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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,456 per month in Pangyo vs $1,342 in Pohang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,280 per month in Pangyo vs $2,006 in Pohang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,103 per month in Pangyo vs $2,670 in Pohang, rent included.

Pangyo costs about 8% more than Pohang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pangyo and Pohang sit above the global median – Pangyo by 9%, Pohang by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.19 ₩10.6K

$5.06 ₩7,471

42.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.35 ₩55.1K

$18.25 ₩26.9K

104.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ₩8,249

$6.19 ₩9,133

-9.69%

Cappuccino

$3.75 ₩5,538

$2.87 ₩4,237

30.66%

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

$1.58 ₩2,326

$1.48 ₩2,190

6.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₩1,156

$0.48 ₩708

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 ₩4,898

$3.62 ₩5,345

-8.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 ₩7,106

$3.64 ₩5,370

32.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ₩3,230

$1.80 ₩2,657

21.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.00 ₩4,420

$3.16 ₩4,660

-5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 ₩4,432

$2.61 ₩3,848

14.94%

Eggs

$2.97 ₩4,385

$2.99 ₩4,408

-0.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 ₩15.6K

$10.33 ₩15.2K

2.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 ₩11.9K

$6.56 ₩9,672

23.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.09 ₩41.4K

$27.64 ₩40.8K

1.63%

Apples (1kg)

$8.08 ₩11.9K

$2.19 ₩3,228

268.95%

Banana (1kg)

$3.22 ₩4,756

$3.22 ₩4,755

Oranges (1kg)

$5.66 ₩8,346

$7.26 ₩10.7K

-22.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 ₩7,890

$2.50 ₩3,684

114.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 ₩5,620

$4.79 ₩7,061

-20.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 ₩4,185

$2.94 ₩4,334

-3.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 ₩3,309

$2.04 ₩3,016

9.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,689

$1.16 ₩1,716

-0.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ₩5,005

$3.25 ₩4,791

4.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.48 ₩24.3K

$5.77 ₩8,515

185.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₩2,735

$1.50 ₩2,206

23.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 ₩4,756

$3.45 ₩5,085

-6.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,570

$1.06 ₩1,562

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.34 ₩71.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,159

$2.44 ₩3,600

43.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩781

$0.85 ₩1,252

-37.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.01 ₩13.3K

$16.49 ₩24.3K

-45.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,708

$1.20 ₩1,776

-3.33%

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

$27.2K ₩40.2M

$27.6K ₩40.8M

-1.55%

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

$24.9K ₩36.7M

$25.1K ₩37.1M

-0.99%

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

$166 ₩244.2K

$106 ₩155.8K

56.72%

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

$35.47 ₩52.3K

$51.0 ₩75.3K

-30.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.96 ₩32.4K

$27.95 ₩41.2K

-21.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.97 ₩69.3K

$29.38 ₩43.3K

59.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.43 ₩47.8K

$7.13 ₩10.5K

354.84%

Cinema Ticket

$11.24 ₩16.6K

$10.83 ₩16.0K

3.79%

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

$420 ₩619.6K

$498 ₩734.1K

-15.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K ₩34.8M

$14.2K ₩20.9M

66.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 ₩88.6K

$103 ₩152.0K

-41.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.74 ₩69.0K

$47.32 ₩69.8K

-1.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 ₩118.2K

$87.9 ₩129.7K

-8.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩173.7K

$111 ₩163.6K

6.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 ₩662.4K

$449 ₩662.3K

0.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 ₩549.9K

$439 ₩647.3K

-15.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,073 ₩1.6M

$1,047 ₩1.5M

2.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$771 ₩1.1M

$770 ₩1.1M

0.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,416 ₩12.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,145 ₩7.6M

$2,676 ₩3.9M

92.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,678 ₩6.9M

$2,192 ₩3.2M

113.46%

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 Pohang: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Pangyo versus $449 in Pohang. 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 113% 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 $37.00 in Pangyo versus $18.00 in Pohang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $430 vs $359 – 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 8%, 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 $2,184 per month in Pangyo and $2,014 in Pohang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pohang, 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 $1,456 in Pangyo and $1,342 in Pohang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $420 per month in Pangyo and $498 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 $1,342, than in Pangyo at $1,456. 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.