Cost of Living Comparison Between Gimcheon and Jeju Cost of Living Comparison Between Gimcheon and Jeju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,461 per month in Gimcheon vs $1,334 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,342 per month in Gimcheon vs $2,290 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,222 per month in Gimcheon vs $3,246 in Jeju, rent included.

Gimcheon costs about 10% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gimcheon and Jeju sit above the global median – Gimcheon by 9%, Jeju by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.94 ₩13.6K

$6.71 ₩10.2K

33.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.1 ₩81.9K

$51.2 ₩77.5K

5.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.41 ₩9,715

$4.04 ₩6,124

58.66%

Cappuccino

$3.81 ₩5,766

$5.21 ₩7,898

-26.87%

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

$1.71 ₩2,596

$2.42 ₩3,660

-29.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₩1,293

$0.72 ₩1,087

18.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.69 ₩5,584

$3.98 ₩6,034

-7.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 ₩9,085

$5.71 ₩8,658

5.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 ₩3,354

$2.14 ₩3,248

3.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 ₩5,034

$2.25 ₩3,404

47.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.21 ₩4,863

$2.23 ₩3,379

43.95%

Eggs

$3.05 ₩4,619

$2.61 ₩3,952

16.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.08 ₩21.3K

$10.53 ₩16.0K

33.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 ₩16.3K

$8.47 ₩12.8K

26.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.69 ₩52.6K

$27.80 ₩42.1K

24.78%

Apples (1kg)

$8.07 ₩12.2K

$7.66 ₩11.6K

5.35%

Banana (1kg)

$3.56 ₩5,398

$3.12 ₩4,735

14.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.40 ₩8,188

$5.68 ₩8,600

-4.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 ₩9,831

$5.35 ₩8,109

21.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 ₩5,778

$3.02 ₩4,576

26.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₩4,443

$1.89 ₩2,865

55.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 ₩3,879

$2.17 ₩3,292

17.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,738

$0.46 ₩695

150.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₩5,089

$3.25 ₩4,925

3.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.26 ₩24.6K

$16.99 ₩25.7K

-4.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₩3,586

$1.90 ₩2,881

24.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 ₩4,953

$1.61 ₩2,442

103.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₩1,619

$0.86 ₩1,305

24.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 ₩4,568

$2.53 ₩3,840

18.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩807

$0.53 ₩800

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.89 ₩13.5K

$8.57 ₩13.0K

3.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₩1,701

$1.26 ₩1,913

-11.11%

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

$27.3K ₩41.4M

$28.0K ₩42.4M

-2.46%

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

$25.3K ₩38.4M

$24.8K ₩37.5M

2.22%

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

$164 ₩248.2K

$159 ₩240.9K

3.01%

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

$34.40 ₩52.1K

$34.67 ₩52.5K

-0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.35 ₩33.9K

$19.46 ₩29.5K

14.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.15 ₩71.4K

$36.23 ₩54.9K

30.14%

Cinema Ticket

$11.10 ₩16.8K

$10.88 ₩16.5K

2.02%

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

$417 ₩632.3K

$367 ₩556.3K

13.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K ₩35.5M

$24.3K ₩36.8M

-3.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ₩89.9K

$51.3 ₩77.7K

15.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 ₩71.2K

$29.51 ₩44.7K

59.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 ₩119.6K

$66.3 ₩100.5K

19.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩178.2K

$89.4 ₩135.5K

31.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ₩674.4K

$501 ₩759.2K

-11.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 ₩581.2K

$402 ₩609.2K

-4.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,074 ₩1.6M

$1,017 ₩1.5M

5.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₩1.2M

$1,149 ₩1.7M

-32.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,790 ₩14.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,331 ₩8.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,719 ₩2.6M

$1,672 ₩2.5M

2.81%

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 Gimcheon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Jeju: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Gimcheon 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 3% higher in Gimcheon, 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 $54.0 in Gimcheon versus $51.0 in Jeju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $488 vs $401 – making Jeju the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Gimcheon vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Gimcheon is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,192 per month in Gimcheon 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,461 in Gimcheon and $1,334 in Jeju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $417 per month in Gimcheon and $367 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 $1,334, than in Gimcheon at $1,461. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gimcheon 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, Gimcheon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.