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: $1,488 in Changwon versus $1,335 in Jeju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,294 in Changwon versus $2,303 in Jeju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,100 in Changwon versus $3,270 in Jeju.

Living in Changwon is roughly 11% more expensive than in Jeju, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Changwon 11% above, Jeju 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.22 ₩10.7K

$6.57 ₩9,780

9.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.38 ₩40.7K

$51.8 ₩77.1K

-47.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 ₩7,717

$4.08 ₩6,078

27.21%

Cappuccino

$3.64 ₩5,416

$5.34 ₩7,946

-31.84%

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

$1.81 ₩2,694

$2.33 ₩3,467

-22.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₩1,405

$0.71 ₩1,055

32.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 ₩4,396

$3.99 ₩5,942

-26.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 ₩6,100

$5.93 ₩8,823

-30.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 ₩3,402

$2.12 ₩3,147

8.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 ₩5,350

$2.19 ₩3,254

64.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,491

$2.25 ₩3,350

34.22%

Eggs

$2.90 ₩4,318

$2.56 ₩3,813

13.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 ₩15.5K

$10.31 ₩15.3K

0.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.31 ₩12.4K

$8.41 ₩12.5K

-1.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.40 ₩40.8K

$27.81 ₩41.4K

-1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$8.34 ₩12.4K

$8.00 ₩11.9K

4.25%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 ₩4,668

$3.25 ₩4,832

-3.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.45 ₩11.1K

$5.60 ₩8,338

33.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.28 ₩7,855

$5.39 ₩8,015

-2.04%

Potato (1kg)

$5.15 ₩7,666

$2.88 ₩4,289

78.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 ₩4,415

$1.86 ₩2,766

59.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 ₩3,107

$2.17 ₩3,222

-3.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,728

$0.42 ₩626

176.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₩4,959

$3.38 ₩5,029

-1.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.43 ₩24.5K

$16.52 ₩24.6K

-0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₩2,623

$1.80 ₩2,677

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 ₩5,006

$1.60 ₩2,382

110.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 ₩1,550

$0.91 ₩1,352

14.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 ₩4,043

$2.50 ₩3,722

8.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₩1,245

$0.53 ₩782

58.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.69 ₩24.8K

$9.01 ₩13.4K

85.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,722

$1.22 ₩1,818

-4.92%

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

$27.9K ₩41.5M

$27.3K ₩40.7M

1.91%

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

$25.3K ₩37.7M

$24.8K ₩36.9M

2.20%

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

$191 ₩284.8K

$158 ₩235.0K

21.20%

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

$50.4 ₩75.0K

$35.45 ₩52.8K

42.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩40.5K

$19.12 ₩28.5K

42.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 ₩77.8K

$36.71 ₩54.6K

42.47%

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩16.6K

$10.93 ₩16.3K

2.38%

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

$486 ₩723.0K

$367 ₩545.5K

32.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K ₩20.9M

$24.9K ₩37.0M

-43.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩150.6K

$50.5 ₩75.1K

100.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.73 ₩69.5K

$29.60 ₩44.0K

57.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 ₩133.0K

$64.6 ₩96.1K

38.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₩177.9K

$86.8 ₩129.1K

37.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₩687.1K

$482 ₩717.0K

-4.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₩562.4K

$400 ₩595.0K

-5.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,056 ₩1.6M

$1,009 ₩1.5M

4.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$770 ₩1.1M

$1,130 ₩1.7M

-31.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,269 ₩12.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,103 ₩7.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,499 ₩2.2M

$1,678 ₩2.5M

-10.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

4.14

1.93%

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

Last update for Changwon: July 13, 2026

Last update for Jeju: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $462 in Changwon and $482 in Jeju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 $446 vs $399, 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 11% in total monthly costs ($1,488 vs $1,335 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $462 in Changwon versus $482 in Jeju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Changwon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,488 per month in Changwon versus $1,335 in Jeju – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,335 in Jeju versus $1,488 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 11% less than in Changwon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.