South Korea
South Korea's coastal second city with stunning beaches, fresh seafood markets, colorful hillside villages, and a more relaxed pace than Seoul.
#123 of 250
18% below average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 1 188
Based on NYC = 100 index
Busan is the 123. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 1 188 for one adult.
Most of that goes on basic grocery basket, which runs 52% above the median city and adds $ 76 a month: chicken breast (1kg) $ 4, pork (1kg) $ 12.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is restaurants, 67% below the median: mcmeal at mcdonalds $ 6, cappuccino $ 3. You also get off lightly on healthcare, housing.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
35 prices on this page come from live scrapers (10 sources, observed October 12, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Busan, South Korea. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/busan. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | 713.44 / month | 1 | 2026-10-12 | Zigbang + 한국부동산원 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 411.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-12 | Zigbang + 한국부동산원 |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 4.48 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Pork (1kg) | 12.38 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Beef (1kg) | 42.91 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 8.96 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Milk (1 liter) | 2.35 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency), KAMIS Korea |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.31 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Cheese (1kg) | 18.52 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Butter (200g) | 3.46 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Eggs (12) | 4.18 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency), KAMIS Korea |
| Bread (500g) | 3.52 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Pasta (500g) | 2.22 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Rice (1kg) | 2.62 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency), KAMIS Korea |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 2.40 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 5.68 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Bell Peppers (1kg) | 10.58 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Carrots (1kg) | 3.69 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Onions (1kg) | 1.54 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Banana (1kg) | 2.53 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | KAMIS Korea |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 7.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Flour (1kg) | 1.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Sugar (1kg) | 1.69 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 0.54 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 2.67 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | 참가격 (Korea Consumer Agency) |
| Cappuccino | 2.79 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Café Menus (Named Venues) |
| Monthly Transit Pass | 33.45 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | City Transit Fares |
| One-way Ticket | 1.19 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | City Transit Fares |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.37 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | National fuel price sources |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 26.02 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Gym Chains |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | 2.97 / hour | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Tennis Court Hire Prices |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 42.02 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 37.89 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 74.46 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 57.74 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
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Monthly average costs by category
$ 562
per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month