Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheongju and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheongju and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,192 in Cheongju versus $1,079 in Jeju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,049 in Cheongju versus $1,866 in Jeju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,905 in Cheongju versus $2,652 in Jeju.

Living in Cheongju is roughly 10% more expensive than in Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cheongju 14% lower, Jeju 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.25 ₩9,721

$7.55 ₩10.1K

-3.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.69 ₩64.0K

$51.7 ₩69.3K

-7.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ₩7,761

$5.52 ₩7,396

4.89%

Cappuccino

$3.61 ₩4,836

$5.89 ₩7,898

-38.71%

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

$1.77 ₩2,368

$2.15 ₩2,888

-17.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩1,846

$1.97 ₩2,647

-29.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.82 ₩5,126

$3.48 ₩4,670

9.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 ₩5,697

$2.93 ₩3,934

45.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₩2,761

$2.26 ₩3,037

-8.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 ₩4,262

$2.28 ₩3,054

39.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 ₩2,421

$2.25 ₩3,011

-19.56%

Eggs

$2.18 ₩2,923

$2.59 ₩3,471

-15.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ₩14.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 ₩14.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.67 ₩19.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,077

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 ₩3,905

$2.21 ₩2,968

31.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.59 ₩10.2K

Tomato (1kg)

$5.83 ₩7,814

Potato (1kg)

$5.90 ₩7,914

$3.02 ₩4,055

95.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.41 ₩4,568

$1.81 ₩2,429

88.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₩3,669

$2.20 ₩2,948

24.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₩626

$0.43 ₩577

9.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₩4,401

Wine (Bottle)

$14.65 ₩19.7K

$11.36 ₩15.2K

28.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₩2,560

$1.89 ₩2,541

1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₩3,054

$1.66 ₩2,220

37.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,509

$1.00 ₩1,343

12.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 ₩3,637

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₩969

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.66 ₩22.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ₩1,755

$1.32 ₩1,769

-0.76%

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

$28.8K ₩38.7M

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

$34.1K ₩45.7M

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

$198 ₩265.2K

$208 ₩278.9K

-4.93%

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

$24.13 ₩32.4K

$54.0 ₩72.4K

-55.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.98 ₩20.1K

$19.21 ₩25.8K

-22.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ₩73.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.05 ₩16.2K

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 ₩10.1K

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

$631 ₩845.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.7K ₩29.1M

$25.2K ₩33.8M

-13.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.58 ₩50.4K

$50.3 ₩67.5K

-25.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.0 ₩88.5K

$29.85 ₩40.0K

121.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 ₩124.7K

$65.3 ₩87.5K

42.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₩151.7K

$88.2 ₩118.3K

28.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 ₩370.2K

$461 ₩618.7K

-40.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 ₩284.8K

$381 ₩510.6K

-44.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 ₩1.5M

$1,315 ₩1.8M

-13.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 ₩966.7K

$1,152 ₩1.5M

-37.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,052 ₩9.5M

$10.6K ₩14.2M

-33.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,477 ₩7.3M

$6,719 ₩9.0M

-18.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,630 ₩3.5M

$1,863 ₩2.5M

41.16%

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 Cheongju: September 6, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $276 in Cheongju and $461 in Jeju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cheongju pays 41% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $48.00 in Cheongju vs $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries flip the comparison at $374 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

Cheongju vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeju wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Cheongju. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jeju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 41% higher in Cheongju, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $276 in Cheongju versus $461 in Jeju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,192 per month in Cheongju versus $1,079 in Jeju – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 167% higher in Cheongju. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,079 in Jeju versus $1,192 in Cheongju, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeju but tight or insufficient in Cheongju. 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, Cheongju 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 10% less than in Cheongju. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.