Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Pohang Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Pohang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,491 per month in Pangyo vs $1,343 in Pohang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,308 per month in Pangyo vs $1,635 in Pohang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,125 per month in Pangyo vs $1,927 in Pohang, rent included.

Pangyo costs about 11% more than Pohang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Pangyo sits 9% above the global median, while Pohang is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.22 ₩9,947

$6.11 ₩8,418

18.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.32 ₩47.3K

$22.23 ₩30.6K

54.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 ₩9,021

$6.38 ₩8,796

2.66%

Cappuccino

$3.69 ₩5,080

$3.02 ₩4,156

22.19%

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

$1.52 ₩2,089

$1.46 ₩2,009

4.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₩919

$0.48 ₩663

39.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ₩4,828

$3.78 ₩5,211

-7.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 ₩5,936

$3.76 ₩5,177

14.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,113

$1.92 ₩2,640

17.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 ₩4,187

$3.06 ₩4,223

-0.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,068

$2.61 ₩3,603

13.03%

Eggs

$2.71 ₩3,729

$2.68 ₩3,693

1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 ₩15.1K

$10.83 ₩14.9K

1.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.88 ₩10.9K

$6.75 ₩9,302

16.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.86 ₩30.1K

$24.99 ₩34.4K

-12.53%

Apples (1kg)

$7.63 ₩10.5K

$2.29 ₩3,150

233.19%

Banana (1kg)

$3.66 ₩5,038

$3.69 ₩5,085

-0.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.40 ₩10.2K

$7.99 ₩11.0K

-7.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.75 ₩7,922

$2.95 ₩4,060

94.92%

Potato (1kg)

$4.29 ₩5,913

$4.84 ₩6,670

-11.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 ₩3,660

$3.23 ₩4,454

-17.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,781

$2.29 ₩3,151

19.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₩1,765

$1.34 ₩1,841

-4.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 ₩4,477

$3.31 ₩4,559

-1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.76 ₩25.9K

$6.65 ₩9,166

182.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 ₩3,027

$1.51 ₩2,080

45.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 ₩4,619

$3.50 ₩4,827

-4.29%

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

$3.29 ₩4,531

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₩854

$0.61 ₩837

1.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.70 ₩23.0K

$16.44 ₩22.7K

1.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₩1,920

$1.24 ₩1,706

12.10%

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

$29.7K ₩40.9M

-0.08%

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

$33.6K ₩46.3M

$28.8K ₩39.6M

16.75%

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

$202 ₩278.8K

$100 ₩137.9K

102.22%

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

$36.90 ₩50.9K

$35.70 ₩49.2K

3.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 ₩31.3K

$27.20 ₩37.5K

-16.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 ₩76.1K

$30.05 ₩41.4K

83.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₩16.2K

$7.40 ₩10.2K

58.38%

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 ₩15.3K

$10.95 ₩15.1K

1.64%

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

$580 ₩799.2K

$624 ₩860.4K

-7.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K ₩30.0M

$21.8K ₩30.1M

-0.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 ₩88.2K

$102 ₩140.5K

-37.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.9 ₩85.3K

$65.8 ₩90.6K

-5.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 ₩101.8K

$94.3 ₩130.0K

-21.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.1 ₩136.6K

$114 ₩156.5K

-12.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 ₩618.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 ₩479.0K

$446 ₩615.1K

-22.13%

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

$2,956 ₩4.1M

84.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 ₩7.2M

$2,176 ₩3.0M

140.24%

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 Pohang: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 140% higher in Pangyo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Pangyo versus $22.00 in Pohang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $432 vs $366 – making Pohang 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 Pohang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Pangyo is pricier by about 11%, 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 $2,237 per month in Pangyo and $2,015 in Pohang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,491 in Pangyo and $1,343 in Pohang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $580 per month in Pangyo and $624 in Pohang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pohang, where all-in costs run around $1,343, than in Pangyo at $1,491. In Pohang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pangyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pohang – 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 Pohang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pangyo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.