Busan 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 Changwon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.