Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Jeju

For one person, living is cheaper in Jeju: $1,118 a month against $1,529 in Changwon, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. The total is higher in Changwon despite lower rent and utilities.

Changwon, South Korea
Jeju, South Korea
Changwon
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,529
/mo nomad
Jeju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,118
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Changwon and in Jeju

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Changwon and in Jeju actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,529 in Changwon versus $1,118 in Jeju.

  • Changwon $1,529
  • Jeju $1,118

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Changwon versus $1,917 in Jeju.

  • Changwon $2,381
  • Jeju $1,917

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,233 in Changwon versus $2,715 in Jeju.

  • Changwon $3,233
  • Jeju $2,715

Living in Changwon is roughly 37% more expensive than in Jeju, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Changwon is 12% above, Jeju is 18% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Changwon
Jeju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.34 ₩9,862
$7.33 ₩9,840
0.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.81 ₩37.3K
$51.9 ₩69.6K
-46.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.34 ₩7,167
$5.61 ₩7,538
-4.81%
Cappuccino
$3.78 ₩5,079
$5.87 ₩7,879
-35.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 ₩2,513
$2.19 ₩2,941
-14.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 ₩1,359
$2.06 ₩2,769
-50.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.02 ₩4,050
$3.93 ₩5,276
-23.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 ₩5,870
$3.07 ₩4,125
42.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Changwon
Jeju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.35 ₩3,161
$2.26 ₩3,035
3.98%
White Bread (500g)
$3.24 ₩4,357
$2.31 ₩3,097
40.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.20 ₩4,303
$2.31 ₩3,103
38.53%
Eggs
$2.63 ₩3,538
$2.62 ₩3,518
0.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.08 ₩14.9K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₩14.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.38 ₩34.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$11.39 ₩15.3K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$3.73 ₩5,009
$2.20 ₩2,957
69.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.96 ₩10.7K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$5.86 ₩7,874
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$5.95 ₩7,991
$2.97 ₩3,983
100.34%
Onion (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,535
$1.87 ₩2,510
80.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.85 ₩3,831
$2.28 ₩3,055
25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 ₩1,778
$0.47 ₩628
180.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.37 ₩4,520
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ₩25.4K
$11.48 ₩15.4K
64.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 ₩3,317
$1.85 ₩2,479
33.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 ₩4,539
$1.72 ₩2,308
96.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Changwon
Jeju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.16 ₩1,558
$0.99 ₩1,328
17.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 ₩4,008
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₩1,052
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.79 ₩22.5K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ₩1,830
$1.37 ₩1,846
-0.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K ₩52.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ₩45.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Changwon
Jeju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 ₩268.3K
$214 ₩287.4K
-6.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₩48.5K
$54.0 ₩72.5K
-33.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.46 ₩36.9K
$19.65 ₩26.4K
39.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Changwon
Jeju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.3 ₩71.6K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.13 ₩19.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.29 ₩15.2K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Changwon
Jeju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$646 ₩867.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K ₩28.8M
$25.3K ₩34.0M
-15.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Changwon
Jeju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₩140.3K
$52.7 ₩70.7K
98.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.5 ₩88.0K
$29.78 ₩40.0K
120.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 ₩124.0K
$66.6 ₩89.4K
38.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 ₩172.6K
$90.8 ₩121.9K
41.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Changwon
Jeju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ₩649.8K
$461 ₩618.8K
5.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$356 ₩478.0K
$388 ₩521.2K
-8.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,160 ₩1.6M
$1,372 ₩1.8M
-15.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$756 ₩1.0M
$1,192 ₩1.6M
-36.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,009 ₩9.4M
$10.8K ₩14.5M
-34.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,457 ₩7.3M
$6,659 ₩8.9M
-18.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Changwon
Jeju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,713 ₩2.3M
$1,883 ₩2.5M
-9.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
0
-

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

Last update for Changwon: October 26, 2026

Last update for Jeju: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Changwon
$491
Jeju
–
Accommodation & Living
Changwon
$356
Jeju
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Changwon
$263
Jeju
–
Clothing & Footwear
Changwon
$176
Jeju
–
Eating Out
Changwon
$156
Jeju
–
Sport & Entertainment
Changwon
$76
Jeju
–
Getting Around
Changwon
$12 *
Jeju
–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $484 in Changwon and $461 in Jeju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jeju pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28 in Changwon vs $52 in Jeju. Groceries flip the comparison at $491 vs $142, with Jeju cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Changwon
🇰🇷 Jeju
🕒 Local time
06:08 6:08 AM
06:08 6:08 AM
Same time as Changwon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,055,839
469,279
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1,343 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.45 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Changwon Jeju 280 km
From you
  • Changwon
  • Jeju

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Changwon vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Changwon and in Jeju?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,529 in Changwon and $1,118 in Jeju, so Jeju is about 27% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Changwon. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Changwon and in Jeju?
Rent for a central apartment: $484 in Changwon versus $461 in Jeju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Changwon – a meal for two runs $28 versus $52 in Jeju. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Changwon or Jeju?
All in, you’ll spend $1,529 per month in Changwon versus $1,118 in Jeju – Jeju is about 27% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,118 in Jeju versus $1,529 in Changwon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeju but tight or insufficient in Changwon. The gap between the two cities makes Jeju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Changwon or Jeju safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Changwon and Jeju are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Changwon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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