Cost of Living Comparison Between Wonju and Busan Cost of Living Comparison Between Wonju and Busan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,523 in Wonju versus $1,523 in Busan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Wonju versus $2,336 in Busan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,199 in Wonju versus $3,148 in Busan.

Monthly costs are close between Wonju and Busan; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wonju 14% above, Busan 14% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.18 ₩10.7K

$7.13 ₩10.6K

0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.64 ₩54.5K

$37.25 ₩55.4K

-1.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 ₩9,044

$5.93 ₩8,828

2.53%

Cappuccino

$4.09 ₩6,091

$4.08 ₩6,067

0.25%

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

$1.81 ₩2,691

$1.86 ₩2,770

-2.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₩2,065

$1.34 ₩1,991

3.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.68 ₩5,479

$3.72 ₩5,534

-1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.78 ₩8,594

$5.94 ₩8,837

-2.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₩3,375

$2.25 ₩3,344

0.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 ₩5,157

$3.43 ₩5,106

1.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.08 ₩4,576

$3.01 ₩4,473

2.33%

Eggs

$2.89 ₩4,295

$2.86 ₩4,253

1.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.36 ₩15.4K

$10.43 ₩15.5K

-0.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.03 ₩11.9K

$8.34 ₩12.4K

-3.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.63 ₩41.1K

$27.01 ₩40.2K

2.30%

Apples (1kg)

$8.43 ₩12.5K

$8.58 ₩12.8K

-1.75%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,660

$3.12 ₩4,642

0.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.46 ₩11.1K

$7.30 ₩10.9K

2.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.23 ₩7,782

$5.12 ₩7,614

2.15%

Potato (1kg)

$5.23 ₩7,777

$5.10 ₩7,589

2.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 ₩4,341

$3.04 ₩4,524

-3.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 ₩3,095

$2.01 ₩2,996

3.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,710

$1.21 ₩1,803

-4.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₩4,868

$3.39 ₩5,038

-3.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.53 ₩24.6K

$16.85 ₩25.1K

-1.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₩2,485

$1.69 ₩2,507

-1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩5,007

$3.35 ₩4,979

0.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,592

$1.17 ₩1,743

-8.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.13 ₩65.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₩5,311

$3.46 ₩5,153

3.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₩1,184

$0.85 ₩1,261

-5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.79 ₩25.0K

$16.39 ₩24.4K

2.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₩1,754

$1.16 ₩1,729

1.72%

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

$28.1K ₩41.8M

$27.3K ₩40.6M

2.79%

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

$25.4K ₩37.8M

$25.5K ₩37.9M

-0.37%

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

$187 ₩277.6K

$190 ₩282.8K

-1.81%

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

$50.1 ₩74.5K

$49.69 ₩73.9K

0.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.42 ₩40.8K

$27.38 ₩40.7K

0.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.11 ₩71.6K

$52.8 ₩78.5K

-8.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 ₩19.6K

Cinema Ticket

$11.23 ₩16.7K

$11.43 ₩17.0K

-1.75%

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

$483 ₩718.9K

$484 ₩720.4K

-0.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₩21.3M

$14.0K ₩20.8M

2.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₩153.3K

$105 ₩155.7K

-1.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.44 ₩70.6K

$67.4 ₩100.2K

-29.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 ₩131.0K

$87.7 ₩130.4K

0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩175.1K

$116 ₩172.5K

1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 ₩679.9K

$510 ₩758.0K

-10.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 ₩556.1K

$323 ₩480.2K

15.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,082 ₩1.6M

$1,010 ₩1.5M

7.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$782 ₩1.2M

$655 ₩973.7K

19.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,493 ₩12.6M

$9,773 ₩14.5M

-13.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,666 ₩6.9M

$7,105 ₩10.6M

-34.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,545 ₩3.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

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

Last update for Wonju: July 13, 2026

Last update for Busan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $457 in Wonju and $510 in Busan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Wonju vs $37.00 in Busan. Groceries flip the comparison at $444 vs $443, with Busan 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

Wonju vs Busan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $2,284 in Wonju and $2,285 in Busan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $457 in Wonju versus $510 in Busan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Busan pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Wonju – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $37.00 in Busan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,523 in Wonju versus $1,523 in Busan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Wonju but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Wonju 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, Wonju and Busan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Wonju wins on affordability, Busan on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.