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Living in Busan for Foreigners: Short-Term Rentals & Best Areas
Staying in Busan for a Week or More? Where to Live, Not Just Visit
Most Things-to-do guides about Busan are written for a two- or three-day trip. But Busan is one of those cities where a weekend can easily feel too short.
You might come traveling here, or come to see K-pop concerts, such as BTS. Also you can come for a conference at BEXCO and decide to stay another week. You might be working remotely by the beach, staying in Korea for a few months, studying, receiving medical treatment, or working on a temporary project as a foreigner.
Once you're staying longer than a few nights, the question changes. It's no longer just "What should I see in Busan?" It becomes "Where should I actually live?"
This guide covers where to live in Busan, how to get around, and how to find a short-term lease when you need a home for a week or more.
Why Stay in Busan Longer Than a Weekend?
Busan is one of the few Korean cities where the beach and the city aren't a trade-off — you get both, often within the same neighborhood. In Haeundae and Gwangalli, the sea is part of daily life, not something you visit once and check off.
Centum City and BEXCO bring a steady stream of business trips and conventions that quietly turn into longer stays, and a growing remote-work and workation crowd comes for the coastline and stays for the routine.
Busan starts to look less like a weekend detour and more like a city built at a scale that rewards actually living in it, not just sightseeing through it in two or three days. Busan works well as a weekend destination. But it makes even more sense once you have enough time to build a routine.
Where Should I Live in Busan?
| Area | Key Features & Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Haeundae | Haeundae Beach, Centum City, BEXCO, Line 2; morning beach routine, business trips that turn into workations; feels less like a tourist district and more like a neighborhood to settle into | Beach Life, Business trips, Workations & BEXCO |
| Seomyeon | Line 1 + Line 2 transfer, minutes from Busan Station's KTX platforms; central city living, shopping, restaurants | Getting Around Busan & Central Living |
| Gwangalli | Gwangalli Beach and the Gwangan Bridge view; a livelier, more local cafe and bar scene than Haeundae; smaller-scale, walkable, and less crowded | Beach Life with a Local Feel |
For a week or several weeks in Busan, it can feel less like a tourist district and more like a neighborhood you actually settle into.
Hotel, Airbnb, or Short-Term Rental - Which Should I Choose in Busan?
For two nights, a hotel is an easy choice. For two weeks, the decision starts to feel different.
A few nights, and a hotel is simply convenient. Stretch that to a week or a few weeks, though, and things like a kitchen, laundry, and a bit of real living space start to matter. That's the gap a short-term lease is built for — something in between a nightly hotel stay and a full Korean rental contract.
| Hotel | Airbnb | Short-Term Rental (33m2) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | A few nights | Short-term travelers | A week to a few months |
| Home-like space | Varies | Varies | Yes |
| Lease period | Nightly | Usually short | Weekly basis |
| Price | Expensive for long-term | Usually expensive for long-term | Affordable price for long-term (Around $200~ per week) |
How to Find a Short-Term Rental in Busan
If you're staying in Busan for a week or more, you don't have to choose between booking a hotel night after night and staying in an Airbnb.
33m2 is Korea's No.1 short-term lease service, where you can find real residential homes available from one week. Koreans use 33m2 when they need a home for a while — and the service is highly foreigner-friendly, with an English version of the app and in-app chat translation built in.
Choose the area that works for you — Haeundae, Seomyeon, Gwangalli, or anywhere else in Busan.
Find a Home for a While in Busan with 33m2
Looking for a short-term lease in Busan?
Choose the neighborhood that fits your life, check the available rental period and price, and complete your short-term lease through the service.
When you need a home for a while in Korea. Only as long as you need.
👉 Find a Home in Busan with 33m2