Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Gongju Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Gongju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,456 per month in Pangyo vs $1,505 in Gongju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,280 per month in Pangyo vs $2,360 in Gongju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,103 per month in Pangyo vs $3,215 in Gongju, rent included.

Pangyo is about 3% cheaper than Gongju, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Pangyo and Gongju sit above the global median – Pangyo by 9%, Gongju by 13%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pangyo
Gongju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.19 ₩10.7K
$7.07 ₩10.5K
1.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.35 ₩55.6K
$36.45 ₩54.2K
2.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ₩8,320
$6.08 ₩9,044
-8.06%
Cappuccino
$3.75 ₩5,586
$4.22 ₩6,278
-11.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 ₩2,346
$1.87 ₩2,780
-15.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₩1,166
$1.39 ₩2,066
-43.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 ₩4,940
$3.71 ₩5,515
-10.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 ₩7,166
$5.96 ₩8,869
-19.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pangyo
Gongju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ₩3,258
$2.36 ₩3,513
-7.20%
White Bread (500g)
$3.00 ₩4,458
$3.48 ₩5,183
-13.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.00 ₩4,469
$3.09 ₩4,600
-2.91%
Eggs
$2.97 ₩4,423
$3.02 ₩4,495
-1.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.54 ₩15.7K
$10.55 ₩15.7K
-0.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 ₩12.0K
$7.98 ₩11.9K
1.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.09 ₩41.8K
$27.51 ₩40.9K
2.11%
Apples (1kg)
$8.08 ₩12.0K
$8.22 ₩12.2K
-1.70%
Banana (1kg)
$3.22 ₩4,796
$3.11 ₩4,622
3.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.66 ₩8,418
$7.24 ₩10.8K
-21.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.35 ₩7,958
$5.22 ₩7,770
2.49%
Potato (1kg)
$3.81 ₩5,668
$4.99 ₩7,428
-23.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.84 ₩4,221
$2.95 ₩4,396
-3.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 ₩3,337
$2.11 ₩3,134
6.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₩1,704
$1.21 ₩1,804
-4.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39 ₩5,048
$3.35 ₩4,980
1.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.48 ₩24.5K
$17.00 ₩25.3K
-3.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 ₩2,759
$1.70 ₩2,529
8.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 ₩4,796
$3.37 ₩5,020
-4.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Pangyo
Gongju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 ₩1,584
$1.11 ₩1,656
-4.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.34 ₩71.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.50 ₩5,203
$3.51 ₩5,227
-0.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ₩788
$0.83 ₩1,236
-36.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.01 ₩13.4K
$16.32 ₩24.3K
-44.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₩1,723
$1.21 ₩1,799
-4.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ₩40.5M
$27.7K ₩41.2M
-1.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K ₩37.0M
$25.4K ₩37.8M
-1.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pangyo
Gongju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 ₩246.3K
$187 ₩278.0K
-11.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.47 ₩52.8K
$50.1 ₩74.5K
-29.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.96 ₩32.7K
$27.70 ₩41.2K
-20.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pangyo
Gongju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.97 ₩69.9K
$48.11 ₩71.6K
-2.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.43 ₩48.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.24 ₩16.7K
$11.56 ₩17.2K
-2.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pangyo
Gongju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$420 ₩624.9K
$495 ₩736.9K
-15.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K ₩35.0M
$14.3K ₩21.3M
64.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pangyo
Gongju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.1 ₩89.4K
$102 ₩151.5K
-40.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.74 ₩69.5K
$46.60 ₩69.3K
0.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 ₩119.2K
$86.7 ₩129.0K
-7.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 ₩175.1K
$117 ₩174.7K
0.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pangyo
Gongju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$449 ₩668.1K
$445 ₩662.2K
0.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 ₩554.6K
$383 ₩570.1K
-2.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,073 ₩1.6M
$1,058 ₩1.6M
1.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$771 ₩1.1M
$767 ₩1.1M
0.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,416 ₩12.5M
$8,265 ₩12.3M
1.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,145 ₩7.7M
$5,156 ₩7.7M
-0.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pangyo
Gongju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,678 ₩7.0M
$1,156 ₩1.7M
304.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
4.22
-1.90%

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

Last update for Pangyo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Gongju: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Pangyo versus $445 in Gongju. 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 305% 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 $36.00 in Gongju. Groceries tell a different story – $430 in Pangyo vs $445 in Gongju – 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
Pangyo vs Gongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Pangyo and in Gongju compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,456 in Pangyo, $1,505 in Gongju – roughly 3% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Pangyo compared to Gongju?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,184 per month in Pangyo and $2,258 in Gongju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Pangyo and Gongju?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Pangyo or Gongju?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,456 in Pangyo and $1,505 in Gongju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Pangyo and Gongju?
Kindergarten costs $420 per month in Pangyo and $495 in Gongju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pangyo, where all-in costs run around $1,456, than in Gongju at $1,505. In Pangyo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gongju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Pangyo or Gongju?
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.
Is Pangyo or Gongju safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Pangyo and Gongju?
If budget matters most, go with Pangyo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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