Popular cities
Daegu Prices & Cost of Living 2026
South Korea · Big city — Daegu is about 66% cheaper than New York. Not just exchange rates: what a fair price is, where it turns into a rip-off, and what that means in your money.
Daegu prices at a glance
Just got quoted a price? Check it
Pick the item and type the price you were quoted or paid — instant verdict. If you actually paid it, you can share it right here.
Open in the app: see it in your money & log it ›Free · no sign-up · Rip-off guide
Daegu travel difficulty
Fixed prices and metered taxis; overcharging is rare
Metro announces in English; little English elsewhere
3 metro lines; the airport is just 25 min from downtown by taxi
Foreign cards work almost everywhere; some Seomun Market stalls cash
Safe day and night; some taxi drivers drive aggressively
Good to knowDongdaegu KTX makes Gyeongju and Busan easy day trips; call taxis on Kakao T
Handy apps: Kakao T · K.Ride · Uber
Visas depend on your passport, so they are not scored. Felt different on the ground? Tell other travelers below. Travel difficulty in East Asia › Difficulty ranking for 502 cities ›
In your money
Daegu is about 66% cheaper than New York
Based on 8 things travelers buy most, compared with New York. Each pair of bars is the same purchase in both cities, converted to your currency. Set your own city and currency in “My basis” above.
Daegu in numbers
- 🍜14 local meals
- ☕30 coffees
- 🍺27 beers
- 🚕19 5-km taxi rides
- 💆2.3 h of massage
- 🏨1.6 hotel nights
- Local meal33 min · New York 52 min
- Coffee16 min · New York 15 min
- Beer17 min · New York 23 min
- Taxi25 min · New York 59 min
- Half-day tour#2 cheapest
- 1-bed rent#133 cheapest
- Entry ticket#171 cheapest
- SIM card#98 priciest
- Cocktail & wine#222 priciest
Daegu price guide & rip-off thresholds
Daegu travel budget
Per person per day, estimated. Flights and shopping not included.
See 4-day, 1-week and 1-month budget tables › · Plan a multi-city trip budget ›
How to spend money in Daegu
Cards and mobile pay work everywhere; a T-money card covers subway, buses and even convenience stores.
No tipping.
Prices include VAT.
Subways and buses are dense and cheap. Taxis are metered; Kakao T is the main app. A late-night surcharge applies.
No haggling outside traditional markets.
Tap water is safe, though most people drink filtered or bottled.
Rare. Avoid unlicensed call-vans and touts outside the airport.
Live prices reported in Daegu
Loading…
FAQ
Is Daegu cheaper than New York?
Across 8 things travelers buy most (meals, coffee, beer, taxis, hotels…), Daegu is about 66% cheaper than New York. A local meal is about ₩9,500 (≈ $6.88) and a coffee about ₩4,500 (≈ $3.26).
How hard is Daegu to travel?
Averaging rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, Daegu scores 1.4/5 — 'very easy'. The main thing to watch is language (3/5): Metro announces in English; little English elsewhere. Tip: Dongdaegu KTX makes Gyeongju and Busan easy day trips; call taxis on Kakao T
Is Daegu good for first-time travelers?
Yes — it is one of the easier places to travel (1.4/5). Dongdaegu KTX makes Gyeongju and Busan easy day trips; call taxis on Kakao T
What is a realistic daily budget for Daegu?
Mid-range (3-star hotel, local meals plus a dinner out, two taxi rides) is about $122 a day. Guesthouses and street food bring it to about $41.7; 4-star and restaurants push it to about $248.
How much does it cost to live in Daegu for a month?
A short-term studio (about $739) plus food, transport and a SIM (about $1,002) comes to roughly $1,741 a month. A local long-term lease (studio about ₩450,000) brings it down a lot.
How much should a taxi cost in Daegu?
For 5 km in town, expect ₩5,680 – ₩11,400; anything above ₩13,600 is suspicious. Subways and buses are dense and cheap. Taxis are metered; Kakao T is the main app. A late-night surcharge applies.
Do you tip in Daegu?
No tipping. Prices include VAT.
Can you use cards in Daegu?
Cards and mobile pay work everywhere; a T-money card covers subway, buses and even convenience stores.
Where do these numbers come from?
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in the median of what people actually paid.
Fair range & rip-off line — each item gets its own spread (tight for transit, wide for street food). Above 1.2× the top of the fair range is flagged as a likely rip-off.
Budgets add up item prices for the lifestyle described above. Peak season and prime tourist spots run higher.
Exchange rate as of October 2026: 1 USD = ₩1,380. Last updated 2026-10-05.