Cost of Living Comparison Between Gongju and Pangyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Gongju and Pangyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,507 per month in Gongju vs $1,472 in Pangyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,313 per month in Gongju vs $2,272 in Pangyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,119 per month in Gongju vs $3,071 in Pangyo, rent included.

Gongju costs about 2% more than Pangyo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Gongju and Pangyo sit above the global median – Gongju by 12%, Pangyo by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.04 ₩10.7K

$7.18 ₩10.9K

-1.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.80 ₩55.8K

$36.12 ₩54.7K

1.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.03 ₩9,144

$5.59 ₩8,463

7.87%

Cappuccino

$4.02 ₩6,093

$3.95 ₩5,987

1.77%

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

$1.82 ₩2,752

$1.52 ₩2,301

19.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₩2,103

$0.83 ₩1,264

67.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 ₩5,513

$3.29 ₩4,987

10.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 ₩9,121

$5.07 ₩7,675

18.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₩3,446

$2.15 ₩3,256

5.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 ₩5,305

$3.09 ₩4,676

13.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.14 ₩4,756

$3.10 ₩4,703

1.29%

Eggs

$2.97 ₩4,503

$3.01 ₩4,564

-1.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 ₩16.2K

$10.60 ₩16.1K

0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 ₩12.6K

$8.01 ₩12.1K

3.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.01 ₩40.9K

$27.61 ₩41.8K

-2.17%

Apples (1kg)

$8.67 ₩13.1K

$8.00 ₩12.1K

8.38%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,744

$3.24 ₩4,903

-3.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.31 ₩11.1K

$5.46 ₩8,271

33.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.19 ₩7,866

$5.15 ₩7,805

0.78%

Potato (1kg)

$5.11 ₩7,745

$3.96 ₩6,006

29.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₩4,435

$2.98 ₩4,509

-1.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₩3,055

$2.14 ₩3,239

-5.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,741

$1.15 ₩1,744

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₩5,070

$3.22 ₩4,876

4.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.66 ₩25.2K

$16.41 ₩24.9K

1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₩2,575

$1.89 ₩2,866

-10.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₩5,055

$3.33 ₩5,042

0.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,606

$1.12 ₩1,694

-5.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.67 ₩72.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₩5,266

$3.61 ₩5,466

-3.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₩1,207

$0.53 ₩802

50.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.47 ₩25.0K

$8.73 ₩13.2K

88.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₩1,857

$1.18 ₩1,780

4.24%

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

$28.2K ₩42.8M

$27.4K ₩41.5M

2.97%

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

$25.3K ₩38.4M

$24.8K ₩37.6M

2.22%

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

$191 ₩289.0K

$162 ₩245.9K

17.55%

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

$50.1 ₩75.9K

$35.40 ₩53.6K

41.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.94 ₩42.3K

$21.84 ₩33.1K

27.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.22 ₩71.5K

$46.97 ₩71.2K

0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.70 ₩51.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.47 ₩17.4K

$10.97 ₩16.6K

4.56%

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

$489 ₩741.6K

$419 ₩634.3K

16.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K ₩21.3M

$23.5K ₩35.6M

-40.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩153.5K

$58.1 ₩88.0K

74.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.06 ₩71.3K

$48.49 ₩73.5K

-2.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 ₩133.9K

$78.6 ₩119.2K

12.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩177.3K

$114 ₩173.2K

2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 ₩676.0K

$456 ₩691.2K

-2.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₩572.4K

$381 ₩577.4K

-0.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₩1.6M

$1,045 ₩1.6M

0.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₩1.2M

$771 ₩1.2M

0.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,773 ₩14.8M

$9,529 ₩14.4M

2.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 ₩7.9M

$5,255 ₩8.0M

-1.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,177 ₩1.8M

$4,598 ₩7.0M

-74.40%

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 Gongju: June 2, 2026

Last update for Pangyo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Gongju versus $456 in Pangyo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 291% higher in Pangyo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Gongju versus $36.00 in Pangyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $446 vs $428 – making Pangyo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Pangyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,507 in Gongju, $1,472 in Pangyo – roughly 2% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,260 per month in Gongju and $2,209 in Pangyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pangyo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,507 in Gongju and $1,472 in Pangyo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $489 per month in Gongju and $419 in Pangyo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pangyo, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Gongju at $1,507. In Pangyo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gongju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pangyo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Pangyo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.