Busan Cost of Living 2026
South Korea · Big city · coast — cheaper than the US average. Updated September 2026 Not just the exchange rate: how cheap it feels on your own income, and where a price turns into a rip-off.
Busan price table & rip-off thresholds
| Item | Base price | Normal range | Rip-off? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₩9,000$6.52 | ₩6,300 – ₩14,400 | ₩17,280+ |
| Street food1 item | ₩4,100$2.97 | ₩2,460 – ₩7,380 | ₩8,856+ |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₩27,000$19.6 | ₩18,900 – ₩43,200 | ₩51,840+ |
| Bakery & dessert1 item | ₩4,100$2.97 | ₩2,460 – ₩7,380 | ₩8,856+ |
| Coffeeone cup | ₩4,500$3.26 | ₩2,700 – ₩7,200 | ₩8,640+ |
| Fruit juiceone cup | ₩5,300$3.84 | ₩3,180 – ₩9,540 | ₩11,448+ |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₩2,500$1.81 | ₩1,500 – ₩4,750 | ₩5,700+ |
| Bottled water | ₩1,000$0.72 | ₩700 – ₩2,000 | ₩2,400+ |
| Beerone bottle | ₩4,500$3.26 | ₩2,700 – ₩7,650 | ₩9,180+ |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₩12,000$8.7 | ₩7,200 – ₩20,400 | ₩24,480+ |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₩8,500$6.16 | ₩6,800 – ₩13,600 | ₩16,320+ |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₩11,000$7.97 | ₩7,700 – ₩19,800 | ₩23,760+ |
| Transitone ride | ₩1,500$1.09 | ₩1,350 – ₩1,950 | ₩2,340+ |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₩33,000$23.9 | ₩23,100 – ₩52,800 | ₩63,360+ |
| Hotel night3-star | ₩100,000$72.5 | ₩60,000 – ₩160,000 | ₩192,000+ |
| Laundry | ₩5,300$3.84 | ₩3,710 – ₩8,480 | ₩10,176+ |
| SIM card1 week data | ₩20,000$14.5 | ₩14,000 – ₩34,000 | ₩40,800+ |
| Haircutcut | ₩23,000$16.7 | ₩13,800 – ₩41,400 | ₩49,680+ |
| Massage1 hour | ₩67,000$48.6 | ₩46,900 – ₩107,200 | ₩128,640+ |
| Half-day tourper person | ₩80,000$58 | ₩56,000 – ₩128,000 | ₩153,600+ |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₩16,000$11.6 | ₩12,800 – ₩22,400 | ₩26,880+ |
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in what travelers actually paid. Rate ₩1,380 per USD, for reference.
Live prices reported in Busan
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FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Busan for a month?
A short-term studio rental (about $1,067) plus food, coffee, transport and a SIM (about $981) comes to roughly $2,048 a month. A local long-term lease (studio ₩650,000) brings it down a lot.
What is a realistic daily budget for Busan?
A mid-range room (about $74.6 a night) plus three meals, a coffee and two taxi rides is about $137 a day. Hostels and local eateries bring it well under that.
How do I know if a taxi in Busan is overcharging?
For 5 km in the city, expect ₩6,800 – ₩13,600. Anything above ₩16,320 is suspicious. The app's Price Check lets you pick the distance and gives a verdict in seconds.
How much is a coffee or a local meal in Busan?
Coffee about ₩4,500 ($3.26), a local meal about ₩9,000 ($6.52), dinner at a mid-range restaurant about ₩27,000.