Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucheon and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucheon and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,498 per month in Bucheon vs $1,334 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,403 per month in Bucheon vs $2,290 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,308 per month in Bucheon vs $3,246 in Jeju, rent included.

Bucheon costs about 12% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bucheon and Jeju sit above the global median – Bucheon by 12%, Jeju by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 ₩13.2K

$6.71 ₩10.2K

30.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.9 ₩83.2K

$51.2 ₩77.5K

7.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.51 ₩9,861

$4.04 ₩6,124

61.14%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₩5,917

$5.21 ₩7,898

-25.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,558

$2.42 ₩3,660

-30.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₩1,215

$0.72 ₩1,087

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 ₩5,476

$3.98 ₩6,034

-9.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 ₩9,088

$5.71 ₩8,658

5.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₩3,433

$2.14 ₩3,248

6.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 ₩5,182

$2.25 ₩3,404

52.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₩4,843

$2.23 ₩3,379

43.50%

Eggs

$3.15 ₩4,772

$2.61 ₩3,952

20.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.08 ₩21.3K

$10.53 ₩16.0K

33.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.88 ₩16.5K

$8.47 ₩12.8K

28.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.35 ₩52.1K

$27.80 ₩42.1K

23.56%

Apples (1kg)

$7.89 ₩12.0K

$7.66 ₩11.6K

3.00%

Banana (1kg)

$3.61 ₩5,464

$3.12 ₩4,735

15.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 ₩8,665

$5.68 ₩8,600

0.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.70 ₩10.1K

$5.35 ₩8,109

25.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 ₩6,042

$3.02 ₩4,576

32.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 ₩4,348

$1.89 ₩2,865

51.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 ₩3,930

$2.17 ₩3,292

19.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,816

$0.46 ₩695

160.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₩5,075

$3.25 ₩4,925

3.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.94 ₩28.7K

$16.99 ₩25.7K

11.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₩3,534

$1.90 ₩2,881

22.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₩4,920

$1.61 ₩2,442

101.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,700

$0.86 ₩1,305

30.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 ₩5,368

$2.53 ₩3,840

39.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 ₩792

$0.53 ₩800

-1.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.06 ₩13.7K

$8.57 ₩13.0K

5.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₩1,798

$1.26 ₩1,913

-5.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.7K ₩42.0M

$28.0K ₩42.4M

-1.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K ₩38.6M

$24.8K ₩37.5M

2.94%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$162 ₩245.0K

$159 ₩240.9K

1.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$34.25 ₩51.9K

$34.67 ₩52.5K

-1.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.40 ₩33.9K

$19.46 ₩29.5K

15.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.65 ₩72.2K

$36.23 ₩54.9K

31.52%

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 ₩16.7K

$10.88 ₩16.5K

1.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$410 ₩621.3K

$367 ₩556.3K

11.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K ₩35.0M

$24.3K ₩36.8M

-4.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ₩90.7K

$51.3 ₩77.7K

16.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.14 ₩71.4K

$29.51 ₩44.7K

59.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 ₩119.8K

$66.3 ₩100.5K

19.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩176.8K

$89.4 ₩135.5K

30.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 ₩680.3K

$501 ₩759.2K

-10.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 ₩573.7K

$402 ₩609.2K

-5.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,056 ₩1.6M

$1,017 ₩1.5M

3.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 ₩1.2M

$1,149 ₩1.7M

-33.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.1K ₩16.8M

$9,790 ₩14.8M

13.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,757 ₩8.7M

$5,331 ₩8.1M

8.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,335 ₩2.0M

$1,672 ₩2.5M

-20.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bucheon: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Bucheon versus $501 in Jeju. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in Jeju, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Bucheon versus $51.0 in Jeju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $498 vs $401 – making Jeju the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bucheon vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,498 in Bucheon, $1,334 in Jeju – roughly 12% apart. Bucheon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,247 per month in Bucheon and $2,001 in Jeju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jeju, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,498 in Bucheon and $1,334 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $410 per month in Bucheon and $367 in Jeju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,334, than in Bucheon at $1,498. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bucheon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jeju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jeju. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bucheon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.