Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheonan and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheonan and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,403 per month in Cheonan vs $1,074 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Cheonan vs $1,819 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,005 per month in Cheonan vs $2,563 in Jeju, rent included.

Cheonan costs about 31% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Cheonan sits 2% above the global median, while Jeju is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.36 ₩9,982

$7.52 ₩10.2K

-2.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.53 ₩29.2K

$52.1 ₩70.6K

-58.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.20 ₩5,692

$5.35 ₩7,253

-21.50%

Cappuccino

$1.47 ₩1,994

$5.96 ₩8,082

-75.34%

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

$1.14 ₩1,544

$2.17 ₩2,939

-47.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₩1,830

$1.89 ₩2,569

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 ₩2,986

$3.39 ₩4,598

-35.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 ₩5,704

$2.85 ₩3,862

47.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 ₩2,104

$2.14 ₩2,901

-27.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.16 ₩4,285

$2.17 ₩2,936

45.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,042

$2.18 ₩2,953

36.70%

Eggs

$2.59 ₩3,516

$2.60 ₩3,527

-0.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.71 ₩14.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 ₩13.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.13 ₩32.7K

Apples (1kg)

$10.67 ₩14.5K

Banana (1kg)

$3.51 ₩4,757

$2.06 ₩2,792

70.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.99 ₩10.8K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.60 ₩7,586

Potato (1kg)

$5.71 ₩7,741

$2.99 ₩4,060

90.97%

Onion (1kg)

$3.14 ₩4,263

$1.81 ₩2,459

73.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 ₩3,780

$2.17 ₩2,944

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₩1,771

$0.45 ₩614

191.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,425

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 ₩24.1K

$10.91 ₩14.8K

62.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 ₩3,242

$1.83 ₩2,476

30.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩4,570

$1.62 ₩2,200

108.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 ₩1,485

$0.94 ₩1,271

17.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 ₩3,904

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₩1,017

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.10 ₩21.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₩1,604

$1.26 ₩1,705

-6.35%

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

$28.9K ₩39.2M

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

$32.8K ₩44.5M

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

$191 ₩259.2K

$209 ₩283.3K

-8.50%

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

$34.82 ₩47.2K

$52.5 ₩71.2K

-33.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.91 ₩35.1K

$19.46 ₩26.4K

33.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ₩74.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₩15.8K

Cinema Ticket

$11.64 ₩15.8K

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

$611 ₩828.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K ₩28.1M

$24.8K ₩33.6M

-16.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 ₩90.0K

$49.90 ₩67.7K

32.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.2 ₩78.9K

$28.86 ₩39.1K

101.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ₩122.8K

$66.0 ₩89.5K

37.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₩169.9K

$88.8 ₩120.3K

41.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 ₩577.5K

$456 ₩617.7K

-6.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 ₩462.6K

$363 ₩492.1K

-6.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,111 ₩1.5M

$1,341 ₩1.8M

-17.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₩954.6K

$1,113 ₩1.5M

-36.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,494 ₩10.2M

$10.3K ₩14.0M

-27.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,453 ₩7.4M

$6,615 ₩9.0M

-17.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,755 ₩2.4M

$1,824 ₩2.5M

-3.77%

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 Cheonan: August 29, 2026

Last update for Jeju: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Cheonan versus $456 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 4% 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 $22.00 in Cheonan versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $463 in Cheonan vs $135 in Jeju – so Jeju wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cheonan vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cheonan costs about 31% more than Jeju, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,104 per month in Cheonan and $1,611 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 $1,403 in Cheonan and $1,074 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 242% more in Cheonan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,074, than in Cheonan at $1,403. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cheonan 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, Cheonan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.