Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Pangyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Pangyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,495 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,472 in Pangyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,319 per month in Gyeongju vs $2,272 in Pangyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,144 per month in Gyeongju vs $3,071 in Pangyo, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 ₩11.1K

$7.18 ₩10.9K

1.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.18 ₩54.8K

$36.12 ₩54.7K

0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 ₩9,354

$5.59 ₩8,463

10.38%

Cappuccino

$4.00 ₩6,054

$3.95 ₩5,987

1.27%

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

$1.83 ₩2,772

$1.52 ₩2,301

20.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩2,014

$0.83 ₩1,264

60.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 ₩5,449

$3.29 ₩4,987

9.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,732

$5.07 ₩7,675

13.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,401

$2.15 ₩3,256

4.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 ₩5,202

$3.09 ₩4,676

11.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 ₩4,685

$3.10 ₩4,703

-0.32%

Eggs

$2.98 ₩4,518

$3.01 ₩4,564

-1.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.45 ₩15.8K

$10.60 ₩16.1K

-1.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 ₩12.5K

$8.01 ₩12.1K

2.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.27 ₩41.3K

$27.61 ₩41.8K

-1.23%

Apples (1kg)

$8.53 ₩12.9K

$8.00 ₩12.1K

6.62%

Banana (1kg)

$3.15 ₩4,767

$3.24 ₩4,903

-2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.46 ₩11.3K

$5.46 ₩8,271

36.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 ₩8,035

$5.15 ₩7,805

2.91%

Potato (1kg)

$5.20 ₩7,877

$3.96 ₩6,006

31.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,601

$2.98 ₩4,509

2.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₩3,058

$2.14 ₩3,239

-5.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,820

$1.15 ₩1,744

4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₩5,048

$3.22 ₩4,876

3.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 ₩20.0K

$16.41 ₩24.9K

-19.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₩2,651

$1.89 ₩2,866

-7.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 ₩5,258

$3.33 ₩5,042

4.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,677

$1.12 ₩1,694

-0.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.67 ₩72.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₩4,575

$3.61 ₩5,466

-16.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 ₩1,188

$0.53 ₩802

47.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.38 ₩24.8K

$8.73 ₩13.2K

87.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,842

$1.18 ₩1,780

3.39%

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

$27.2K ₩41.2M

$27.4K ₩41.5M

-0.71%

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

$25.1K ₩38.0M

$24.8K ₩37.6M

1.23%

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

$187 ₩283.9K

$162 ₩245.9K

15.47%

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

$46.54 ₩70.5K

$35.40 ₩53.6K

31.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.73 ₩42.0K

$21.84 ₩33.1K

26.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.37 ₩71.8K

$46.97 ₩71.2K

0.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.70 ₩51.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.17 ₩16.9K

$10.97 ₩16.6K

1.82%

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

$494 ₩748.3K

$419 ₩634.3K

17.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ₩21.8M

$23.5K ₩35.6M

-38.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₩158.9K

$58.1 ₩88.0K

80.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.99 ₩72.7K

$48.49 ₩73.5K

-1.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.9 ₩136.2K

$78.6 ₩119.2K

14.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩177.6K

$114 ₩173.2K

2.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 ₩678.7K

$456 ₩691.2K

-1.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 ₩570.4K

$381 ₩577.4K

-1.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₩1.6M

$1,045 ₩1.6M

4.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$758 ₩1.1M

$771 ₩1.2M

-1.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,707 ₩14.7M

$9,529 ₩14.4M

1.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,689 ₩8.6M

$5,255 ₩8.0M

8.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,646 ₩2.5M

$4,598 ₩7.0M

-64.20%

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 Gyeongju: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pangyo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Gyeongju 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 179% 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 $36.00 in Gyeongju versus $36.00 in Pangyo. Groceries tell a different story – $439 in Gyeongju vs $428 in Pangyo – so Pangyo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Gyeongju vs Pangyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Gyeongju is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,242 per month in Gyeongju 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 $1,495 in Gyeongju and $1,472 in Pangyo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Gyeongju 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 Gyeongju at $1,495. In Pangyo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gyeongju 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, Gyeongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.