Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Changwon Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Changwon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,491 in Pangyo versus $1,161 in Changwon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,308 in Pangyo versus $1,811 in Changwon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,125 in Pangyo versus $2,461 in Changwon.

Living in Pangyo is roughly 28% more expensive than in Changwon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pangyo is 9% above, Changwon is 15% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.22 ₩9,947

$7.56 ₩10.4K

-4.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.32 ₩47.3K

$27.46 ₩37.8K

24.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 ₩9,021

$5.26 ₩7,243

24.52%

Cappuccino

$3.69 ₩5,080

$3.73 ₩5,142

-1.07%

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

$1.52 ₩2,089

$1.83 ₩2,523

-16.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₩919

$0.99 ₩1,362

-32.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ₩4,828

$2.93 ₩4,040

19.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 ₩5,936

$4.18 ₩5,756

3.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,113

$2.32 ₩3,192

-2.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 ₩4,187

$3.20 ₩4,409

-5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,068

$3.12 ₩4,306

-5.45%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,729

$2.60 ₩3,581

4.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 ₩15.1K

$11.06 ₩15.2K

-0.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.88 ₩10.9K

$10.52 ₩14.5K

-25.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.86 ₩30.1K

$24.57 ₩33.9K

-11.03%

Apples (1kg)

$7.63 ₩10.5K

$11.16 ₩15.4K

-31.63%

Banana (1kg)

$3.66 ₩5,038

$3.65 ₩5,035

0.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.40 ₩10.2K

$8.18 ₩11.3K

-9.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.75 ₩7,922

$6.03 ₩8,305

-4.64%

Potato (1kg)

$4.29 ₩5,913

$6.09 ₩8,392

-29.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 ₩3,660

$3.34 ₩4,601

-20.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,781

$2.81 ₩3,875

-2.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₩1,765

$1.28 ₩1,763

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 ₩4,477

$3.39 ₩4,677

-4.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.76 ₩25.9K

$18.50 ₩25.5K

1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 ₩3,027

$2.33 ₩3,211

-5.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 ₩4,619

$3.37 ₩4,645

-0.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 ₩1,504

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.71 ₩67.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 ₩4,528

$2.89 ₩3,977

13.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₩854

$0.78 ₩1,070

-20.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.70 ₩23.0K

$16.72 ₩23.0K

-0.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,920

$1.38 ₩1,906

0.72%

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

$29.7K ₩40.9M

$29.4K ₩40.5M

0.86%

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

$33.6K ₩46.3M

0.04%

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

$202 ₩278.8K

$200 ₩275.9K

1.04%

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

$36.90 ₩50.9K

$36.60 ₩50.4K

0.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 ₩31.3K

$26.93 ₩37.1K

-15.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 ₩76.1K

$52.7 ₩72.7K

4.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₩16.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 ₩15.3K

$10.93 ₩15.1K

1.83%

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

$580 ₩799.2K

$643 ₩886.1K

-9.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K ₩30.0M

$22.1K ₩30.4M

-1.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 ₩88.2K

$106 ₩145.8K

-39.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.9 ₩85.3K

$65.8 ₩90.7K

-5.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 ₩101.8K

$94.6 ₩130.3K

-21.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.1 ₩136.6K

$127 ₩175.2K

-22.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 ₩618.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 ₩479.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,149 ₩1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 ₩1.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,207 ₩9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,452 ₩7.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 ₩7.2M

$1,700 ₩2.3M

207.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.1

4.22

-2.84%

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

Last update for Pangyo: September 14, 2026

Last update for Changwon: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Pangyo pays 207% 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: $34.00 in Pangyo vs $27.00 in Changwon. Groceries flip the comparison at $432 vs $485, with Pangyo 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

Pangyo vs Changwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pangyo and Changwon differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,491 vs $1,161 including rent). Changwon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 207% higher in Pangyo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Pangyo pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,491 per month in Pangyo versus $1,161 in Changwon – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,161 in Changwon versus $1,491 in Pangyo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Changwon but tight or insufficient in Pangyo. The gap between the two cities makes Changwon 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, Pangyo and Changwon 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 Changwon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Pangyo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.