Can you live in Busan with $ 1,000 a month?

Not comfortably. Estimated monthly costs are around $1,528, which exceeds this budget.

Can you live in Busan with $ 2,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $1,528, you would have roughly $472 left each month (Comfortable).

Can you live in Busan with $ 3,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $1,528, you would have roughly $1,472 left each month (Very Comfortable).

Can you live in Busan with $ 5,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $1,528, you would have roughly $3,472 left each month (Premium Lifestyle).

Can you live in Busan with $ 8,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $1,528, you would have roughly $6,472 left each month (Premium Lifestyle).

🇰🇷

Busan, South Korea

How much does it really cost to live in Busan? Housing, food, transport, internet and more — plus what salary you need to live comfortably.

Asia 👥 3,400,000 people 🌤️ Temperate climate Large city 🌊 Near the sea 💱 KRW

💰 Can I afford Busan? ⚖️ Compare this city South Korea →

$ $550 1-bedroom rent / mo

82 Quality of life / 100

88 Safety / 100

92 Internet / 100

50 Affordability / 100

Busan vs Seoul ⚖️ Busan vs Jeju City ⚖️

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Estimated Monthly Cost

Single person, moderate lifestyle, 1-bedroom apartment.

Rent (1-bedroom)	$550
Food (moderate)	$380
Transport	$45
Utilities	$90
Internet	$30
Healthcare	$85
Entertainment	$170
Total (moderate)	$1,528

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Housing Costs

Typical monthly rent in Busan.

Shared accommodation	$250
Studio	$400
1-bedroom	$550
2-bedroom	$850
3-bedroom	$1,200

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City Scores

How Busan rates, out of 100.

Cost of living

Safety

Quality of life

Internet

Healthcare

Transport

Nightlife

Climate

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At a Glance

Climate🌤️ Temperate
City sizeLarge
Near the seaYes 🌊
Geography🌊 Sea
Capital citySeoul
LanguageKorean
CurrencyKRW
Time zoneAsia/Seoul

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Pros and Cons of Busan

✅ Pros

Relatively safe city
Fast and reliable internet
Good public transport network
Great overall quality of life
Good healthcare options
Located near the coast

⚠️ Cons

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Monthly Budget by Lifestyle

Based on a single person living in a 1-bedroom apartment.

Budget $1,020 per month Basic $1,175 per month Moderate $1,528 per month Comfortable $2,105 per month Premium $3,353 per month

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Can You Live in Busan on These Salaries?

Estimated for a single person, moderate lifestyle, 1-bedroom apartment.

Monthly income	Status	Remaining
$ 1,000	Very Difficult	$-528 / month
$ 2,000	Comfortable	$472 / month
$ 3,000	Very Comfortable	$1,472 / month
$ 5,000	Premium Lifestyle	$3,472 / month
$ 8,000	Premium Lifestyle	$6,472 / month