Side-by-side city decision # San Sebastián vs Daegu. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link San SebastiánSpain4/6 VS DaeguSouth Korea1/6 $2,295San Sebastián monthly budget $1,075Daegu monthly budget 310 MbpsSan Sebastián internet 245 MbpsDaegu internet Decision summary San Sebastián San Sebastián leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Daegu Speed Fastest internet San Sebastián Vibe Best nomad vibe San Sebastián Safety Highest safety Tie Air Cleanest air San Sebastián Walk Most walkable San Sebastián Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [San Sebastián](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/san-sebastian.md) Spain 4/6 Budget$2,295 Internet310 Mbps Vibe8/10 [Daegu](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/south-korea/daegu.md) South Korea 1/6 Budget$1,075 Internet245 Mbps Vibe7/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals MetricSan SebastiánDaegu Total estimated budget $2,295 $1,075 1-bed center rent $1,500 $510 Coworking desk $250 $145 Local meal $17.5 $7.2 Cappuccino $2.4 $3.9 Gym membership $55 $45 Transport budget $35 $55 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals MetricSan SebastiánDaegu Internet speed 310 Mbps 245 Mbps Nomad vibe 8/10 7/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals MetricSan SebastiánDaegu Safety index 82/100 82/100 Air quality 88/100 65/100 Walkability 9/10 7/10 Female safety 9/10 8/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 9/10 5/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals MetricSan SebastiánDaegu Healthcare quality Excellent Excellent English proficiency Good Basic Climate type Oceanic Humid continental with monsoon influence Best time to visit Jun - Sep Apr - May Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [San Sebastián](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/san-sebastian.md) Spain → ### Strengths * Exceptional pintxos culture and high-quality local food * Very safe, compact, and highly walkable central districts * Fast fiber internet and reliable mobile coverage * Excellent public healthcare and private medical options * Beautiful beaches, coastal paths, and nearby mountain hikes * Progressive, welcoming atmosphere with strong quality of life ### Trade-offs * Rent is among the highest in Spain, especially near the beach * Wet weather is common throughout the year * Summer brings crowds, festival noise, and scarce short-term rentals * Coworking choice is smaller than in Barcelona or Madrid * Local social circles can take time to enter * Basque and Spanish are more useful than English outside tourist areas ### Common visa routes * Spain Digital Nomad Visa * Schengen short-stay visa exemption or Schengen Visa * Spanish Non-Lucrative Residence Visa [Daegu](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/south-korea/daegu.md) South Korea → ### Strengths * Lower living costs than Seoul while retaining excellent urban infrastructure * Fast, reliable fiber internet and broad 5G coverage * Safe streets and efficient metro and bus networks * Excellent Korean food scene with affordable local restaurants * Convenient access to mountains, parks, and historic Gyeongju * Modern hospitals and high-quality healthcare ### Trade-offs * English is less widely spoken than in Seoul or Busan * Summer can be intensely hot, humid, and rainy * Winter nights are cold and dry * International and nomad communities are relatively small * Fine-dust pollution can affect some days, especially in spring * Rental deposits can be high under traditional Korean lease structures ### Common visa routes * K-ETA visa waiver or short-term tourist entry, subject to nationality and current rules * Working Holiday Visa for eligible nationalities * Digital Nomad Workation Visa for qualifying remote workers meeting income and insurance requirements Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.