Cost of living comparison

 Busan, South Korea
compared to
 United States
United States vs. Busan Cost of Living Summary

United States is 75.3% more expensive than Busan.

Restaurants
pay 89.5% more in United States
Groceries
pay 14.4% less in United States
Transportation
pay 30.9% more in United States
Housing
pay 3.6 times more in United States
Childcare
pay 2.2 times more in United States
Entertainment and Sports
pay 63.0% more in United States
Clothing
pay 23.8% less in United States

The cost of housing, childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and transportation in United States are more expensive than in Busan. Expenses including clothing and groceries are lower in United States. Notably, housing, childcare, and restaurants are significantly more expensive in United States.

United States vs. Busan Cost Breakdown

If you lived in United States instead of Busan, you would:

pay 89.5% more for restaurants

 
Busan
United States
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $6.45
₩8,890
$18.59
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.91
₩8,149
$10.47
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.84
₩2,531
$2.50
 

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pay 14.4% less for groceries

 
Busan
United States
Bread
1 loaf
$3.58
₩4,939
$3.49
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.10
₩7,038
$6.33
 
Milk (1 gallon) $8.49
₩11,705
$3.91
 

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pay 30.9% more for transportation

 
Busan
United States
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.38
₩6,046
$3.61
 
Monthly public transit pass $42.97
₩59,266
$65.15
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $27,023.07
₩37,269,131
$31,583.67
 

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pay 3.6 times more for housing

 
Busan
United States
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$16.11
₩22,225
$67.50
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $471.50
₩650,275
$1,655.99
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $286.48
₩395,104
$1,423.40
 

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pay 2.2 times more for childcare

 
Busan
United States
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $477.47
₩658,506
$1,351.84
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $13,786.91
₩19,014,359
$22,265.44
 

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pay 63.0% more for entertainment and sports

 
Busan
United States
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $3.58
₩4,939
$5.78
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.82
₩5,272
$5.04
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.22
₩4,445
$9.68
 

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pay 23.8% less for clothing

 
Busan
United States
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$100.27
₩138,286
$50.38
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$64.46
₩88,898
$40.66
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$90.24
₩124,458
$85.52
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: July 2025
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