Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pyeongtaek and Melbourne

For one person, living is cheaper in Pyeongtaek: $1,446 a month against $2,821 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $16,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pyeongtaek
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,446
/mo nomad
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,821
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pyeongtaek and in Melbourne

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pyeongtaek and in Melbourne actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,446 in Pyeongtaek versus $2,821 in Melbourne.

  • Pyeongtaek $1,446
  • Melbourne $2,821

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,845 in Pyeongtaek versus $4,235 in Melbourne.

  • Pyeongtaek $2,845
  • Melbourne $4,235

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,244 in Pyeongtaek versus $5,650 in Melbourne.

  • Pyeongtaek $4,244
  • Melbourne $5,650

Living in Pyeongtaek costs roughly 49% less than in Melbourne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pyeongtaek 7% above, Melbourne 109% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pyeongtaek
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31 ₩9,726
$17.43 A$25.08
-58.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.36 ₩29.7K
$84.6 A$122
-73.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.85 ₩6,443
$12.46 A$17.92
-61.08%
Cappuccino
$3.74 ₩4,977
$4.11 A$5.91
-9.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 ₩1,648
$3.06 A$4.40
-59.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₩1,212
$2.52 A$3.62
-63.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.74 ₩4,967
$9.80 A$14.10
-61.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 ₩5,844
$8.57 A$12.33
-48.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pyeongtaek
Melbourne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 ₩3,024
$1.48 A$2.14
53.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.21 ₩4,263
$2.94 A$4.23
9.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.13 ₩4,161
$2.66 A$3.82
17.67%
Eggs
$2.71 ₩3,605
$5.54 A$7.97
-51.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.91 ₩14.5K
$10.51 A$15.13
3.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.58 ₩14.1K
$9.65 A$13.89
9.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.50 ₩32.6K
$15.22 A$21.91
60.97%
Apples (1kg)
$11.37 ₩15.1K
$3.99 A$5.75
184.96%
Banana (1kg)
$3.76 ₩4,996
$3.02 A$4.34
24.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.16 ₩10.8K
$3.10 A$4.46
163.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.92 ₩7,865
$4.82 A$6.93
22.82%
Potato (1kg)
$6.13 ₩8,151
$3.03 A$4.36
102.31%
Onion (1kg)
$3.42 ₩4,550
$2.44 A$3.52
40.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 ₩3,817
$2.46 A$3.54
16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 ₩1,765
$1.63 A$2.34
-18.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43 ₩4,567
$44.07 A$63.4
-92.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.71 ₩24.9K
$12.70 A$18.28
47.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₩3,240
$5.54 A$7.97
-55.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ₩4,502
$5.23 A$7.52
-35.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Pyeongtaek
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.26 ₩1,681
$3.74 A$5.38
-66.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.79 ₩62.2K
$138 A$198
-65.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 ₩4,746
$4.51 A$6.50
-20.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 ₩727
$1.36 A$1.96
-59.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.85 ₩11.8K
$30.45 A$43.81
-70.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ₩1,899
$1.47 A$2.12
-2.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.1K ₩20.0M
$29.0K A$41.7K
-48.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.0K ₩19.9M
$26.5K A$38.1K
-43.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pyeongtaek
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 ₩266.7K
$234 A$336
-14.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.98 ₩22.6K
$27.93 A$40.19
-39.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.05 ₩36.0K
$55.7 A$80.2
-51.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pyeongtaek
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$49.40 A$71.1
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.48 A$30.91
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.83 ₩15.7K
$15.09 A$21.72
-21.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pyeongtaek
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$646 ₩858.4K
$2,371 A$3,412
-72.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K ₩28.6M
$30.2K A$43.5K
-28.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pyeongtaek
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₩137.2K
$80.0 A$115
29.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 ₩86.6K
$50.7 A$73.0
28.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.0 ₩122.3K
$121 A$174
-23.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 ₩167.2K
$130 A$188
-3.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pyeongtaek
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$516 ₩685.7K
$1,759 A$2,531
-70.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 ₩403.5K
$1,390 A$2,000
-78.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,889 ₩2.5M
$3,494 A$5,027
-45.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,871 ₩2.5M
$2,493 A$3,588
-24.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$6,926 A$9,967
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,445 A$9,274
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pyeongtaek
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,879 ₩2.5M
$4,383 A$6,307
-57.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
5.9
-28.47%

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

Last update for Pyeongtaek: October 11, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Pyeongtaek
$488
Melbourne
$384 21.3% $104
Accommodation & Living
Pyeongtaek
$304
Melbourne
$1.4K 358% $1.1K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pyeongtaek
$245
Melbourne
$317 29.7% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Pyeongtaek
$174
Melbourne
$172 1.1% $1.9
Eating Out
Pyeongtaek
$154
Melbourne
$315 104% $160
Getting Around
Pyeongtaek
$58
Melbourne
$164 182% $106
Sport & Entertainment
Pyeongtaek
$24 *
Melbourne
$80 237% $56

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $516 in Pyeongtaek and $1,759 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne pays 133% 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 Pyeongtaek vs $85.0 in Melbourne. Groceries flip the comparison at $488 vs $384, with Melbourne cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Pyeongtaek
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🕒 Local time
07:11 7:11 AM
09:11 9:11 AM
2 h ahead of Pyeongtaek
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
489,081
5,031,195
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pyeongtaek Melbourne 8,520 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pyeongtaek
  • Melbourne

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Pyeongtaek vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Pyeongtaek and in Melbourne?
Pyeongtaek and Melbourne differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($1,446 vs $2,821 including rent). Pyeongtaek is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 133% lower in Melbourne. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Pyeongtaek and in Melbourne?
Rent for a central apartment: $516 in Pyeongtaek versus $1,759 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Pyeongtaek and Melbourne?
Childcare runs $646 in Pyeongtaek versus $2,371 in Melbourne. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Melbourne pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,446 in Pyeongtaek versus $2,821 in Melbourne, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pyeongtaek but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Pyeongtaek the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Pyeongtaek and Melbourne?
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.
Is Pyeongtaek or Melbourne safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Pyeongtaek and Melbourne are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Pyeongtaek or Melbourne?
Expats usually find Pyeongtaek gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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