Cost of Living Comparison Between Daegu and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Daegu and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,336 per month in Daegu vs $1,334 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,152 per month in Daegu vs $2,290 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,967 per month in Daegu vs $3,246 in Jeju, rent included.

Daegu and Jeju have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Daegu and Jeju sit above the global median – Daegu by 0%, Jeju by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.24 ₩12.5K

$6.71 ₩10.2K

22.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.47 ₩55.3K

$51.2 ₩77.5K

-28.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 ₩9,088

$4.04 ₩6,124

48.51%

Cappuccino

$3.61 ₩5,467

$5.21 ₩7,898

-30.71%

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

$1.54 ₩2,336

$2.42 ₩3,660

-36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₩1,194

$0.72 ₩1,087

9.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.70 ₩5,610

$3.98 ₩6,034

-7.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.31 ₩8,050

$5.71 ₩8,658

-7.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₩3,247

$2.14 ₩3,248

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 ₩5,012

$2.25 ₩3,404

47.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 ₩3,984

$2.23 ₩3,379

17.94%

Eggs

$2.73 ₩4,133

$2.61 ₩3,952

4.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.40 ₩17.3K

$10.53 ₩16.0K

8.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.26 ₩11.0K

$8.47 ₩12.8K

-14.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.89 ₩34.7K

$27.80 ₩42.1K

-17.66%

Apples (1kg)

$8.04 ₩12.2K

$7.66 ₩11.6K

4.96%

Banana (1kg)

$3.46 ₩5,249

$3.12 ₩4,735

10.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.53 ₩8,386

$5.68 ₩8,600

-2.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 ₩10.0K

$5.35 ₩8,109

23.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 ₩3,661

$3.02 ₩4,576

-19.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,468

$1.89 ₩2,865

56.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 ₩3,993

$2.17 ₩3,292

21.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,920

$0.46 ₩695

176.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₩5,039

$3.25 ₩4,925

2.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.00 ₩19.7K

$16.99 ₩25.7K

-23.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₩3,681

$1.90 ₩2,881

27.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ₩4,569

$1.61 ₩2,442

87.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,697

$0.86 ₩1,305

30.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 ₩113.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ₩4,758

$2.53 ₩3,840

24.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ₩646

$0.53 ₩800

-18.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.89 ₩13.5K

$8.57 ₩13.0K

3.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₩1,746

$1.26 ₩1,913

-8.73%

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

$27.4K ₩41.5M

$28.0K ₩42.4M

-2.26%

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

$24.6K ₩37.3M

$24.8K ₩37.5M

-0.61%

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

$162 ₩245.3K

$159 ₩240.9K

1.81%

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

$35.44 ₩53.7K

$34.67 ₩52.5K

2.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.58 ₩34.2K

$19.46 ₩29.5K

16.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.5 ₩76.6K

$36.23 ₩54.9K

39.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.95 ₩18.1K

Cinema Ticket

$10.49 ₩15.9K

$10.88 ₩16.5K

-3.58%

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

$419 ₩635.5K

$367 ₩556.3K

14.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K ₩35.5M

$24.3K ₩36.8M

-3.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ₩82.4K

$51.3 ₩77.7K

5.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.29 ₩71.7K

$29.51 ₩44.7K

60.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 ₩119.0K

$66.3 ₩100.5K

18.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₩176.6K

$89.4 ₩135.5K

30.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₩596.6K

$501 ₩759.2K

-21.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 ₩383.9K

$402 ₩609.2K

-36.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,199 ₩1.8M

$1,017 ₩1.5M

17.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 ₩903.5K

$1,149 ₩1.7M

-48.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,150 ₩10.8M

$9,790 ₩14.8M

-26.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,267 ₩8.0M

$5,331 ₩8.1M

-1.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,165 ₩3.3M

$1,672 ₩2.5M

29.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

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

Last update for Daegu: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $394 in Daegu versus $501 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 29% higher in Daegu. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Daegu versus $51.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $414 in Daegu vs $401 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

Daegu vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,004 per month in Daegu and $2,001 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.

Kindergarten costs $419 per month in Daegu and $367 in Jeju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Daegu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,334, than in Daegu at $1,336. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Daegu 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, Daegu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.