Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Busan Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Busan

🙂 Solo nomad: Gyeongju is 10.8% cheaper than Busan without rent, and 0 with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Gyeongju is 8.2% cheaper than Busan without rent, and 0.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gyeongju
Busan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.28 ₩9,877
$7.2 ₩9,768
1.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.88 ₩50K
$36.37 ₩49.3K
1.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.94 ₩8,066
$6.2 ₩8,418
-4.19%
Cappuccino
$4.03 ₩5,470
$4.16 ₩5,643
-3.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 ₩2,472
$1.81 ₩2,461
0.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 ₩1,892
$1.39 ₩1,885
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.64 ₩4,941
$3.6 ₩4,879
1.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 ₩8,200
$5.77 ₩7,828
4.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gyeongju
Busan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 ₩3,095
$2.23 ₩3,027
2.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 ₩4,844
$3.56 ₩4,830
0.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.09 ₩4,193
$2.97 ₩4,027
4.04%
Eggs
$3.01 ₩4,083
$2.87 ₩3,898
4.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.52 ₩14.3K
$10.4 ₩14.1K
1.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.3 ₩11.3K
$8.29 ₩11.2K
0.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.7 ₩37.6K
$28.01 ₩38K
-1.11%
Apples (1kg)
$8.48 ₩11.5K
$8.24 ₩11.2K
2.91%
Banana (1kg)
$3.27 ₩4,437
$3.14 ₩4,267
4.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.53 ₩10.2K
$7.57 ₩10.3K
-0.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.11 ₩6,938
$5.31 ₩7,204
-3.77%
Potato (1kg)
$5.04 ₩6,844
$5 ₩6,786
0.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 ₩4,026
$2.99 ₩4,061
-0.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 ₩2,767
$2.09 ₩2,837
-2.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 ₩1,574
$1.17 ₩1,584
-0.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₩4,585
$3.34 ₩4,535
1.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.98 ₩19K
$13.92 ₩18.9K
0.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ₩2,397
$1.75 ₩2,377
1.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 ₩4,579
$3.46 ₩4,695
-2.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Gyeongju
Busan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 ₩1,450
$1.12 ₩1,520
-4.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$43.34 ₩58.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 ₩4,042
$3.58 ₩4,854
-16.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 ₩1,145
$0.85 ₩1,160
-1.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.67 ₩22.6K
$16.71 ₩22.7K
-0.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ₩1,592
$1.22 ₩1,658
-4.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ₩37.9M
$28.2K ₩38.3M
-1.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K ₩34.4M
$24.9K ₩33.7M
1.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gyeongju
Busan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 ₩256.6K
$189 ₩256K
0.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.4 ₩63K
$50.5 ₩68.5K
-8.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.67 ₩37.5K
$27.23 ₩36.9K
1.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gyeongju
Busan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.88 ₩63.6K
$52.7 ₩71.4K
-10.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.41 ₩18.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.04 ₩15K
$11.46 ₩15.6K
-3.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gyeongju
Busan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$498 ₩675.4K
$485 ₩658.4K
2.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K ₩19.4M
$14.3K ₩19.4M
0.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gyeongju
Busan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₩140.1K
$104 ₩141K
-0.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.97 ₩63.7K
$65.1 ₩88.3K
-27.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 ₩119K
$88.6 ₩120.3K
-1.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 ₩160K
$119 ₩161.9K
-1.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gyeongju
Busan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₩616.3K
$500 ₩678.1K
-9.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$375 ₩508.6K
$319 ₩432.3K
17.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 ₩1.5M
$997 ₩1.4M
7.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$782 ₩1.1M
$665 ₩901.8K
17.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,853 ₩9.3M
$8,901 ₩12.1M
-23.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,846 ₩7.9M
$7,158 ₩9.7M
-18.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gyeongju
Busan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,404 ₩1.9M
$2,514 ₩3.4M
-44.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
4.22
-

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

Last update for Gyeongju: October 28, 2025

Last update for Busan: October 29, 2025

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