Cost of Living Comparison Between Gwangju and Busan Cost of Living Comparison Between Gwangju and Busan

🙂 Solo nomad: Gwangju is 6.4% cheaper than Busan without rent, and 5.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Gwangju is 10.9% cheaper than Busan without rent, and 6.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gwangju
Busan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.4 ₩10K
$7.2 ₩9,768
2.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.5 ₩69.9K
$36.37 ₩49.3K
41.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.82 ₩7,898
$6.2 ₩8,418
-6.13%
Cappuccino
$3.9 ₩5,286
$4.16 ₩5,643
-6.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ₩2,258
$1.81 ₩2,461
-8.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ₩991
$1.39 ₩1,885
-47.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.9 ₩3,934
$3.6 ₩4,879
-19.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 ₩4,850
$5.77 ₩7,828
-38.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gwangju
Busan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ₩2,534
$2.23 ₩3,027
-16.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 ₩3,161
$3.56 ₩4,830
-34.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.09 ₩4,192
$2.97 ₩4,027
4.04%
Eggs
$2.61 ₩3,544
$2.87 ₩3,898
-9.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.37 ₩10K
$10.4 ₩14.1K
-29.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.43 ₩10.1K
$8.29 ₩11.2K
-10.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$34.14 ₩46.3K
$28.01 ₩38K
21.89%
Apples (1kg)
$7.63 ₩10.4K
$8.24 ₩11.2K
-7.40%
Banana (1kg)
$3.63 ₩4,919
$3.14 ₩4,267
15.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.46 ₩7,407
$7.57 ₩10.3K
-27.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.73 ₩7,775
$5.31 ₩7,204
7.91%
Potato (1kg)
$3.88 ₩5,265
$5 ₩6,786
-22.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 ₩3,231
$2.99 ₩4,061
-20.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 ₩3,419
$2.09 ₩2,837
20.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 ₩1,719
$1.17 ₩1,584
8.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.37 ₩4,569
$3.34 ₩4,535
0.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.48 ₩21K
$13.92 ₩18.9K
11.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₩2,208
$1.75 ₩2,377
-6.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₩3,088
$3.46 ₩4,695
-34.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Gwangju
Busan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₩1,293
$1.12 ₩1,520
-15.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65 ₩88.2K
$43.34 ₩58.8K
50.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ₩3,951
$3.58 ₩4,854
-18.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₩771
$0.85 ₩1,160
-32.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.33 ₩11.3K
$16.71 ₩22.7K
-50.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ₩1,700
$1.22 ₩1,658
2.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28K ₩37.9M
$28.2K ₩38.3M
-0.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K ₩29.4M
$24.9K ₩33.7M
-12.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gwangju
Busan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 ₩220.3K
$189 ₩256K
-13.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.31 ₩47.9K
$50.5 ₩68.5K
-30.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.42 ₩30.4K
$27.23 ₩36.9K
-17.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gwangju
Busan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.2 ₩65.4K
$52.7 ₩71.4K
-8.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.96 ₩20.3K
$13.41 ₩18.2K
11.56%
Cinema Ticket
$8.95 ₩12.1K
$11.46 ₩15.6K
-21.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gwangju
Busan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$411 ₩558.1K
$485 ₩658.4K
-15.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K ₩32.2M
$14.3K ₩19.4M
66.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gwangju
Busan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.41 ₩67K
$104 ₩141K
-52.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.06 ₩48.9K
$65.1 ₩88.3K
-44.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.5 ₩84.8K
$88.6 ₩120.3K
-29.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 ₩135.9K
$119 ₩161.9K
-16.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gwangju
Busan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$457 ₩620.4K
$500 ₩678.1K
-8.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 ₩487.6K
$319 ₩432.3K
12.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$850 ₩1.2M
$997 ₩1.4M
-14.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 ₩797.3K
$665 ₩901.8K
-11.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,532 ₩10.2M
$8,901 ₩12.1M
-15.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,842 ₩6.6M
$7,158 ₩9.7M
-32.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gwangju
Busan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,451 ₩3.3M
$2,514 ₩3.4M
-2.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.9
4.22
-7.58%

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

Last update for Gwangju: October 28, 2025

Last update for Busan: October 29, 2025

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