Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulsan and Pangyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulsan and Pangyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,444 per month in Ulsan vs $1,472 in Pangyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,188 per month in Ulsan vs $2,272 in Pangyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,932 per month in Ulsan vs $3,071 in Pangyo, rent included.

Ulsan is about 2% cheaper than Pangyo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ulsan and Pangyo sit above the global median – Ulsan by 8%, Pangyo by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.46 ₩9,791

$7.18 ₩10.9K

-10.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.90 ₩45.3K

$36.12 ₩54.7K

-17.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 ₩7,313

$5.59 ₩8,463

-13.60%

Cappuccino

$3.15 ₩4,766

$3.95 ₩5,987

-20.25%

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

$1.12 ₩1,691

$1.52 ₩2,301

-26.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₩591

$0.83 ₩1,264

-53.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 ₩3,935

$3.29 ₩4,987

-20.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 ₩4,984

$5.07 ₩7,675

-35.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ₩2,640

$2.15 ₩3,256

-19.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 ₩3,315

$3.09 ₩4,676

-29.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 ₩2,717

$3.10 ₩4,703

-42.26%

Eggs

$2.88 ₩4,362

$3.01 ₩4,564

-4.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 ₩16.0K

$10.60 ₩16.1K

-0.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.30 ₩12.6K

$8.01 ₩12.1K

3.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.12 ₩41.1K

$27.61 ₩41.8K

-1.77%

Apples (1kg)

$7.16 ₩10.8K

$8.00 ₩12.1K

-10.50%

Banana (1kg)

$3.28 ₩4,975

$3.24 ₩4,903

1.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.29 ₩11.0K

$5.46 ₩8,271

33.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 ₩6,712

$5.15 ₩7,805

-13.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.74 ₩5,662

$3.96 ₩6,006

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 ₩3,738

$2.98 ₩4,509

-17.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 ₩3,151

$2.14 ₩3,239

-2.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₩1,365

$1.15 ₩1,744

-21.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₩5,032

$3.22 ₩4,876

3.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.65 ₩25.2K

$16.41 ₩24.9K

1.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,560

$1.89 ₩2,866

-10.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 ₩5,260

$3.33 ₩5,042

4.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₩1,418

$1.12 ₩1,694

-16.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.67 ₩72.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₩3,630

$3.61 ₩5,466

-33.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,191

$0.53 ₩802

49.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.48 ₩25.0K

$8.73 ₩13.2K

88.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₩1,785

$1.18 ₩1,780

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

$27.6K ₩41.9M

$27.4K ₩41.5M

0.79%

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

$25.2K ₩38.2M

$24.8K ₩37.6M

1.68%

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

$187 ₩283.3K

$162 ₩245.9K

15.22%

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

$50.3 ₩76.2K

$35.40 ₩53.6K

42.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.92 ₩42.3K

$21.84 ₩33.1K

27.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.4 ₩90.0K

$46.97 ₩71.2K

26.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.70 ₩51.1K

Cinema Ticket

$10.27 ₩15.6K

$10.97 ₩16.6K

-6.38%

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

$252 ₩382.6K

$419 ₩634.3K

-39.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K ₩21.0M

$23.5K ₩35.6M

-40.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩154.3K

$58.1 ₩88.0K

75.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.53 ₩72.0K

$48.49 ₩73.5K

-1.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 ₩131.7K

$78.6 ₩119.2K

10.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ₩174.9K

$114 ₩173.2K

0.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 ₩416.9K

$456 ₩691.2K

-39.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 ₩562.0K

$381 ₩577.4K

-2.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,055 ₩1.6M

$1,045 ₩1.6M

1.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$764 ₩1.2M

$771 ₩1.2M

-0.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 ₩5.9M

$9,529 ₩14.4M

-58.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,353 ₩3.6M

$5,255 ₩8.0M

-55.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,022 ₩3.1M

$4,598 ₩7.0M

-56.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

-3.38%

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

Last update for Ulsan: June 2, 2026

Last update for Pangyo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $275 in Ulsan versus $456 in Pangyo. 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 127% 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 $30.00 in Ulsan versus $36.00 in Pangyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $403 vs $428 – making Ulsan 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

Ulsan vs Pangyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Pangyo is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,166 per month in Ulsan and $2,209 in Pangyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ulsan, 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 $1,444 in Ulsan and $1,472 in Pangyo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $252 per month in Ulsan and $419 in Pangyo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ulsan, where all-in costs run around $1,444, than in Pangyo at $1,472. In Ulsan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pangyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ulsan – 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 Ulsan. 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.