Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Gimcheon

For one person, living is cheaper in Gimcheon: $1,412 a month against $1,458 in Pangyo, rent and utilities included – about $550 less a year. The total is higher in Pangyo despite lower rent and utilities.

Pangyo, South Korea
Gimcheon, South Korea
Pangyo
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,458
/mo nomad
Gimcheon
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,412
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pangyo and in Gimcheon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pangyo and in Gimcheon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,458 per month in Pangyo vs $1,412 in Gimcheon, rent included.

  • Pangyo $1,458
  • Gimcheon $1,412

A couple spends around $2,354 per month in Pangyo vs $2,305 in Gimcheon, rent included.

  • Pangyo $2,354
  • Gimcheon $2,305

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Pangyo vs $3,198 in Gimcheon, rent included.

  • Pangyo $3,249
  • Gimcheon $3,198

Pangyo costs about 3% more than Gimcheon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Pangyo and Gimcheon sit above the global median – Pangyo by 8%, Gimcheon by 4%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pangyo
Gimcheon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.35 ₩8,613
$5.83 ₩7,916
8.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.79 ₩49.9K
$34.57 ₩46.9K
6.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.47 ₩10.1K
$6.87 ₩9,316
8.73%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ₩4,230
$3.61 ₩4,903
-13.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₩2,304
$1.60 ₩2,169
6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₩1,062
$0.62 ₩838
25.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 ₩4,410
$3.42 ₩4,634
-4.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 ₩5,279
$4.50 ₩6,109
-13.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pangyo
Gimcheon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₩2,932
$2.18 ₩2,963
-0.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.10 ₩4,209
$3.18 ₩4,319
-2.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.64 ₩3,576
$2.67 ₩3,619
-1.12%
Eggs
$2.73 ₩3,701
$3.18 ₩4,319
-14.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.26 ₩15.3K
$15.50 ₩21.0K
-27.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.21 ₩13.9K
$10.43 ₩14.2K
-2.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.25 ₩28.8K
$11.37 ₩15.4K
86.90%
Apples (1kg)
$7.48 ₩10.2K
$6.92 ₩9,385
8.09%
Banana (1kg)
$3.12 ₩4,234
$2.50 ₩3,392
24.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.52 ₩7,490
$4.54 ₩6,156
21.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.08 ₩8,246
$6.76 ₩9,175
-10.06%
Potato (1kg)
$3.67 ₩4,982
$3.39 ₩4,596
8.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 ₩3,496
$2.58 ₩3,507
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.84 ₩3,856
$2.09 ₩2,835
35.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 ₩1,730
$1.27 ₩1,728
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.37 ₩4,571
$3.44 ₩4,665
-2.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.40 ₩18.2K
$13.44 ₩18.2K
-0.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₩3,093
$2.23 ₩3,031
2.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 ₩4,744
$4.03 ₩5,470
-13.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Pangyo
Gimcheon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 ₩1,489
$1.12 ₩1,523
-1.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.96 ₩65.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.62 ₩4,916
$2.89 ₩3,923
25.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 ₩895
$0.61 ₩829
8.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.90 ₩12.1K
$8.22 ₩11.2K
8.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ₩1,912
$1.08 ₩1,466
30.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ₩38.3M
$29.8K ₩40.5M
-5.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₩46.8M
$36.0K ₩48.8M
-4.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pangyo
Gimcheon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 ₩273.2K
$212 ₩288.2K
-5.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.81 ₩48.6K
$42.61 ₩57.8K
-15.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.13 ₩28.7K
$20.97 ₩28.5K
0.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pangyo
Gimcheon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ₩71.0K
$51.1 ₩69.3K
2.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.94 ₩18.9K
$15.58 ₩21.1K
-10.53%
Cinema Ticket
$10.96 ₩14.9K
$10.99 ₩14.9K
-0.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pangyo
Gimcheon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$446 ₩605.0K
$305 ₩413.9K
46.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.6K ₩29.3M
$17.6K ₩23.8M
22.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pangyo
Gimcheon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.5 ₩82.1K
$66.3 ₩89.9K
-8.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.6 ₩78.2K
$63.1 ₩85.6K
-8.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.1 ₩99.1K
$73.5 ₩99.8K
-0.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.1 ₩133.2K
$99.5 ₩134.9K
-1.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pangyo
Gimcheon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 ₩665.9K
$491 ₩666.9K
-0.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 ₩505.4K
$375 ₩508.3K
-0.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 ₩1.7M
$1,323 ₩1.8M
-6.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$936 ₩1.3M
$1,018 ₩1.4M
-8.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,805 ₩9.2M
$7,220 ₩9.8M
-5.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,450 ₩7.4M
$4,886 ₩6.6M
11.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pangyo
Gimcheon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,113 ₩6.9M
$1,875 ₩2.5M
172.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.1
4.1
-

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

Last update for Pangyo: November 1, 2026

Last update for Gimcheon: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Pangyo
$419
Gimcheon
$396 5.4% $23
Accommodation & Living
Pangyo
$372
Gimcheon
$375 0.6% $2.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pangyo
$258
Gimcheon
$276 6.8% $18
Eating Out
Pangyo
$145
Gimcheon
$146 0.7% $1
Clothing & Footwear
Pangyo
$130
Gimcheon
$136 4.5% $5.9
Sport & Entertainment
Pangyo
$74
Gimcheon
$73 1.6% $1.2
Getting Around
Pangyo
$59
Gimcheon
$10 * 82.4% $49

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Pangyo versus $491 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 in Pangyo are about 2.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Pangyo versus $35 in Gimcheon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 vs $396 – making Gimcheon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Pangyo
🇰🇷 Gimcheon
🕒 Local time
11:53 11:53 AM
11:53 11:53 AM
Same time as Pangyo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
143,056
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1,357 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.37 USD). 1 EUR = 1,523 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.56 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pangyo Gimcheon 170 km
From you
  • Pangyo
  • Gimcheon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Gimcheon cheaper than Pangyo?
Yes – Pangyo is pricier by about 3%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,187 per month in Pangyo and $2,118 in Gimcheon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Pangyo and Gimcheon?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $491 in Pangyo and $491 in Gimcheon. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Pangyo and in Gimcheon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,458 in Pangyo and $1,412 in Gimcheon. That makes Gimcheon about 3% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $446 per month in Pangyo and $305 in Gimcheon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is it better to live in Pangyo or in Gimcheon?
It depends on your priorities. Gimcheon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,412 in Gimcheon to $1,458 in Pangyo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Pangyo or Gimcheon?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gimcheon. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pangyo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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