Cost of Living Comparison Between Daejeon and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Daejeon and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Daejeon vs $1,074 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,080 per month in Daejeon vs $1,819 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,854 per month in Daejeon vs $2,563 in Jeju, rent included.

Daejeon costs about 21% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Daejeon and Jeju are more affordable than the global median – Daejeon 5% lower, Jeju 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.36 ₩10.0K

$7.52 ₩10.2K

-2.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.30 ₩49.3K

$52.1 ₩70.8K

-30.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 ₩7,151

$5.35 ₩7,271

-1.68%

Cappuccino

$3.71 ₩5,044

$5.96 ₩8,103

-37.75%

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

$1.18 ₩1,610

$2.17 ₩2,947

-45.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₩844

$1.89 ₩2,576

-67.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 ₩4,594

$3.39 ₩4,610

-0.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ₩4,996

$2.85 ₩3,871

29.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ₩2,780

$2.14 ₩2,908

-4.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.60 ₩3,541

$2.17 ₩2,944

19.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 ₩3,500

$2.18 ₩2,961

17.89%

Eggs

$2.50 ₩3,401

$2.60 ₩3,536

-3.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.59 ₩14.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.05 ₩10.9K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.11 ₩27.3K

Apples (1kg)

$10.88 ₩14.8K

Banana (1kg)

$5.29 ₩7,191

$2.06 ₩2,799

156.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.63 ₩7,660

Tomato (1kg)

$5.72 ₩7,782

Potato (1kg)

$4.96 ₩6,741

$2.99 ₩4,071

65.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 ₩3,585

$1.81 ₩2,465

45.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ₩2,181

$2.17 ₩2,951

-26.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₩1,441

$0.45 ₩615

135.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.21 ₩4,370

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ₩25.0K

$10.91 ₩14.8K

68.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 ₩3,387

$1.83 ₩2,482

36.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 ₩4,668

$1.62 ₩2,206

111.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,526

$0.94 ₩1,274

19.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.89 ₩14.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 ₩4,152

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₩967

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.40 ₩22.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₩1,605

$1.26 ₩1,710

-6.35%

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

$27.2K ₩36.9M

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

$22.6K ₩30.7M

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

$171 ₩232.6K

$209 ₩284.0K

-18.09%

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

$42.06 ₩57.2K

$52.5 ₩71.4K

-19.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.21 ₩30.2K

$19.46 ₩26.5K

14.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.29 ₩43.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.05 ₩15.0K

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

$295 ₩401.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K ₩29.3M

$24.8K ₩33.7M

-13.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₩84.2K

$49.90 ₩67.8K

24.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.43 ₩55.0K

$28.86 ₩39.2K

40.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 ₩125.3K

$66.0 ₩89.8K

39.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₩142.1K

$88.8 ₩120.7K

17.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$362 ₩491.4K

$456 ₩619.3K

-20.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 ₩402.1K

$363 ₩493.4K

-18.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,039 ₩1.4M

$1,341 ₩1.8M

-22.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 ₩804.9K

$1,113 ₩1.5M

-46.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,372 ₩7.3M

$10.3K ₩14.0M

-47.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,408 ₩6.0M

$6,615 ₩9.0M

-33.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,339 ₩3.2M

$1,824 ₩2.5M

28.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.65

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

Last update for Daejeon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Jeju: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $362 in Daejeon versus $456 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 28% higher in Daejeon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Daejeon versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $432 in Daejeon vs $135 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

Daejeon vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Daejeon costs about 21% 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 $1,957 per month in Daejeon and $1,611 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 $1,305 in Daejeon and $1,074 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 219% more in Daejeon, 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 $1,074, than in Daejeon at $1,305. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Daejeon 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, Daejeon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.