Cost of Living Comparison Between Gongju and Busan Cost of Living Comparison Between Gongju and Busan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,487 in Gongju versus $1,531 in Busan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,321 in Gongju versus $2,395 in Busan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Gongju versus $3,259 in Busan.

Living in Gongju costs roughly 3% less than in Busan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gongju 12% above, Busan 15% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.20 ₩10.4K

$7.05 ₩10.1K

2.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.75 ₩52.9K

$36.34 ₩52.3K

1.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.10 ₩8,772

$5.88 ₩8,455

3.74%

Cappuccino

$4.09 ₩5,887

$4.00 ₩5,753

2.25%

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

$1.89 ₩2,719

$1.87 ₩2,690

1.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩1,991

$1.37 ₩1,977

0.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,370

$3.64 ₩5,230

2.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 ₩8,404

$6.00 ₩8,624

-2.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₩3,324

$2.26 ₩3,246

2.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 ₩5,028

$3.55 ₩5,110

-1.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 ₩4,416

$2.97 ₩4,277

3.37%

Eggs

$2.98 ₩4,279

$2.98 ₩4,288

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 ₩15.2K

$10.35 ₩14.9K

1.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.28 ₩11.9K

$8.36 ₩12.0K

-0.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.72 ₩39.9K

$27.82 ₩40.0K

-0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$8.44 ₩12.1K

$8.59 ₩12.4K

-1.75%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,673

$3.11 ₩4,479

4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.32 ₩10.5K

$7.24 ₩10.4K

1.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.16 ₩7,421

$5.27 ₩7,581

-2.09%

Potato (1kg)

$5.21 ₩7,495

$5.28 ₩7,587

-1.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₩4,391

$2.92 ₩4,196

4.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₩2,895

$2.02 ₩2,901

-0.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,663

$1.16 ₩1,671

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,866

$3.34 ₩4,799

1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.22 ₩24.8K

$17.27 ₩24.8K

-0.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₩2,458

$1.73 ₩2,495

-1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 ₩5,022

$3.30 ₩4,751

5.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,523

$1.16 ₩1,663

-8.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.92 ₩64.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,028

$3.51 ₩5,042

-0.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 ₩1,231

$0.84 ₩1,213

2.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.27 ₩23.4K

$16.69 ₩24.0K

-2.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₩1,732

$1.16 ₩1,666

3.45%

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

$27.5K ₩39.6M

$27.8K ₩39.9M

-0.81%

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

$25.4K ₩36.5M

$24.7K ₩35.5M

2.71%

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

$193 ₩277.6K

$188 ₩269.7K

2.94%

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

$50.5 ₩72.6K

$50.3 ₩72.4K

0.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.04 ₩40.3K

$27.92 ₩40.2K

0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.28 ₩69.4K

$51.8 ₩74.4K

-6.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.98 ₩18.7K

Cinema Ticket

$11.44 ₩16.5K

$11.46 ₩16.5K

-0.17%

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

$489 ₩703.0K

$481 ₩691.2K

1.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ₩20.7M

$14.3K ₩20.6M

0.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩145.9K

$103 ₩148.0K

-1.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.42 ₩68.2K

$66.1 ₩95.0K

-28.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 ₩125.9K

$87.8 ₩126.3K

-0.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₩172.4K

$119 ₩171.5K

0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$458 ₩658.8K

$499 ₩717.9K

-8.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 ₩533.0K

$324 ₩466.2K

14.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 ₩1.5M

$994 ₩1.4M

6.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 ₩1.1M

$663 ₩953.4K

14.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,330 ₩10.5M

$9,574 ₩13.8M

-23.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,084 ₩7.3M

$7,200 ₩10.4M

-29.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,175 ₩1.7M

$2,584 ₩3.7M

-54.51%

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 Gongju: July 28, 2026

Last update for Busan: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $458 in Gongju and $499 in Busan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busan pays 120% 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: $37.00 in Gongju vs $36.00 in Busan. Groceries flip the comparison at $449 vs $449, with Gongju cheaper for home cooking.

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

Gongju vs Busan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gongju wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Busan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gongju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 120% 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: $458 in Gongju versus $499 in Busan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $1,487 per month in Gongju versus $1,531 in Busan – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,487 in Gongju versus $1,531 in Busan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gongju but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Gongju 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, Gongju 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 Gongju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.