Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheongju and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheongju and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,248 in Cheongju versus $1,459 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,883 in Cheongju versus $2,444 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Cheongju versus $3,429 in Kingston.

Living in Cheongju costs roughly 14% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cheongju is 6% below, Kingston is 10% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.15 ₩10.3K

$7.57 JMD 1,191

-5.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.15 ₩52.2K

$63.2 JMD 9,935

-42.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 ₩6,962

$8.95 JMD 1,408

-46.15%

Cappuccino

$4.21 ₩6,077

$4.46 JMD 702

-5.61%

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

$1.88 ₩2,716

$1.37 JMD 215

37.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₩1,979

$0.75 JMD 118

82.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.70 ₩5,340

$2.43 JMD 383

52.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 ₩8,666

$3.14 JMD 494

91.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 ₩2,886

$4.18 JMD 658

-52.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 ₩5,151

$3.54 JMD 557

0.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 ₩2,635

$1.54 JMD 243

18.83%

Eggs

$2.26 ₩3,256

$3.52 JMD 554

-35.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 ₩15.1K

$11.04 JMD 1,736

-5.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.24 ₩11.9K

$6.48 JMD 1,019

27.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.81 ₩21.4K

$7.81 JMD 1,228

89.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ₩4,199

$5.95 JMD 936

-51.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.93 ₩4,223

$3.14 JMD 494

-6.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.25 ₩10.5K

$4.33 JMD 681

67.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.29 ₩7,629

$2.92 JMD 459

81.16%

Potato (1kg)

$5.17 ₩7,470

$2.09 JMD 328

147.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ₩4,191

$2.02 JMD 318

43.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 ₩3,019

$2.97 JMD 467

-29.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₩610

$1.44 JMD 227

-70.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩4,851

$8.72 JMD 1,371

-61.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.91 ₩20.1K

$11.29 JMD 1,776

23.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₩2,427

$2.78 JMD 438

-39.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₩3,101

$3.15 JMD 496

-31.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 ₩1,746

$0.82 JMD 129

47.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.3 ₩104.4K

$49.33 JMD 7,760

46.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 ₩3,923

$1.07 JMD 168

154.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₩1,211

$3.20 JMD 503

-73.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.69 ₩24.1K

$6.39 JMD 1,005

161.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₩1,686

$1.23 JMD 194

-4.88%

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

$28.0K ₩40.4M

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

-34.34%

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

$25.3K ₩36.5M

$34.0K JMD 5.4M

-25.80%

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

$191 ₩276.0K

$164 JMD 25.8K

16.80%

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

$24.27 ₩35.0K

$21.77 JMD 3,424

11.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.78 ₩21.3K

$51.7 JMD 8,132

-71.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.9 ₩90.8K

$69.6 JMD 10.9K

-9.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.82 ₩48.8K

$15.93 JMD 2,506

112.30%

Cinema Ticket

$7.30 ₩10.5K

$13.03 JMD 2,049

-43.98%

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

$498 ₩718.8K

$223 JMD 35.0K

123.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₩20.7M

$2,512 JMD 395.1K

470.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.29 ₩53.8K

$25.87 JMD 4,069

44.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.45 ₩69.9K

$25.40 JMD 3,996

90.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 ₩127.6K

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

26.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₩160.1K

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

45.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 ₩437.9K

$909 JMD 143.0K

-66.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ₩346.5K

$463 JMD 72.8K

-48.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 ₩592.4K

$2,028 JMD 319.0K

-79.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ₩424.8K

$1,174 JMD 184.6K

-74.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,198 ₩10.4M

$2,784 JMD 437.9K

158.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,148 ₩7.4M

$2,164 JMD 340.3K

137.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,433 ₩3.5M

$733 JMD 115.3K

231.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

9.15

-53.88%

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

Last update for Cheongju: July 25, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Cheongju and $909 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cheongju pays 232% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Cheongju vs $63.0 in Kingston. Groceries flip the comparison at $352 vs $349, with Kingston 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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cheongju wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cheongju the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 232% 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: $303 in Cheongju versus $909 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,248 per month in Cheongju versus $1,459 in Kingston – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cheongju runs roughly 47% less than in Kingston. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,248 in Cheongju versus $1,459 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cheongju but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Cheongju 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 Kingston 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 Cheongju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.