Cost of Living Comparison Between Geoje and Busan Cost of Living Comparison Between Geoje and Busan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,702 in Geoje versus $1,596 in Busan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,622 in Geoje versus $2,494 in Busan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,542 in Geoje versus $3,392 in Busan.

Living in Geoje is roughly 7% more expensive than in Busan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Geoje 24% above, Busan 17% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.37 ₩10.2K

$7.32 ₩10.1K

0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 ₩65.3K

$48.54 ₩66.9K

-2.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.56 ₩9,042

$6.77 ₩9,334

-3.10%

Cappuccino

$3.68 ₩5,066

$3.63 ₩5,005

1.38%

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

$1.79 ₩2,470

$1.77 ₩2,439

1.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₩1,486

$1.37 ₩1,886

-21.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 ₩2,546

$3.75 ₩5,161

-50.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₩5,047

$4.15 ₩5,723

-11.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,084

$2.22 ₩3,062

0.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 ₩4,049

$3.20 ₩4,406

-8.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,264

$3.20 ₩4,408

-3.44%

Eggs

$2.64 ₩3,635

$2.71 ₩3,735

-2.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.11 ₩15.3K

$10.93 ₩15.1K

1.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 ₩9,857

$10.59 ₩14.6K

-32.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.19 ₩30.6K

$24.56 ₩33.8K

-9.65%

Apples (1kg)

$10.94 ₩15.1K

$10.91 ₩15.0K

0.27%

Banana (1kg)

$3.52 ₩4,846

$3.51 ₩4,840

0.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 ₩7,943

$8.22 ₩11.3K

-29.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.04 ₩8,331

$5.79 ₩7,981

4.32%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩8,116

$5.89 ₩8,121

Onion (1kg)

$3.23 ₩4,448

$3.34 ₩4,601

-3.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 ₩3,934

$2.74 ₩3,776

4.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₩1,824

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,499

$3.31 ₩4,561

-1.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.86 ₩17.7K

$18.76 ₩25.9K

-31.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₩2,606

$2.37 ₩3,265

-20.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ₩4,761

$3.34 ₩4,607

3.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 ₩1,773

$1.16 ₩1,599

11.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 ₩81.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 ₩3,992

$3.62 ₩4,982

-19.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₩1,046

$0.75 ₩1,039

1.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.76 ₩23.1K

$16.97 ₩23.4K

-1.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,916

$1.39 ₩1,922

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

$29.6K ₩40.8M

$29.3K ₩40.4M

1.00%

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

$32.9K ₩45.3M

$33.0K ₩45.4M

-0.18%

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

$199 ₩273.7K

$196 ₩270.1K

1.34%

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

$36.26 ₩50.0K

$36.66 ₩50.5K

-1.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.54 ₩36.6K

$26.60 ₩36.7K

-0.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$129 ₩177.2K

$61.9 ₩85.3K

107.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₩13.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.84 ₩16.3K

$11.82 ₩16.3K

0.17%

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

$640 ₩882.7K

$628 ₩865.8K

1.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.7K ₩29.9M

$22.1K ₩30.4M

-1.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩142.8K

$102 ₩140.4K

1.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.3 ₩90.0K

$63.8 ₩88.0K

2.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.5 ₩72.3K

$94.1 ₩129.6K

-44.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 ₩174.2K

$124 ₩171.5K

1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$655 ₩903.3K

$722 ₩994.5K

-9.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 ₩779.5K

$367 ₩506.1K

54.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,136 ₩1.6M

$1,319 ₩1.8M

-13.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 ₩1.4M

$701 ₩965.5K

49.96%

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)

$1,721 ₩2.4M

$2,835 ₩3.9M

-39.31%

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 Geoje: September 13, 2026

Last update for Busan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $655 in Geoje and $722 in Busan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Geoje vs $49.00 in Busan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $433 vs $482 per month, with Geoje 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

Geoje vs Busan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 65% lower in Busan. 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: $655 in Geoje versus $722 in Busan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Geoje pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,702 per month in Geoje versus $1,596 in Busan – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,596 in Busan versus $1,702 in Geoje, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Busan but tight or insufficient in Geoje. 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, Geoje 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 7% less than in Geoje. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.