🇰🇷 Seoul vs 🇰🇷 Busan
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Busan is 19% cheaper than Seoul
Quick answer
Comparing Seoul, South Korea and Busan, South Korea: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $2,296 in Seoul versus $1,853 in Busan. Busan is roughly 19% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $931/mo (Seoul) vs $715/mo (Busan). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $2,296/mo in Seoul single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $1,853/mo in Busan single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $931/mo in Seoul · $715/mo in Busan.
- Cheaper overall: Busan ~19% cheaper than Seoul.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇰🇷 Seoul | 🇰🇷 Busan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $1,600/mo | $1,300/mo | -19% |
| Moderate | $2,296/mo | $1,853/mo | -19% |
| Comfortable | $3,450/mo | $2,800/mo | -19% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇰🇷 Seoul | 🇰🇷 Busan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $931/mo | $715/mo | -23% |
| Groceries & Food | $420/mo | $350/mo | -17% |
| Dining Out | $210/mo | $175/mo | -17% |
| Transport | $210/mo | $175/mo | -17% |
| Utilities & Internet | $210/mo | $175/mo | -17% |
| Healthcare | $168/mo | $140/mo | -17% |
| Leisure & Personal | $147/mo | $123/mo | -16% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Seoul
$931
Busan
$715
Groceries & Food
Seoul
$420
Busan
$350
Dining Out
Seoul
$210
Busan
$175
Transport
Seoul
$210
Busan
$175
Utilities & Internet
Seoul
$210
Busan
$175
Healthcare
Seoul
$168
Busan
$140
Leisure & Personal
Seoul
$147
Busan
$123
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: KOSTAT, World Bank / KOSTAT, World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇰🇷 Seoul | 🇰🇷 Busan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $3 | $3 | -6% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $2 | $2 | -5% |
| Eggs (12) | $3 | $3 | -5% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $9 | $9 | -4% |
| Rice (5 kg) | $15 | $14 | -5% |
| Apples (1 kg) | $6 | $6 | -5% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $4 | $4 | -5% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇰🇷 Seoul | 🇰🇷 Busan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bibimbap (local restaurant) | $7 | $6 | -7% |
| Fast food combo meal | $6 | $6 | -7% |
| Cappuccino | $4 | $4 | -7% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $4 | $3 | -8% |
| Beer (0.5L, store) | $2 | $2 | -7% |
| Soju (bottle) | $1 | $1 | -7% |
Housing
| Item | 🇰🇷 Seoul | 🇰🇷 Busan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (Gangnam) | $931 | $715 | -23% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $600 | $370 | -38% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $2,200 | $1,365 | -38% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,400 | $870 | -38% |
Transport
| Item | 🇰🇷 Seoul | 🇰🇷 Busan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (T-money) | $42 | $40 | -5% |
| Taxi start | $3 | $3 | -5% |
| Taxi per km | $1 | $1 | -5% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | 0% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇰🇷 Seoul | 🇰🇷 Busan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $22 | $22 | 0% |
| Mobile plan (10GB+) | $35 | $35 | 0% |
Clothing
| Item | 🇰🇷 Seoul | 🇰🇷 Busan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pair of jeans (Levi's) | $74 | $73 | -1% |
| Running shoes (Nike/Adidas) | $90 | $88 | -2% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇰🇷 Seoul | 🇰🇷 Busan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $45 | $45 | 0% |
| Cinema ticket | $10 | $10 | 0% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇰🇷 Seoul | 🇰🇷 Busan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $11 | $8 | -28% |
Quick Facts
🇰🇷 Seoul
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,296
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $931/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.20
- Inexpensive meal
- $7.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $45
- Internet speed
- 280 Mbps
- Safety index
- 82/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 99/100
- Country
- South Korea
🇰🇷 Busan
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,853
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $715/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.00
- Inexpensive meal
- $6.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $35
- Internet speed
- 250 Mbps
- Safety index
- 85/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 99/100
- Country
- South Korea
Explore more: Seoul city guide | Busan city guide | South Korea
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seoul or Busan cheaper to live in?
Busan is approximately 19% cheaper than Seoul overall.
How much does it cost to live in Seoul per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Seoul is approximately $2,296 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Busan per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Busan is approximately $1,853 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Seoul and Busan?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $931/month in Seoul and $715/month in Busan.