Cost of Living Comparison Between Chungju and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Chungju and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,456 per month in Chungju vs $1,358 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,235 per month in Chungju vs $2,314 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,014 per month in Chungju vs $3,271 in Jeju, rent included.

Chungju costs about 7% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chungju and Jeju sit above the global median – Chungju by 9%, Jeju by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.33 ₩10.9K

$6.52 ₩9,676

12.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.07 ₩55.0K

$51.2 ₩76.0K

-27.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 ₩9,153

$4.14 ₩6,134

49.03%

Cappuccino

$4.08 ₩6,047

$5.39 ₩8,001

-24.30%

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

$1.82 ₩2,695

$2.43 ₩3,601

-25.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₩1,999

$0.72 ₩1,062

87.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 ₩5,381

$3.94 ₩5,846

-7.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 ₩8,675

$5.82 ₩8,639

0.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₩3,216

$2.22 ₩3,291

-2.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 ₩4,334

$2.23 ₩3,311

30.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 ₩4,630

$2.15 ₩3,184

45.12%

Eggs

$3.00 ₩4,448

$2.65 ₩3,933

13.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 ₩15.5K

$10.28 ₩15.2K

1.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 ₩11.2K

$8.16 ₩12.1K

-7.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.32 ₩40.5K

$27.07 ₩40.2K

0.92%

Apples (1kg)

$8.39 ₩12.4K

$8.04 ₩11.9K

4.35%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 ₩4,661

$3.27 ₩4,855

-3.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 ₩11.2K

$5.63 ₩8,352

33.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.37 ₩7,962

$5.40 ₩8,009

-0.56%

Potato (1kg)

$5.10 ₩7,566

$2.99 ₩4,433

70.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 ₩4,395

$1.85 ₩2,749

60.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 ₩3,077

$2.16 ₩3,211

-4.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₩1,795

$0.46 ₩683

163.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,838

$3.41 ₩5,055

-4.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.65 ₩24.7K

$15.49 ₩23.0K

7.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₩2,622

$1.87 ₩2,772

-5.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₩4,434

$1.67 ₩2,480

79.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,658

$0.90 ₩1,329

24.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₩5,337

$2.55 ₩3,777

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ₩1,260

$0.58 ₩856

46.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.69 ₩24.8K

$8.68 ₩12.9K

92.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₩1,740

$1.23 ₩1,824

-4.88%

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

$27.5K ₩40.8M

$28.0K ₩41.5M

-1.76%

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

$25.0K ₩37.1M

$25.2K ₩37.4M

-0.91%

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

$188 ₩279.4K

$162 ₩240.3K

16.26%

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

$26.89 ₩39.9K

$34.77 ₩51.6K

-22.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.11 ₩40.2K

$19.51 ₩28.9K

38.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.86 ₩71.0K

$36.31 ₩53.9K

31.81%

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩16.6K

$10.94 ₩16.2K

2.29%

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

$495 ₩734.0K

$360 ₩534.5K

37.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩21.1M

$24.9K ₩36.9M

-42.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.9 ₩109.6K

$51.3 ₩76.2K

43.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.16 ₩55.1K

$29.34 ₩43.5K

26.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.2 ₩108.6K

$64.1 ₩95.1K

14.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₩164.3K

$88.0 ₩130.6K

25.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 ₩683.0K

$491 ₩728.2K

-6.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₩565.3K

$400 ₩592.9K

-4.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 ₩1.6M

$1,010 ₩1.5M

4.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$778 ₩1.2M

$1,118 ₩1.7M

-30.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,683 ₩14.4M

$9,859 ₩14.6M

-1.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,755 ₩8.5M

$5,670 ₩8.4M

1.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,504 ₩2.2M

$1,715 ₩2.5M

-12.30%

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 Chungju: April 26, 2026

Last update for Jeju: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Chungju versus $491 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 14% 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 $37.00 in Chungju versus $51.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $436 in Chungju vs $396 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

Chungju vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chungju costs about 7% 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 $2,184 per month in Chungju and $2,036 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 $1,456 in Chungju and $1,358 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $495 per month in Chungju and $360 in Jeju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,358, than in Chungju at $1,456. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chungju 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, Chungju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.