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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Pangyo versus $1,509 in Ilsan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Pangyo versus $2,401 in Ilsan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Pangyo versus $3,292 in Ilsan.

Living in Pangyo costs roughly 5% less than in Ilsan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pangyo 7% above, Ilsan 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.18 ₩10.9K

$7.24 ₩11.0K

-0.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.13 ₩54.9K

$56.1 ₩85.2K

-35.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ₩8,379

$6.51 ₩9,893

-15.21%

Cappuccino

$3.83 ₩5,819

$3.88 ₩5,897

-1.29%

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

$1.58 ₩2,395

$1.67 ₩2,539

-5.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₩1,286

$0.74 ₩1,131

14.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 ₩5,136

$3.74 ₩5,678

-9.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 ₩7,284

$5.85 ₩8,878

-17.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,434

$2.15 ₩3,266

5.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.00 ₩4,560

$3.45 ₩5,244

-13.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 ₩4,726

$3.11 ₩4,727

Eggs

$2.91 ₩4,414

$3.04 ₩4,616

-4.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 ₩16.0K

$14.52 ₩22.1K

-27.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.27 ₩12.6K

$10.90 ₩16.6K

-24.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.09 ₩42.7K

$34.53 ₩52.4K

-18.65%

Apples (1kg)

$7.63 ₩11.6K

$8.00 ₩12.1K

-4.63%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,940

$3.45 ₩5,234

-5.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 ₩8,379

$5.71 ₩8,669

-3.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.12 ₩7,774

$6.38 ₩9,692

-19.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 ₩5,860

$3.86 ₩5,856

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,486

$2.92 ₩4,442

1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 ₩3,274

$2.63 ₩4,001

-17.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,825

$1.16 ₩1,760

3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₩5,048

$3.23 ₩4,899

2.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.47 ₩25.0K

$16.64 ₩25.3K

-1.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₩2,857

$2.46 ₩3,732

-23.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 ₩4,896

$3.26 ₩4,953

-1.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,618

$1.10 ₩1,671

-2.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.71 ₩72.5K

$47.85 ₩72.7K

-0.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 ₩5,477

$2.36 ₩3,590

52.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₩816

$0.56 ₩852

-3.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.99 ₩13.6K

$8.56 ₩13.0K

5.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₩1,829

$1.09 ₩1,654

10.09%

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

$28.2K ₩42.9M

$28.0K ₩42.6M

0.67%

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

$25.4K ₩38.6M

$24.7K ₩37.5M

2.92%

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

$165 ₩251.3K

$162 ₩246.1K

2.12%

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

$34.74 ₩52.8K

$34.84 ₩52.9K

-0.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.92 ₩33.3K

$22.09 ₩33.5K

-0.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.48 ₩72.1K

$46.96 ₩71.3K

1.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.86 ₩49.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.91 ₩16.6K

$10.97 ₩16.7K

-0.55%

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

$415 ₩629.5K

$416 ₩631.5K

-0.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K ₩35.3M

$23.5K ₩35.7M

-1.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 ₩91.3K

$59.9 ₩90.9K

0.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 ₩72.7K

$47.09 ₩71.5K

1.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 ₩119.0K

$80.9 ₩122.9K

-3.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩178.6K

$118 ₩179.8K

-0.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₩700.9K

$460 ₩698.3K

0.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 ₩565.7K

$382 ₩579.8K

-2.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 ₩1.6M

$1,080 ₩1.6M

-1.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$756 ₩1.1M

$770 ₩1.2M

-1.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,808 ₩14.9M

$9,626 ₩14.6M

1.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,301 ₩8.1M

$5,315 ₩8.1M

-0.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,509 ₩6.8M

$3,086 ₩4.7M

46.10%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Ilsan: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $462 in Pangyo and $460 in Ilsan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pangyo pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Pangyo vs $56.0 in Ilsan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $429 vs $492 per month, with Pangyo cheaper across the board.

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 Ilsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pangyo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Pangyo pays 46% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $462 in Pangyo versus $460 in Ilsan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,438 per month in Pangyo versus $1,509 in Ilsan – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $1,438 in Pangyo versus $1,509 in Ilsan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pangyo but tight or insufficient in Ilsan. The gap between the two cities makes Pangyo 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 Ilsan 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 Pangyo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Ilsan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.