Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Gimcheon Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Gimcheon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Pangyo vs $1,470 in Gimcheon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,265 per month in Pangyo vs $2,383 in Gimcheon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,091 per month in Pangyo vs $3,296 in Gimcheon, rent included.

Pangyo is about 2% cheaper than Gimcheon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pangyo and Gimcheon sit above the global median – Pangyo by 7%, Gimcheon by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 ₩10.8K

$8.62 ₩12.8K

-15.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.38 ₩55.5K

$55.5 ₩82.3K

-32.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 ₩8,101

$6.27 ₩9,302

-12.92%

Cappuccino

$3.78 ₩5,609

$3.91 ₩5,801

-3.32%

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

$1.54 ₩2,287

$1.66 ₩2,468

-7.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₩1,243

$0.80 ₩1,187

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 ₩4,965

$3.60 ₩5,347

-6.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 ₩7,352

$5.73 ₩8,505

-13.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ₩3,302

$2.17 ₩3,222

2.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₩4,478

$3.35 ₩4,967

-9.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,504

$3.20 ₩4,740

-5.00%

Eggs

$3.00 ₩4,444

$3.08 ₩4,573

-2.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.63 ₩15.8K

$14.47 ₩21.5K

-26.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.46 ₩12.5K

$11.04 ₩16.4K

-23.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.75 ₩41.2K

$34.28 ₩50.8K

-19.05%

Apples (1kg)

$7.73 ₩11.5K

$7.79 ₩11.5K

-0.77%

Banana (1kg)

$3.26 ₩4,834

$3.58 ₩5,317

-8.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.44 ₩8,065

$5.54 ₩8,215

-1.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.37 ₩7,967

$6.49 ₩9,625

-17.26%

Potato (1kg)

$4.01 ₩5,950

$3.83 ₩5,684

4.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₩4,352

$2.90 ₩4,299

1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 ₩3,242

$2.52 ₩3,744

-13.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₩1,799

$1.20 ₩1,774

0.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,865

$3.40 ₩5,046

-3.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.15 ₩22.5K

$15.23 ₩22.6K

-0.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₩2,755

$2.34 ₩3,472

-20.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ₩4,766

$3.36 ₩4,978

-4.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,584

$1.11 ₩1,652

-3.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.31 ₩70.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 ₩5,175

$2.97 ₩4,403

17.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₩847

$0.56 ₩834

1.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 ₩13.2K

$8.63 ₩12.8K

2.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₩1,786

$1.11 ₩1,648

8.11%

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

$27.3K ₩40.5M

$27.4K ₩40.7M

-0.38%

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

$25.5K ₩37.8M

$25.4K ₩37.7M

0.29%

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

$163 ₩241.4K

$161 ₩239.5K

0.81%

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

$34.93 ₩51.8K

$34.75 ₩51.6K

0.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.64 ₩33.6K

$21.80 ₩32.3K

3.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.40 ₩70.3K

$47.36 ₩70.3K

0.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.73 ₩48.6K

Cinema Ticket

$10.86 ₩16.1K

$10.97 ₩16.3K

-1.00%

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

$421 ₩623.9K

$415 ₩615.5K

1.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K ₩34.4M

$23.2K ₩34.5M

-0.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ₩88.0K

$58.9 ₩87.3K

0.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.30 ₩70.2K

$46.99 ₩69.7K

0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 ₩116.7K

$79.1 ₩117.3K

-0.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ₩170.6K

$114 ₩169.7K

0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₩669.6K

$459 ₩680.7K

-1.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 ₩548.9K

$376 ₩558.0K

-1.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 ₩1.6M

$1,062 ₩1.6M

2.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$781 ₩1.2M

$770 ₩1.1M

1.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,655 ₩14.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,702 ₩8.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,739 ₩7.0M

$1,743 ₩2.6M

171.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

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

Last update for Pangyo: April 27, 2026

Last update for Gimcheon: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $451 in Pangyo versus $459 in Gimcheon. 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 172% 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 $37.00 in Pangyo versus $55.0 in Gimcheon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $428 vs $487 – making Pangyo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Gimcheon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,157 per month in Pangyo and $2,205 in Gimcheon. 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 $1,438 in Pangyo and $1,470 in Gimcheon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $421 per month in Pangyo and $415 in Gimcheon. 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 $1,438, than in Gimcheon at $1,470. In Pangyo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gimcheon 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, Gimcheon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.