Busan ranks 4th of 5 priced cities in South Korea on cost — $982 a month in essentials, 13% above Incheon, the cheapest. The average net salary of $2,572 covers that 2.6×. 86.5 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at eup/myeon/dong level. PM2.5 averages 16.6 µg/m³ a year, 3× the WHO guideline of 5. Jan averages 4°C, Aug 28°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $332 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $655 |
| Groceries | $222 |
| Dining out | $168 |
| Utilities | $206 |
| Local transport | $54 |
| Essentials / mo | $982 |
| Avg net salary | $2,572 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $647 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $1,204 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 27, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Busan, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $6.78 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $44.08 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $6.04 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $3.40 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $3.39 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $3.90 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $1.68 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $1.29 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $2.13 |
| White bread, 500 g | $2.88 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $2.84 |
| Eggs, 12 | $2.42 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $10.00 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $9.50 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $10.17 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $3.31 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $5.39 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $5.43 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $3.02 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $1.19 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $1.05 |
| Monthly transit pass | $54.26 |
| Taxi start | $3.26 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $0.68 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.23 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $181.69 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $24.59 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $33.10 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $56.80 |
| Cinema, one seat | $10.85 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Busan has 86.5 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (eup/myeon/dong level). That is the lowest of the 6 South Korea cities we track. South Korea's national figure is 111.9, so Busan runs 25 below the country as a whole.
Every South Korea region by male-to-female ratio →
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.7°C | -0.9°C | 53% | 39% | 36 mm |
| Feb | 5.9°C | 1.7°C | 52% | 47% | 49 mm |
| Mar | 10.5°C | 7.3°C | 59% | 52% | 85 mm |
| Apr | 14.9°C | 12.9°C | 63% | 58% | 118 mm |
| May | 19.2°C | 18.8°C | 67% | 59% | 105 mm |
| Jun | 22.6°C | 24.4°C | 77% | 71% | 158 mm |
| Jul | 26.4°C | 30.7°C | 84% | 75% | 222 mm |
| Aug | 27.7°C | 32.4°C | 80% | 63% | 185 mm |
| Sep | 23.6°C | 25.6°C | 78% | 67% | 240 mm |
| Oct | 17.9°C | 17.1°C | 69% | 48% | 98 mm |
| Nov | 12°C | 9.3°C | 62% | 41% | 54 mm |
| Dec | 5.1°C | 0.9°C | 55% | 36% | 31 mm |
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