Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,175 in Changwon versus $1,079 in Jeju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,792 in Changwon versus $1,866 in Jeju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,409 in Changwon versus $2,652 in Jeju.

Living in Changwon is roughly 9% more expensive than in Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changwon 15% lower, Jeju 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 ₩9,808

$7.55 ₩10.1K

-3.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.35 ₩36.7K

$51.7 ₩69.3K

-47.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 ₩7,169

$5.52 ₩7,396

-3.08%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ₩4,831

$5.89 ₩7,898

-38.88%

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

$1.81 ₩2,423

$2.15 ₩2,888

-15.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₩1,256

$1.97 ₩2,647

-52.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₩3,902

$3.48 ₩4,670

-16.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ₩5,847

$2.93 ₩3,934

48.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₩3,091

$2.26 ₩3,037

2.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₩4,191

$2.28 ₩3,054

37.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 ₩4,228

$2.25 ₩3,011

40.00%

Eggs

$2.60 ₩3,489

$2.59 ₩3,471

0.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 ₩14.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₩14.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.67 ₩33.1K

Apples (1kg)

$11.29 ₩15.1K

Banana (1kg)

$3.67 ₩4,926

$2.21 ₩2,968

66.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.83 ₩10.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,897

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,898

$3.02 ₩4,055

95.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 ₩4,390

$1.81 ₩2,429

80.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 ₩3,818

$2.20 ₩2,948

29.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,788

$0.43 ₩577

209.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₩4,560

Wine (Bottle)

$18.84 ₩25.3K

$11.36 ₩15.2K

65.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₩3,141

$1.89 ₩2,541

23.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 ₩4,688

$1.66 ₩2,220

110.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ₩1,343

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 ₩3,920

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₩1,023

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.94 ₩22.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,771

$1.32 ₩1,769

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

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

$33.5K ₩44.9M

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

$198 ₩265.3K

$208 ₩278.9K

-4.88%

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

$35.58 ₩47.7K

$54.0 ₩72.4K

-34.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.96 ₩36.2K

$19.21 ₩25.8K

40.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ₩70.3K

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 ₩14.8K

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

$630 ₩844.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$25.2K ₩33.8M

-12.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩141.6K

$50.3 ₩67.5K

109.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.4 ₩87.7K

$29.85 ₩40.0K

119.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 ₩124.7K

$65.3 ₩87.5K

42.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 ₩168.9K

$88.2 ₩118.3K

42.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩618.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₩510.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 ₩1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 ₩1.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩14.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,719 ₩9.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,661 ₩2.2M

$1,863 ₩2.5M

-10.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

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

Last update for Changwon: September 6, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Jeju pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Changwon vs $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries flip the comparison at $484 vs $140, with Jeju cheaper for home cooking.

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

Changwon and Jeju differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,175 vs $1,079 including rent). Jeju is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Jeju. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Dining out is cheaper in Jeju – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $27.00 in Changwon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,175 per month in Changwon versus $1,079 in Jeju – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,079 in Jeju versus $1,175 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.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Changwon and Jeju are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jeju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Changwon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.