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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Gimcheon vs $1,079 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,736 per month in Gimcheon vs $1,866 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,186 per month in Gimcheon vs $2,652 in Jeju, rent included.

Gimcheon costs about 19% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gimcheon and Jeju are more affordable than the global median – Gimcheon 7% lower, Jeju 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.11 ₩8,194

$7.55 ₩10.1K

-19.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.79 ₩46.7K

$51.7 ₩69.3K

-32.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 ₩8,786

$5.52 ₩7,396

18.66%

Cappuccino

$3.58 ₩4,804

$5.89 ₩7,898

-39.22%

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

$1.59 ₩2,134

$2.15 ₩2,888

-26.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₩766

$1.97 ₩2,647

-71.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 ₩4,617

$3.48 ₩4,670

-1.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ₩5,843

$2.93 ₩3,934

48.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ₩2,934

$2.26 ₩3,037

-3.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 ₩4,218

$2.28 ₩3,054

38.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 ₩3,124

$2.25 ₩3,011

3.56%

Eggs

$3.27 ₩4,380

$2.59 ₩3,471

26.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.81 ₩21.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 ₩10.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.25 ₩15.1K

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 ₩10.2K

Banana (1kg)

$3.19 ₩4,278

$2.21 ₩2,968

44.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.34 ₩9,837

Tomato (1kg)

$6.82 ₩9,142

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₩4,622

$3.02 ₩4,055

14.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₩3,285

$1.81 ₩2,429

35.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 ₩2,807

$2.20 ₩2,948

-5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₩1,965

$0.43 ₩577

239.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.43 ₩4,598

Wine (Bottle)

$18.44 ₩24.7K

$11.36 ₩15.2K

62.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₩3,008

$1.89 ₩2,541

18.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₩2,220

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ₩1,374

$1.00 ₩1,343

2.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 ₩3,957

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₩812

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₩1,469

$1.32 ₩1,769

-16.67%

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

$29.7K ₩39.9M

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

$35.7K ₩47.8M

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

$209 ₩280.9K

$208 ₩278.9K

0.69%

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

$43.63 ₩58.5K

$54.0 ₩72.4K

-19.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.74 ₩27.8K

$19.21 ₩25.8K

7.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.8 ₩94.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.24 ₩15.1K

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

$295 ₩395.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K ₩23.9M

$25.2K ₩33.8M

-29.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 ₩85.8K

$50.3 ₩67.5K

27.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.4 ₩86.4K

$29.85 ₩40.0K

115.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 ₩100.7K

$65.3 ₩87.5K

15.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₩135.6K

$88.2 ₩118.3K

14.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 ₩397.6K

$461 ₩618.7K

-35.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ₩323.7K

$381 ₩510.6K

-36.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 ₩1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 ₩1.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₩14.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,719 ₩9.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,872 ₩2.5M

$1,863 ₩2.5M

0.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.1

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

Last update for Gimcheon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $297 in Gimcheon versus $461 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 0% 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 $35.00 in Gimcheon versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $407 in Gimcheon vs $140 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

Gimcheon vs Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Gimcheon is pricier by about 19%, 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 $1,929 per month in Gimcheon and $1,619 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.

Groceries cost about 190% more in Gimcheon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Gimcheon and $52.0 in Jeju. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,079, than in Gimcheon at $1,286. 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.