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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,440 per month in Chungju vs $1,338 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Chungju vs $2,319 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,071 per month in Chungju vs $3,299 in Jeju, rent included.

Chungju costs about 8% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chungju and Jeju sit above the global median – Chungju by 8%, Jeju by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ₩10.2K

$6.65 ₩9,564

6.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.22 ₩53.5K

$52.2 ₩75.0K

-28.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.91 ₩8,501

$4.14 ₩5,953

42.75%

Cappuccino

$4.14 ₩5,961

$5.26 ₩7,564

-21.29%

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

$1.87 ₩2,684

$2.39 ₩3,441

-21.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₩2,009

$0.70 ₩1,008

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 ₩5,140

$4.10 ₩5,896

-12.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 ₩8,413

$5.71 ₩8,209

2.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,236

$2.24 ₩3,223

0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₩4,142

$2.15 ₩3,098

33.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.06 ₩4,403

$2.17 ₩3,118

41.01%

Eggs

$3.02 ₩4,349

$2.60 ₩3,742

16.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 ₩15.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.28 ₩10.5K

$8.29 ₩11.9K

-12.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.08 ₩38.9K

$27.81 ₩40.0K

-2.62%

Apples (1kg)

$8.25 ₩11.9K

$7.87 ₩11.3K

4.83%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 ₩4,454

$3.21 ₩4,624

-3.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.20 ₩10.4K

$5.65 ₩8,121

27.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.14 ₩7,388

$5.38 ₩7,732

-4.46%

Potato (1kg)

$5.04 ₩7,251

$2.98 ₩4,288

69.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 ₩4,319

$1.87 ₩2,691

60.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 ₩2,945

$2.18 ₩3,142

-5.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,728

$0.45 ₩652

166.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₩4,812

$3.36 ₩4,840

-0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.84 ₩24.2K

$10.44 ₩15.0K

61.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₩2,445

$1.87 ₩2,683

-9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ₩4,269

$1.67 ₩2,398

77.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 ₩1,586

$0.90 ₩1,300

22.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₩5,004

$2.51 ₩3,604

38.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 ₩1,236

$0.58 ₩828

48.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.46 ₩23.7K

$8.56 ₩12.3K

92.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,673

$1.28 ₩1,846

-9.38%

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

$27.5K ₩39.5M

$27.7K ₩39.9M

-0.95%

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

$25.2K ₩36.3M

$25.3K ₩36.4M

-0.13%

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

$189 ₩271.9K

$158 ₩227.7K

19.43%

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

$26.32 ₩37.9K

$35.48 ₩51.0K

-25.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₩39.0K

$19.16 ₩27.6K

41.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.59 ₩69.9K

$36.67 ₩52.7K

32.51%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 ₩16.2K

$10.83 ₩15.6K

3.88%

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

$482 ₩692.7K

$363 ₩521.8K

32.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K ₩20.5M

$24.9K ₩35.8M

-42.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.1 ₩106.6K

$50.5 ₩72.6K

46.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.23 ₩52.1K

$29.77 ₩42.8K

21.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 ₩106.0K

$65.2 ₩93.8K

12.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ₩158.4K

$87.2 ₩125.4K

26.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₩648.3K

$486 ₩699.0K

-7.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 ₩540.9K

$398 ₩572.7K

-5.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,079 ₩1.6M

$1,041 ₩1.5M

3.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₩1.1M

$1,129 ₩1.6M

-31.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,363 ₩10.6M

$9,502 ₩13.7M

-22.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,129 ₩7.4M

$6,054 ₩8.7M

-15.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,543 ₩2.2M

$1,736 ₩2.5M

-11.14%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Jeju: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $451 in Chungju versus $486 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 13% 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 $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $431 in Chungju vs $388 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 8% 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 $2,160 per month in Chungju and $2,007 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 $1,440 in Chungju and $1,338 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $482 per month in Chungju and $363 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 $1,338, than in Chungju at $1,440. 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.