Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheonan and Setagaya-ku

For one person, living is cheaper in Setagaya-ku: $1,183 a month against $1,467 in Cheonan, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cheonan
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,467
/mo nomad
Setagaya-ku
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,183
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cheonan and in Setagaya-ku

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

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Cheonan vs $1,183 in Setagaya-ku, rent included.

  • Cheonan $1,467
  • Setagaya-ku $1,183

A couple spends around $2,259 per month in Cheonan vs $1,834 in Setagaya-ku, rent included.

  • Cheonan $2,259
  • Setagaya-ku $1,834

A family of three spends $3,051 per month in Cheonan vs $2,484 in Setagaya-ku, rent included.

  • Cheonan $3,051
  • Setagaya-ku $2,484

Cheonan costs about 24% more than Setagaya-ku, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Cheonan sits 9% above the global median, while Setagaya-ku is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cheonan
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.53 ₩10.0K
$6.12 ¥968
23.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.63 ₩30.1K
$25.64 ¥4,050
-11.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.28 ₩5,693
$4.36 ¥690
-1.83%
Cappuccino
$1.47 ₩1,951
$2.97 ¥470
-50.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 ₩1,538
$1.04 ¥165
11.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 ₩1,867
$0.65 ¥102
115.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 ₩3,031
$2.19 ¥346
4.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 ₩5,853
$3.22 ¥508
36.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cheonan
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 ₩2,125
$1.23 ¥194
30.08%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 ₩4,287
$1.72 ¥272
87.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 ₩4,078
$3.64 ¥575
-15.66%
Eggs
$2.61 ₩3,476
$1.17 ¥186
123.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 ₩14.9K
$10.40 ¥1,643
7.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.38 ₩13.8K
$6.11 ¥965
69.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.11 ₩33.4K
$14.25 ¥2,252
76.21%
Apples (1kg)
$11.23 ₩14.9K
$5.59 ¥883
100.89%
Banana (1kg)
$3.73 ₩4,965
$2.74 ¥433
36.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.07 ₩10.7K
$2.95 ¥466
173.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.04 ₩8,035
$4.14 ¥654
45.89%
Potato (1kg)
$6.10 ₩8,106
$2.62 ¥415
132.82%
Onion (1kg)
$3.34 ₩4,438
$2.63 ¥416
27.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 ₩3,651
$1.24 ¥196
121.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 ₩1,765
$0.56 ¥87.7
137.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₩4,494
$3.79 ¥599
-10.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.30 ₩24.3K
$6.26 ¥989
192.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 ₩3,229
$1.81 ¥287
34.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 ₩4,454
$2.09 ¥330
60.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Cheonan
Setagaya-ku
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 ₩1,509
$1.46 ¥231
-21.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$50.7 ¥8,012
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 ₩4,050
$3.23 ¥510
-5.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₩1,036
$2.66 ¥421
-70.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.69 ₩22.2K
$20.85 ¥3,294
-19.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ₩1,650
$1.10 ¥174
12.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K ₩39.5M
$21.2K ¥3.4M
40.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K ₩45.5M
$18.6K ¥2.9M
84.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheonan
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 ₩264.9K
$131 ¥20.6K
52.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.67 ₩47.4K
$23.82 ¥3,764
49.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.08 ₩36.0K
$31.73 ¥5,013
-14.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cheonan
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 ₩68.6K
$55.0 ¥8,691
-6.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.77 ₩15.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.13 ₩16.1K
$11.52 ¥1,820
5.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cheonan
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$636 ₩845.7K
$636 ¥100.5K
0.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K ₩28.6M
$14.7K ¥2.3M
46.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cheonan
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.2 ₩88.0K
$62.3 ¥9,846
6.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.5 ₩79.1K
$36.37 ¥5,747
63.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 ₩123.1K
$62.1 ¥9,814
49.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 ₩168.9K
$102 ¥16.2K
24.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cheonan
Setagaya-ku
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$478 ₩636.1K
$534 ¥84.4K
-10.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 ₩479.5K
$325 ¥51.4K
10.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,153 ₩1.5M
$1,152 ¥182.0K
0.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$739 ₩982.3K
$674 ¥106.4K
9.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,244 ₩9.6M
$3,724 ¥588.4K
94.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,422 ₩7.2M
$1,635 ¥258.4K
231.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cheonan
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,824 ₩2.4M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
2
111.00%

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

Last update for Cheonan: October 12, 2026

Last update for Setagaya-ku: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Cheonan
$480
Setagaya-ku
$281 41.5% $199
Accommodation & Living
Cheonan
$361
Setagaya-ku
$325 9.9% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheonan
$262
Setagaya-ku
$186 28.9% $76
Clothing & Footwear
Cheonan
$155
Setagaya-ku
$118 23.8% $37
Eating Out
Cheonan
$121
Setagaya-ku
$122 0.6% $0.8
Sport & Entertainment
Cheonan
$76
Setagaya-ku
$78 2.9% $2.2
Getting Around
Cheonan
$11 *
Setagaya-ku
$73 537% $62

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Cheonan versus $534 in Setagaya-ku. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Cheonan versus $26.00 in Setagaya-ku. Groceries tell a different story – $480 in Cheonan vs $281 in Setagaya-ku – so Setagaya-ku wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Cheonan
🇯🇵 Setagaya-ku
🕒 Local time
02:55 2:55 AM
02:55 2:55 AM
Same time as Cheonan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
658,486
943,664
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cheonan Setagaya-ku 1,130 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cheonan
  • Setagaya-ku

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
Cheonan vs Setagaya-ku: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cheonan or Setagaya-ku?
Cheonan costs about 24% more than Setagaya-ku, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cheonan and in Setagaya-ku?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,200 per month in Cheonan and $1,775 in Setagaya-ku. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cheonan or Setagaya-ku?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Setagaya-ku, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Cheonan compared to Setagaya-ku?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Cheonan and $1,183 in Setagaya-ku. That's a gap of about 24%.
How do childcare costs compare in Cheonan and in Setagaya-ku?
Kindergarten costs $636 per month in Cheonan and $636 in Setagaya-ku. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cheonan or in Setagaya-ku?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Setagaya-ku, where all-in costs run around $1,183, than in Cheonan at $1,467. In Setagaya-ku it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cheonan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Setagaya-ku – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Cheonan compared to Setagaya-ku?
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.
Should I move to Cheonan or to Setagaya-ku?
If budget matters most, go with Setagaya-ku. 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.

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