Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gimcheon and Jeju

For one person, living is cheaper in Jeju: $1,118 a month against $1,437 in Gimcheon, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. The total is higher in Gimcheon despite lower rent and utilities.

Gimcheon, South Korea
Jeju, South Korea
Gimcheon
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,437
/mo nomad
Jeju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,118
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gimcheon and in Jeju

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gimcheon and in Jeju actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,437 per month in Gimcheon vs $1,118 in Jeju, rent included.

  • Gimcheon $1,437
  • Jeju $1,118

A couple spends around $2,340 per month in Gimcheon vs $1,917 in Jeju, rent included.

  • Gimcheon $2,340
  • Jeju $1,917

A family of three spends $3,242 per month in Gimcheon vs $2,715 in Jeju, rent included.

  • Gimcheon $3,242
  • Jeju $2,715

Gimcheon costs about 29% more than Jeju, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Gimcheon sits 6% above the global median, while Jeju is 18% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gimcheon
Jeju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.90 ₩7,917
$7.33 ₩9,840
-19.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.08 ₩45.8K
$51.9 ₩69.6K
-34.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.62 ₩8,895
$5.61 ₩7,538
18.00%
Cappuccino
$3.59 ₩4,817
$5.87 ₩7,879
-38.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₩2,142
$2.19 ₩2,941
-26.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₩846
$2.06 ₩2,769
-69.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 ₩4,565
$3.93 ₩5,276
-13.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 ₩6,186
$3.07 ₩4,125
50.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gimcheon
Jeju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 ₩3,109
$2.26 ₩3,035
2.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.21 ₩4,309
$2.31 ₩3,097
38.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ₩3,011
$2.31 ₩3,103
-3.03%
Eggs
$3.39 ₩4,549
$2.62 ₩3,518
29.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.60 ₩21.0K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.82 ₩10.5K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.25 ₩15.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$7.61 ₩10.2K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$3.34 ₩4,491
$2.20 ₩2,957
51.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.73 ₩10.4K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$6.84 ₩9,182
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$3.43 ₩4,603
$2.97 ₩3,983
15.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 ₩3,192
$1.87 ₩2,510
27.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 ₩2,845
$2.28 ₩3,055
-7.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₩1,807
$0.47 ₩628
187.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42 ₩4,586
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.52 ₩24.9K
$11.48 ₩15.4K
61.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 ₩2,989
$1.85 ₩2,479
20.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 ₩5,183
$1.72 ₩2,308
124.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Gimcheon
Jeju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₩1,498
$0.99 ₩1,328
13.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ₩4,082
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 ₩878
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.92 ₩12.0K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ₩1,492
$1.37 ₩1,846
-18.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K ₩39.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K ₩47.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gimcheon
Jeju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 ₩281.1K
$214 ₩287.4K
-2.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.72 ₩57.4K
$54.0 ₩72.5K
-20.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.99 ₩28.2K
$19.65 ₩26.4K
6.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gimcheon
Jeju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 ₩71.0K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.50 ₩18.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 ₩15.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gimcheon
Jeju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 ₩407.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.1K ₩24.4M
$25.3K ₩34.0M
-28.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gimcheon
Jeju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4 ₩89.2K
$52.7 ₩70.7K
26.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.2 ₩84.9K
$29.78 ₩40.0K
112.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.4 ₩99.9K
$66.6 ₩89.4K
11.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 ₩134.9K
$90.8 ₩121.9K
10.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gimcheon
Jeju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 ₩670.5K
$461 ₩618.8K
8.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 ₩509.3K
$388 ₩521.2K
-2.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 ₩1.8M
$1,372 ₩1.8M
-1.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 ₩1.4M
$1,192 ₩1.6M
-14.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 ₩10.9M
$10.8K ₩14.5M
-24.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,412 ₩7.3M
$6,659 ₩8.9M
-18.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gimcheon
Jeju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,915 ₩2.6M
$1,883 ₩2.5M
1.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.1
0
-

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

Last update for Gimcheon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Jeju: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Gimcheon
$416
Jeju
–
Accommodation & Living
Gimcheon
$379
Jeju
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gimcheon
$273
Jeju
–
Eating Out
Gimcheon
$145
Jeju
–
Clothing & Footwear
Gimcheon
$137
Jeju
–
Sport & Entertainment
Gimcheon
$75
Jeju
–
Getting Around
Gimcheon
$11 *
Jeju
–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $499 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34 in Gimcheon versus $52 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $416 in Gimcheon vs $142 in Jeju – so Jeju wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Gimcheon
🇰🇷 Jeju
🕒 Local time
00:01 12:01 AM
00:01 12:01 AM
Same time as Gimcheon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
143,056
469,279
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1,343 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.45 USD). 1 EUR = 1,494 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gimcheon Jeju 330 km
From you
  • Gimcheon
  • Jeju

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Jeju cheaper than Gimcheon?
Yes – Gimcheon is pricier by about 29%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,155 per month in Gimcheon and $1,677 in Jeju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Gimcheon and Jeju?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $499 in Gimcheon and $461 in Jeju. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do food prices compare in Gimcheon and in Jeju?
Groceries cost about 194% more in Gimcheon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Gimcheon or in Jeju?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34 in Gimcheon and $52 in Jeju. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is it better to live in Gimcheon or in Jeju?
It depends on your priorities. Gimcheon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,118 in Jeju to $1,437 in Gimcheon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Gimcheon or Jeju?
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.

Gimcheon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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