Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilsan and Pangyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilsan and Pangyo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,417 in Ilsan versus $1,467 in Pangyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,307 in Ilsan versus $2,261 in Pangyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,198 in Ilsan versus $3,055 in Pangyo.

Living in Ilsan costs roughly 3% less than in Pangyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ilsan 3% above, Pangyo 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 ₩9,796

$7.65 ₩10.3K

-4.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.7 ₩90.8K

$35.25 ₩47.3K

91.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 ₩9,843

$6.98 ₩9,364

5.16%

Cappuccino

$4.19 ₩5,622

$3.97 ₩5,326

5.54%

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

$1.65 ₩2,212

$1.71 ₩2,291

-3.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₩1,022

$0.62 ₩836

22.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.67 ₩4,915

$3.50 ₩4,694

4.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 ₩7,923

$4.73 ₩6,341

24.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ₩2,823

$2.28 ₩3,057

-7.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 ₩4,189

$3.02 ₩4,052

3.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₩3,006

$2.90 ₩3,889

-22.76%

Eggs

$3.22 ₩4,318

$2.57 ₩3,451

25.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.55 ₩20.9K

$10.85 ₩14.5K

43.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.57 ₩10.2K

$7.92 ₩10.6K

-4.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 ₩15.2K

$22.06 ₩29.6K

-48.55%

Apples (1kg)

$7.73 ₩10.4K

$7.63 ₩10.2K

1.31%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 ₩4,213

$3.56 ₩4,771

-11.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.82 ₩7,802

$7.56 ₩10.1K

-23.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.29 ₩8,432

$5.89 ₩7,901

6.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₩4,569

$4.16 ₩5,577

-18.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 ₩3,278

$2.66 ₩3,566

-8.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 ₩2,785

$2.73 ₩3,661

-23.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₩1,439

$1.29 ₩1,724

-17.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.37 ₩4,524

$3.37 ₩4,514

Wine (Bottle)

$18.68 ₩25.1K

$18.57 ₩24.9K

0.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₩3,064

$2.17 ₩2,906

5.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 ₩4,219

$3.43 ₩4,599

-8.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,504

$1.10 ₩1,470

1.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.03 ₩65.8K

$48.86 ₩65.5K

0.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₩4,663

$3.29 ₩4,415

5.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₩874

$0.66 ₩881

-1.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 ₩11.9K

$17.16 ₩23.0K

-48.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₩1,877

$1.38 ₩1,852

1.45%

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

$29.8K ₩39.9M

$33.5K ₩44.9M

-11.16%

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

$28.3K ₩38.0M

$33.5K ₩45.0M

-15.51%

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

$208 ₩278.6K

$198 ₩266.1K

4.72%

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

$35.68 ₩47.8K

$36.48 ₩48.9K

-2.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.07 ₩26.9K

$22.54 ₩30.2K

-10.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₩75.9K

$55.9 ₩74.9K

1.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.13 ₩16.3K

$12.11 ₩16.2K

0.17%

Cinema Ticket

$11.22 ₩15.0K

$11.08 ₩14.9K

1.26%

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

$576 ₩772.9K

$583 ₩782.5K

-1.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K ₩23.9M

$21.4K ₩28.8M

-16.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 ₩77.3K

$63.7 ₩85.4K

-9.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.06 ₩43.0K

$64.4 ₩86.3K

-50.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.0 ₩95.2K

$74.9 ₩100.4K

-5.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 ₩108.0K

$97.4 ₩130.6K

-17.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 ₩603.8K

$454 ₩609.4K

-0.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₩462.0K

$358 ₩479.8K

-3.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,094 ₩1.5M

$1,140 ₩1.5M

-4.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₩884.9K

$738 ₩990.2K

-10.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,303 ₩9.8M

$7,242 ₩9.7M

0.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,955 ₩8.0M

$5,465 ₩7.3M

8.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,506 ₩4.7M

$5,161 ₩6.9M

-32.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.1

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

Last update for Ilsan: September 6, 2026

Last update for Pangyo: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $450 in Ilsan and $454 in Pangyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pangyo pays 47% 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: $68.0 in Ilsan vs $35.00 in Pangyo. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $431, with Ilsan 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

Ilsan vs Pangyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ilsan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 47% lower in Pangyo. 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: $450 in Ilsan versus $454 in Pangyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,417 per month in Ilsan versus $1,467 in Pangyo – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ilsan runs roughly 0% less than in Pangyo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,417 in Ilsan versus $1,467 in Pangyo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ilsan but tight or insufficient in Pangyo. The gap between the two cities makes Ilsan 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, Ilsan and Pangyo 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 Ilsan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Pangyo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.