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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,274 per month in Cheonan vs $1,334 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,957 per month in Cheonan vs $2,290 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,640 per month in Cheonan vs $3,246 in Jeju, rent included.

Cheonan is about 5% cheaper than Jeju, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Cheonan sits 5% below the global median, while Jeju is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.71 ₩8,745

$6.71 ₩10.3K

-14.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.99 ₩33.7K

$51.2 ₩78.4K

-57.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 ₩7,420

$4.04 ₩6,192

19.80%

Cappuccino

$2.14 ₩3,283

$5.21 ₩7,986

-58.93%

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

$1.20 ₩1,845

$2.42 ₩3,701

-50.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₩735

$0.72 ₩1,099

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 ₩3,900

$3.98 ₩6,101

-35.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ₩5,696

$5.71 ₩8,755

-34.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ₩2,295

$2.14 ₩3,284

-29.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 ₩5,387

$2.25 ₩3,443

56.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,644

$2.23 ₩3,417

35.87%

Eggs

$1.73 ₩2,647

$2.61 ₩3,997

-33.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.60 ₩16.2K

$10.53 ₩16.1K

0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.33 ₩12.8K

$8.47 ₩13.0K

-1.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.97 ₩18.3K

$27.80 ₩42.6K

-56.94%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 ₩11.2K

$7.66 ₩11.7K

-4.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 ₩3,825

$3.12 ₩4,787

-19.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 ₩8,541

$5.68 ₩8,696

-1.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.31 ₩8,144

$5.35 ₩8,200

-0.75%

Potato (1kg)

$4.99 ₩7,651

$3.02 ₩4,627

65.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,527

$1.89 ₩2,897

56.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₩1,411

$2.17 ₩3,329

-57.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₩1,619

$0.46 ₩702

130.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 ₩5,034

$3.25 ₩4,981

1.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.68 ₩25.6K

$16.99 ₩26.0K

-1.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₩2,709

$1.90 ₩2,914

-6.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₩2,296

$1.61 ₩2,469

-6.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,712

$0.86 ₩1,319

30.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 ₩4,528

$2.53 ₩3,883

17.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₩1,289

$0.53 ₩809

58.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.77 ₩25.7K

$8.57 ₩13.1K

95.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,780

$1.26 ₩1,934

-7.94%

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

$27.8K ₩42.5M

$28.0K ₩42.9M

-0.84%

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

$25.3K ₩38.7M

$24.8K ₩38.0M

2.00%

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

$141 ₩215.5K

$159 ₩243.6K

-11.55%

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

$50.6 ₩77.5K

$34.67 ₩53.1K

45.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.97 ₩15.3K

$19.46 ₩29.8K

-48.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.28 ₩74.0K

$36.23 ₩55.5K

33.26%

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 ₩11.6K

$10.88 ₩16.7K

-30.42%

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

$492 ₩754.0K

$367 ₩562.6K

34.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K ₩21.6M

$24.3K ₩37.2M

-42.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩156.0K

$51.3 ₩78.6K

98.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.01 ₩73.6K

$29.51 ₩45.2K

62.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ₩113.7K

$66.3 ₩101.6K

11.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ₩168.5K

$89.4 ₩137.0K

22.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 ₩693.8K

$501 ₩767.7K

-9.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₩578.7K

$402 ₩616.0K

-6.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₩1.6M

$1,017 ₩1.6M

5.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₩1.2M

$1,149 ₩1.8M

-32.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,773 ₩15.0M

$9,790 ₩15.0M

-0.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,779 ₩8.9M

$5,331 ₩8.2M

8.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,579 ₩2.4M

$1,672 ₩2.6M

-5.57%

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 Cheonan: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Cheonan 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 6% higher in Jeju, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Cheonan versus $51.0 in Jeju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $401 – making Cheonan 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

Cheonan vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju costs about 5% more than Cheonan, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,910 per month in Cheonan 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 Cheonan, 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 $1,274 in Cheonan and $1,334 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $492 per month in Cheonan and $367 in Jeju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cheonan, where all-in costs run around $1,274, than in Jeju at $1,334. In Cheonan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cheonan – 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 Cheonan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.