Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohang and Nara Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohang and Nara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,307 in Pohang versus $1,209 in Nara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,611 in Pohang versus $1,821 in Nara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,915 in Pohang versus $2,433 in Nara.

Living in Pohang is roughly 8% more expensive than in Nara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pohang 5% lower, Nara 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.81 ₩7,898

$6.20 ¥985

-6.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.80 ₩29.6K

$31.16 ¥4,951

-30.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 ₩8,957

$4.79 ¥762

37.58%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₩3,902

$2.43 ¥387

18.11%

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

$1.44 ₩1,951

$1.29 ¥204

11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₩637

$0.68 ¥107

-30.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 ₩4,815

$3.20 ¥509

10.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 ₩4,849

$3.16 ¥502

12.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₩2,559

$1.54 ¥245

22.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₩4,304

$1.33 ¥211

138.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 ₩3,378

$4.09 ¥649

-39.36%

Eggs

$2.64 ₩3,590

$2.08 ¥331

26.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.9K

$9.46 ¥1,503

15.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 ₩8,817

$6.70 ¥1,064

-3.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.37 ₩33.1K

$18.15 ¥2,884

34.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₩2,905

$3.25 ¥516

-34.15%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 ₩4,741

$1.89 ¥300

84.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.70 ₩10.5K

$2.07 ¥329

271.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,044

$4.07 ¥646

-26.78%

Potato (1kg)

$4.90 ₩6,663

$1.48 ¥235

231.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 ₩4,519

$1.11 ¥177

199.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 ₩3,040

$1.11 ¥177

101.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₩1,761

$0.82 ¥131

58.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ₩4,373

$3.77 ¥600

-14.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.42 ₩8,732

$9.43 ¥1,498

-31.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₩1,970

$1.85 ¥294

-21.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ₩4,480

$2.13 ¥339

54.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 ¥242

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.9 ¥11.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ₩4,596

$3.22 ¥511

4.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₩817

$2.80 ¥446

-78.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.22 ₩22.0K

$15.47 ¥2,459

4.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,652

$1.07 ¥170

14.02%

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

$28.8K ₩39.2M

$21.7K ¥3.4M

33.14%

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

$27.9K ₩37.9M

$15.0K ¥2.4M

86.06%

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

$97.7 ₩132.8K

$114 ¥18.1K

-14.01%

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

$35.52 ₩48.3K

$23.92 ¥3,800

48.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.97 ₩35.3K

$30.01 ¥4,769

-13.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.64 ₩38.9K

$80.3 ¥12.8K

-64.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.20 ₩9,785

$7.50 ¥1,191

-4.00%

Cinema Ticket

$10.87 ₩14.8K

$11.82 ¥1,879

-8.04%

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

$612 ₩831.6K

$516 ¥82.0K

18.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K ₩29.2M

$12.9K ¥2.0M

66.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩137.3K

$44.94 ¥7,141

124.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.7 ₩86.6K

$29.65 ¥4,712

114.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 ₩125.2K

$60.7 ¥9,648

51.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₩150.6K

$88.9 ¥14.1K

24.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 ¥64.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₩616.6K

$333 ¥52.9K

36.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ¥129.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 ¥85.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,625 ¥417.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,891 ₩3.9M

$2,010 ¥319.4K

43.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,242 ₩3.0M

$1,135 ¥180.4K

97.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

2.01

109.95%

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

Last update for Pohang: August 30, 2026

Last update for Nara: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Pohang pays 97% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $22.00 in Pohang vs $31.00 in Nara. Groceries flip the comparison at $359 vs $279, with Nara cheaper for home cooking.

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

Pohang vs Nara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nara is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 97% higher in Pohang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Pohang. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,307 per month in Pohang versus $1,209 in Nara – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,209 in Nara versus $1,307 in Pohang, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nara but tight or insufficient in Pohang. The gap between the two cities makes Nara 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, Pohang and Nara 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 Nara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Pohang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.